The Romanishin Variation, English Hybrid is a variation of the Nimzo-Indian Defense, catalogued as ECO E20. The line runs 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Nf3 c5 5. g3 cxd4 6. Nxd4 O-O 7. Bg2 d5 8. cxd5 Nxd5, reaching the position shown below after 16 half-moves.
The four central squares are empty of pawns, so the fight for them is being conducted by pieces. Development is level at three minor pieces each. It is White to move after eight moves. Black has castled while White’s king is still uncommitted; the c- and d-files files are fully open.
On the Nimzo-Indian Defense generally: One of the most respected defenses to 1.d4. Black pins the knight and fights for central control.
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The Romanishin Variation, English Hybrid goes 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Nf3 c5 5. g3 cxd4 6. Nxd4 O-O 7. Bg2 d5 8. cxd5 Nxd5. It is a variation of the Nimzo-Indian Defense and is catalogued as ECO E20.
The Romanishin Variation, English Hybrid is ECO E20. ECO codes group openings by their move order, so nearby codes cover closely related lines of the Nimzo-Indian Defense.
Stockfish evaluates the position after 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Nf3 c5 5. g3 cxd4 6. Nxd4 O-O 7. Bg2 d5 8. cxd5 Nxd5 at +0.37 at depth 18, which is a slight pull for White, within normal opening margins. Engine evaluation is only a starting point — at club level the practical value of a line is mostly about whether you know its plans better than your opponent does.
The four central squares are empty of pawns, so the fight for them is being conducted by pieces. Development is level at three minor pieces each. It is White to move. Black has castled while White’s king is still uncommitted; the c- and d-files files are fully open.