Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Botvinnik System

A solid and flexible chess opening for Black, focusing on controlling the center and exploiting White's doubled pawns.

The opening in question is a popular and well-respected choice that offers Black a solid and flexible position. It is characterized by Black's early fianchetto of the dark-squared bishop, which exerts pressure on White's central pawn structure. The opening is named after the great Soviet Grandmaster who contributed significantly to its development.

In this opening, Black aims to control the center and exploit White's doubled c-pawns, which can become a long-term weakness. White, on the other hand, tries to make use of their central pawn majority and the open b-file for their rooks. The position often leads to a rich middlegame with chances for both sides.

One of the key ideas for Black is to play ...c5, challenging White's central pawn on d4 and potentially creating an isolated pawn for White. Black can also look for opportunities to play ...e5, further undermining White's center.

White has several plans at their disposal, including playing for e4, expanding on the queenside with c5, or even launching a kingside attack with moves like f4 and g4. The choice of plan often depends on Black's setup and pawn structure.

Overall, this opening is a versatile and reliable choice for Black, offering a good balance between solidity and counterplay.