Nimzo-Indian Defense: Three Knights Variation

A solid and flexible chess opening for Black, focusing on quick piece development and control of central squares.

The opening is a popular choice among players of all levels, as it offers a solid and flexible setup for Black. It is characterized by Black's early fianchetto of the dark-squared bishop, which exerts pressure on the central squares and White's knight on c3. The Three Knights Variation specifically involves White developing their kingside knight to f3, adding extra support to the d4 pawn and preparing for kingside castling.

In this opening, Black aims to create imbalances in the pawn structure and exploit weaknesses in White's position. One common plan for Black is to double White's c-pawns by exchanging the dark-squared bishop for the knight on c3, followed by a timely d5 pawn break to challenge White's central pawn duo.

White, on the other hand, seeks to maintain a strong pawn center and exploit the potential weaknesses in Black's pawn structure. White can also try to take advantage of the absence of Black's dark-squared bishop by targeting the dark squares in Black's camp.

The opening can lead to various pawn structures and middlegame plans, making it a versatile and rich battleground for both players. It has been employed by numerous top-level players, including former World Champions Anatoly Karpov and Garry Kasparov, as well as current elite grandmasters like Levon Aronian and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave.