Chess Openings Lab
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Nimzo-Indian Defense: Romanishin Variation

The Romanishin Variation of the Nimzo-Indian is 4.g3, preparing to fianchetto the f1 bishop on the long diagonal. White wants pressure on d5 and b7 like a Catalan, while Black castles and often takes on c4 with ...dxc4.

Moves
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.g3
ECO
E20
Engine
+0.01 · level (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
152 games in our lichess sample
White scores
49.3%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • Play Bg2 and Nf3 next so the bishop on g2 presses d5 and b7 from long range.
  • If Black takes on c4, a3 asks the b4 bishop to decide, then you can win c4 back later.
  • Castle short quickly; with g3 and Bg2 your king is well covered on g1.
  • Accept bxc3 after a trade if it gives you the bishop pair and the open b-file.

Black

  • Castle with 4...O-O and play ...d5, the engine's main plan, to fight for the light squares.
  • Take on c4 with ...dxc4 when the g2 bishop is aimed at nothing, and hold the pawn with ...Ba5.
  • Consider 4...Bxc3+ 5.bxc3 and a dark-square setup with ...Nc6, ...d6 and ...e5.
  • Keep the c8 bishop in mind; ...b6 and a fianchetto on b7 can contest the long diagonal later.

Plans and pawn structure

The g3 pawn and the coming Bg2 decide the plans. White gives up pressure on the b4 pin in return for long-range pressure on d5 and b7. Black can take on c4 and try to hold the extra pawn, which makes the b4 bishop and a later ...Ba5 important. If Black trades on c3 instead, the game becomes a slower fight over the dark squares, with Black's knights against White's bishops.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.01: level. Its three top choices for Black:

  1. +0.01 4...O-O 5.Bg2 d5 6.Nf3 dxc4 7.a3
  2. +0.02 4...d5 5.Bg2 O-O 6.Nf3 dxc4 7.a3
  3. +0.12 4...Bxc3+ 5.bxc3 Nc6 6.Nf3 d6 7.Qd3

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

152 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 49.3%.

1600–199952.5%
2000 and up53.7%

Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.

How to play against it

Black, castle and play ...d5. If White plays Bg2 and Nf3, capturing on c4 is a good practical try. Avoid leaving the b7 pawn and the a8 rook exposed to the g2 bishop. If you trade on c3, play on the dark squares with ...d6 and ...e5.

Other lines with this name

The lichess opening list also files this line under the same name, though it reaches a different position: 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Nf3 c5 5.g3 O-O 6.Bg2.

Questions

What are the moves of the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Romanishin Variation?

The Nimzo-Indian Defense: Romanishin Variation starts 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.g3. Its ECO code is E20.

Is the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Romanishin Variation good for White?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.01 at depth 20, which is level. A calm, positional choice for White players who like the Catalan, and Black needs to handle a long diagonal aimed at the queenside.

What is the main idea of the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Romanishin Variation?

White fianchettoes the f1 bishop to press d5 and b7, a Catalan-style plan inside the Nimzo-Indian. Black castles, plays ...d5 and often captures on c4 to test White's setup.

What should Black play next?

The engine's first choice is O-O, with d5 and Bxc3+ close behind. 4...O-O keeps every option and prepares ...d5 and a later ...dxc4.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.