Indian Defense: Anti-Nimzo-Indian: what should White play?

In the Indian Defense: Anti-Nimzo-Indian, White's most testing and engine-favored response is the space-gaining thrust d5. Leading with an evaluation of +0.56, this central advance is selected in 35.7% of games (236K recorded) out of nearly 660,000 instances in the database. The move seizes territory in the center, restricts Black's natural development, and transposes directly into Benoni-style structures.

The Strategic Value of the Advance

Pushing forward with d5 clamps down on the central squares and disrupts Black's coordination. Rather than resolving tension via exchanges or passive defense, White asserts a space advantage that dictates the terms of the middlegame. An illustrative continuation demonstrating this dynamic is d5 b5 Bf4 b4 e4 Nxe4, where Black challenges the queenside structure while White controls key central avenues.

Major Classical Alternatives

White also possesses multiple flexible developing moves that steer the game toward calmer, symmetrical waters. The second most frequent choice is Nc3, occurring in 33.4% of games (220K recorded, eval +0.07), typically leading through Nc3 cxd4 Nxd4 d5 e3 Nc6. Solid setups like e3 (17.9% of games, eval +0.18) and the kingside fianchetto with g3 (10.1% of games, eval +0.21) maintain central solidity without closing the position. Liquidating immediately with dxc5 is seen in just 2.9% of games and evaluates at -0.06, relinquishing central control after dxc5 Bxc5 g3 O-O Bg2 d5.