The Nimzo-Indian Defence continues to be one of the most important chess openings, an immensely popular choice both at club level as well as with almost all top players. It is a solid but flexible opening which gives rich tactical and positional play with winning chances for both sides. In this ground-breaking and well-structured book, one of today s greatest Nimzo-Indian experts, Ivan Sokolov, presents a complete guide to the important 4.a3 (Samisch) and 4.e3 (Rubinstein) Variations. The Samisch Variation presents the most fundamental test of Black s choice for the Nimzo-Indian, and Ivan Sokolov clearly explains the plans and counterplans for both sides.The Rubinstein is the historical main line and the most consistently popular. Like the Samisch, it requires a thorough positional understanding and Sokolov, renowned author of Winning Chess Middlegames: An Essential Guide to Pawn Structures, clearly presents the ideas, structures and plans in the various continuations. Besides in-depth explanations of strategy and concepts The Strategic Nimzo-Indian also contains quite a few new ideas and previously unknown resources for both Black and White. Ivan Sokolov not only provides you with crucial up-to-date information and strategic lessons in the Nimzo-Indian Defence; after studying this book you will have become a better allround chess player as well.Ivan Sokolov is a top grandmaster who was born in Bosnia in 1968 and has been living in the Netherlands for many years. He was Yugoslav champion in 1988 and Dutch champion in 1995 and 1998. In his rich career Sokolov has beaten world chess champions like Garry Kasparov, Vladimir Kramnik as well as Viswanathan Anand. His previous books include Winning Chess Middlegames and The Ruy Lopez Revisited.