I'm using Chessmaster 9000 to learn the queen's pawn openings, since those tend to frustrate me. On yahoo I tend to be ranked in the 1200s-1300s.

In one sequence:

1: d4, Nf6
2: c4, e6
3: Nc3, Bb4

The suggested next move for white (of the two options they provide) is Nf3.

Edit: I corrected some of the coordinates in the moves I provided.

My concern here is that if black decides 4: ( ... Ne4) my knight is pinned and he has a double attack on the c3 square where it resides. My only option is to move my queen to either C2 or D3, which seems to me is tieing down down my pieces. My knight is pinned, my queen is used for defense and at this point my queens'-bishop is still cramped behind my e-pawn.

On the other hand I also notice that my queen is threatening black's knight, but black can back it with a pawn.

What are your thoughts of this position or other possible retorts on the fourth move?

don't know too much on the Nimzo-Indian Defense, but I would play 4...d5 if I was black.

Developing is the key to any opening. Here I'd either move Nc6 or 0-0 probably. Playing d5 is a book line, and it isn't bad at all, but I like to castle earlier most of the time. Get your pieces out to control the center before you get silly with the queen or pawns. I'd personally worry about central pawn thrusts later, after all your pieces are out, unless your opponent blunders bad and you can win material .

I'm sorry, I should have been more clear. In this case I'm white, and the program tells me I should play Nf3. My concern is if black replies Ne4, giving a double attack on my night on c3.

I assume your talking about the following moves:
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Nf3 Ne4

White has two choices here:
5.Qc2 when Black usually replies either 5…d5 or 5…f5
5. Qb3 with play usually continuing 5… c5 6.Nd2 Bxc3 7.bxc3 Nxd2 8.Bxd2 Qc7 9.e4 d6

Hehe sorry, I totally spaced that. My bad, I go into moron mode sometimes .

Thanks, Jackson!

Go to Chessgames.com or Chesslive.de to learn the opening. Just enter the moves.

Nf3 is not bad, but other fourth move options are either a3 (forcing an immediate trade on c3), e3 (development/support d4), or Qc2. If you are seriously worried about Ne4, then 4. Bd2 breaks up the pin, but White is a little cramped.

Or, 5.Bd2 Bxc3 6.BxB NxB 7.b2xN 0-0 8.e4 d6 9.Be2 Nd7 10.0-0 b6 11.Nd2 Bb7 With slight edge for White.

I think that Nf3 is the right move for someone of your strength.

Then Ne4?! Qc2 with e3, Bd3, 0-0 etc. If he wants to secure the N with f5, well, he's wasting a lot of time on pawn moves in the opening, which is not consistent with the nimzo strategy.