Nimzowitsch Defense

Key ideas for both sides

Plans and pawn structure

The plans depend on Black's second move. After 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.c3 f6 5.f4 e6 the structure looks like a French with Black's light bishop already outside the chain. White has space and plays Nf3, Nd2 and Bd3, while Black attacks the chain with ...f6 and ...c5. After 2.d4 e5 3.d5 the knight has to move, and White gets a space edge with c4 and Nc3. After 2.Nf3 e5 the game becomes a regular open game.

What the Nimzowitsch Defense is about

The Nimzowitsch Defense starts 1.e4 Nc6. Black develops a knight before moving a central pawn. The knight hits d4 and supports ...e5, and Black keeps every structure open: a French-like game after ...d5 and ...e6, a classical game after ...e5, or a modern setup with ...d6.

From 46847 games White scored 52%, a normal result for 1.e4. The engine gives White a small edge after 2.d4, 2.Nf3 or 2.Nc3. The knight on c6 blocks Black's c-pawn, so ...c5 breaks are slower than in other defenses, and that is the main drawback. Black often uses ...f6 or ...e5 as the main pawn break instead.

The main variations

The Kennedy Variation, 2.d4 e5, is the most played line with 12903 games. White's main choice is the space-gaining Linksspringer Variation, 3.d5, which kicks the knight. Taking on e5 is also possible, and Black can gambit a pawn in the de Smet Gambit, 3.dxe5 d6.

The Scandinavian Variation, 2.d4 d5, is next. The engine's top line is 3.e5 Bf5 4.c3 f6 5.f4 e6, the Advance Variation. White can also take with the Exchange Variation, 3.exd5 Qxd5, where the knight on c3 then gains time on Black's queen.

The Declined Variation, 2.Nf3, avoids Black's special lines. After 2...e5 the game becomes a normal open game. Black can try the Franco-Nimzowitsch, 2...e6, or the Williams Variation, 2...d6, but White scored 54% against 2...e6 and the engine prefers White in both.

The Mikenas Variation, 2.d4 d6, is the most passive try. The engine gives White a clear edge after it.

Typical plans for White

White's simplest plan is to take the center and keep it. With 2.d4, both center pawns stand side by side. If Black plays ...d5, the push e5 closes the center and gives White space on the kingside. Then c3, f4, Nf3 and Bd3 build a solid chain, as in the engine line.

• Against ...e5, the push d5 gains space and kicks the knight, often to e7 or b8.
• Against early queen moves after an exchange on d5, develop with tempo with Nc3 and Nf3.
• With 2.Nf3, play for normal open-game ideas such as Bb5 and O-O.

Against the Pseudo-Spanish, 2.Bb5, or the French Connection, 2.Nc3 e6, the game is less forcing. In those lines White should still aim for d4 at a good moment, since a broad center is the cleanest way to show that 1...Nc6 is a little slow.

Typical plans for Black

Black's best plans strike the center quickly. In the Scandinavian Variation with 3.e5, Black gets the light bishop out with ...Bf5 and then plays ...e6, a French structure without the bad bishop. The engine's ...f6 idea attacks the head of White's chain at once.

• In the Kennedy Variation, after d5 the knight usually goes to e7 and Black plays ...Ng6, ...Bc5 and ...d6.
• After 2.Nf3, Black can transpose to a normal 1...e5 game with 2...e5.
• Use the c6 knight against d4, but be ready to reroute it, since it blocks the c-pawn.

Mistakes club players make

• Black playing too slowly. After 2.d4, quiet moves like 2...d6 give White a full center for free. Strike with ...d5 or ...e5.
• Black blocking the c8 bishop. In the advance lines, play ...Bf5 before ...e6.
• White taking on d5 and losing time. The exchange is fine, but develop with Nc3 and Nf3 rather than moving pawns.
• White forgetting the d4 pawn. The c6 knight and a later ...Bg4 can both hit d4. Support it with c3 or Nf3 and Be3.

Who should play it

The Nimzowitsch suits Black players who want to leave theory early and play original positions. It also suits 1...e5 players, since 2.Nf3 e5 brings them back to familiar ground. Black must know how to meet 2.d4, though, because that is where White gets the most space.

For White, the 2.d4 center with a calm follow-up is enough to get a pleasant game without memorizing much.

A practical tip for both sides: decide your structure in advance. Black should know which of ...d5 or ...e5 to play against 2.d4, and White should know whether to push or exchange against each. In this opening, a clear plan counts for more than deep lines.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.51: a slight edge for White. Its three top choices for White:

1. +0.51 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.c3 f6
2. +0.34 2.Nf3 e5 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6
3. +0.14 2.Nc3 e5 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Bb5 Bb4

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

46,847 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 52.0%.

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

Variations of the Nimzowitsch Defense

• Kennedy Variation2.d4 · 12,903 games
• Declined Variation2.Nf3 · 4,844 games
• Pseudo-Spanish Variation2.Bb5 · 807 games
• French Connection2.Nc3 · 595 games
• Wheeler Gambit2.b4 · rare
• El Columpio Defense, Pin Variation2.Nf3 · rare
• Scandinavian Variation, Bogoljubow Variation, Richter Gambit2.d4 · rare
• Breyer Variation2.Nc3 · rare

How to play against it

As White, take the center with 2.d4 or keep things simple with 2.Nf3. Against 2...d5 the advance 3.e5 is the engine's choice and gains space. Avoid a slow setup that lets Black's knight and bishop pile up on d4 while you have no target. Black's c6 knight blocks the c-pawn, so ...c5 breaks are slower than usual.

Other lines with this name

The lichess opening list also files this line under the same name, though it reaches a different position: 1.e4 Nc6 2.d4.

Questions

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.