Chess Openings Lab
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Nimzowitsch Defense: Declined Variation

The Declined Variation of the Nimzowitsch Defense is 1.e4 Nc6 2.Nf3, where White develops instead of grabbing the center with d4. White keeps a normal open-game setup, while Black chooses between 2...e5, which reaches familiar double king pawn play, and offbeat tries like ...e6 or ...d6.

Moves
1.e4 Nc6 2.Nf3
ECO
B00
Engine
+0.20 · level (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
4,844 games in our lichess sample
White scores
51.7%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • Answer 2...e5 with Bb5, as in the top engine line, reaching Ruy Lopez style play with quick castling.
  • Against ...e6 or ...d6, play d4 at once and take the center with two pawns side by side.
  • If Black grabs with ...Nxe4 after O-O, use Re1 and Nxe5 to win the pawn back and open the e-file.
  • Keep the f3 knight flexible; it covers d4 and e5 and makes a later d4 push easy to support.

Black

  • Play 2...e5, the engine's first choice, for a solid open game where Black has no space problems at all.
  • If you prefer a French type game, 2...e6 with ...d5 is possible, but White gets space after e5.
  • Against Bb5, develop with ...Nf6 and consider ...Nxe4 to hit the center, then retreat the knight to d6.
  • Avoid slow pawn moves on the wing; the lead in development is White's main asset after 2.Nf3.

Plans and pawn structure

With 2.Nf3, White plays a natural developing move and invites 2...e5. After that, the game follows open-game plans: Bb5, castling and pressure on e5, with Re1 coming quickly. If Black chooses ...e6 or ...d6 instead, White gets a broad center with d4 and often pushes e5 or d5 for space. Black's knight on c6 then blocks the c-pawn, so the standard ...c5 counter is harder to arrange, and Black must find play with ...f6 or ...e5.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.20: level. Its three top choices for Black:

  1. +0.20 2...e5 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.O-O Nxe4 5.Re1
  2. +0.69 2...e6 3.d4 d5 4.e5 f6 5.c3
  3. +0.74 2...d6 3.d4 Nf6 4.Nc3 e5 5.Bb5

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

4,844 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 51.7%.

under 120054.4%
1200–159951.7%
1600–199951.8%
2000 and up44.1%

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

Where it goes next

How to play against it

Black, the simplest reply is 2...e5, which gives a normal position with good piece play. If you choose ...e6 or ...d6, expect d4 and a space edge for White. Keep an eye on the c6 knight: a pawn on d5 would kick it, so have a good retreat square ready.

Questions

What are the moves of the Nimzowitsch Defense: Declined Variation?

The Nimzowitsch Defense: Declined Variation starts 1.e4 Nc6 2.Nf3. Its ECO code is B00.

Is the Nimzowitsch Defense: Declined Variation good for White?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.20 at depth 20, which is level. In 4,844 lichess games from our sample, White scored 51.7%. A practical choice for White players who want normal positions, and Black does best by meeting it with ...e5.

What is the main idea of the Nimzowitsch Defense: Declined Variation?

White develops normally with Nf3, inviting Black into an open game with 2...e5. If Black avoids it with ...e6 or ...d6, White takes the center with d4 and plays for space.

What should Black play next?

The engine's first choice is e5, with e6 and d6 close behind. 2...e5 hits the center at once and leads to a balanced open game where Black develops easily.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.