Chess Openings Lab
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Petrov's Defense: Nimzowitsch Attack

The Nimzowitsch Attack is 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.Nc3, offering to trade knights on c3 and accepting doubled c-pawns. White wants fast development, Qd2 and long castling, while Black takes on c3 and aims for a solid position against the open d-file.

Moves
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.Nc3
ECO
C42
Engine
+0.27 · level (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
586 games in our lichess sample
White scores
54.2%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • After 5...Nxc3 recapture 6.dxc3 to open the d-file for the queen and rooks.
  • Develop with Be3, Qd2 and O-O-O, then think about a kingside pawn storm with h4 and g4.
  • The doubled c-pawns protect the king after long castling, so they are not a big weakness.
  • If Black keeps the knight with 5...Nf6, play d4, Bd3 and O-O for a Classical-style setup.

Black

  • Trade with 5...Nxc3 and develop with ...Be7 and ...O-O, keeping the king away from White's storm.
  • Use ...Nd7-f6 or ...Nc6 to bring the queenside knight to the center.
  • Answer a pawn storm with ...c5 and ...b5 on the queenside, against the long-castled king.
  • Avoid 5...d5 6.Qe2, where the knight on e4 is pinned and Black loses time.

Plans and pawn structure

With White's doubled c-pawns and an open d-file, the middlegame has opposite-side castling. White plays Be3, Qd2 and O-O-O, piles on d6 with rooks, and may advance h4 and g4. Black castles short and plays ...Nd7-f6, ...Re8 and ...Bf8, then counters with queenside pawns or a central ...d5. Endgames often favor Black because of the c-pawns, so White must play actively.

Where the engine's main line heads: White has doubled c-pawns. White's c-pawns are doubled, usually after ...Bxc3 bxc3. In return White keeps the bishop pair and a solid center.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.27: level. Its three top choices for Black:

  1. +0.27 5...Nxc3 6.dxc3 Be7 7.Be3 O-O 8.Qd2
  2. +0.42 5...Nf6 6.d4 d5 7.Bd3 Be7 8.O-O
  3. +0.75 5...d5 6.Qe2 Be7 7.Nxe4 dxe4 8.Qxe4

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

586 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 54.2%.

1200–159955.5%
1600–199956.1%
2000 and up53.1%

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

How to play against it

As Black, take with 5...Nxc3, then ...Be7, ...O-O and ...Nd7. Keep the d6 pawn well protected, since White's rooks aim at it. Do not open lines near your own king. Trading queens is good for you because of White's doubled pawns.

Questions

What are the moves of the Petrov's Defense: Nimzowitsch Attack?

The Petrov's Defense: Nimzowitsch Attack starts 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.Nc3. Its ECO code is C42.

Is the Petrov's Defense: Nimzowitsch Attack good for White?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.27 at depth 20, which is level. In 586 lichess games from our sample, White scored 54.2%. A good choice for White players who want sharp opposite-side castling, while Black needs patience and safe king defense.

What is the main idea of the Petrov's Defense: Nimzowitsch Attack?

White offers a knight trade on c3, gets doubled c-pawns, and uses the open d-file with Be3, Qd2 and long castling. Black takes on c3, castles short and aims for a calm game where the doubled pawns may matter later.

What should Black play next?

The engine's first choice is Nxc3, with Nf6 and d5 close behind. 5...Nxc3 trades knights and saddles White with doubled c-pawns before White can use the pin on the e-file.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.