Philidor Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation
The Nimzowitsch Variation is 3.d4 Nf6, where Black counterattacks e4 instead of supporting e5 with a pawn or knight. White can take on e5 with 4.dxe5 and hit the e4 knight with Qd5, or play 4.Nc3 and transpose to the Lion setup.
- Moves
- 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 Nf6
- ECO
- C41
- Engine
- +0.67 · a slight edge for White (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
- Played
- 1,902 games in our lichess sample
- White scores
- 56.5%
Key ideas for both sides
White
- Play 4.dxe5 Nxe4 5.Qd5, hitting the knight and f7 at once, so Black must find ...Nc5.
- After ...Nc5 use Bg5 to gain time and look for queen trades that leave Black with weak pawns.
- 4.Nc3 Nbd7 leads to the Lion Variation, with h3, g4 and a4 as White's main plans.
- Bc4 is the Klein Variation, aiming at f7 and inviting tactics.
Black
- After 4.dxe5 take on e4 and answer 5.Qd5 with ...Nc5 to cover f7 and the knight.
- Develop with ...Be6 and accept a queen trade on c5 if it leaves your structure healthy.
- Against 4.Nc3, play ...Nbd7, ...Be7, ...c6 and ...O-O for the solid Lion setup.
- Against 4.Bd3, take on d4 and fianchetto with ...g6 and ...Bg7.
Plans and pawn structure
The position depends on White's choice. After 4.dxe5 Nxe4 5.Qd5, the queens come off quickly and White has a small endgame edge thanks to the better pawn structure. After 4.Nc3, the center stays tense and White plays h3, g4 and a4 while Black keeps e5 with knights and the e7 bishop. After 4.Bd3, Black takes on d4 and plays a fianchetto with ...g6 and ...Bg7.
What the engine plays from here
Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.67: a slight edge for White. Its three top choices for White:
- +0.67 4.dxe5 Nxe4 5.Qd5 Nc5 6.Bg5 Be6
- +0.59 4.Nc3 Nbd7 5.h3 c6 6.a4 Be7
- +0.32 4.Bd3 exd4 5.Nxd4 g6 6.Nc3 Bg7
Pawns, from White's side.
How it scores on lichess
1,902 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 56.5%.
Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.
Where it goes next
- Lion Variation4.Nc3 · 1,589 games
- Nimzowitsch Variation, Klein Variation4.Bc4 · 556 games
- Nimzowitsch, Locock Variation4.Ng5 · rare
- Nimzowitsch Variation, Sokolsky Variation4.dxe5 · rare
- Lion Variation, Forcing Line4.Nc3 · rare
How to play against it
As White, take on e5 with 4.dxe5 and hit e4 with Qd5; Black must find ...Nc5. Or play 4.Nc3 and reach the Lion with a space edge. Do not leave e4 undefended after ...Nf6.
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 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 Nf6 4.dxe5.
Questions
What are the moves of the Philidor Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation?
The Philidor Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation starts 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 Nf6. Its ECO code is C41.
Is the Philidor Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation good for Black?
Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.67 at depth 20, which is a slight edge for White. In 1,902 lichess games from our sample, White scored 56.5%. A flexible choice for Black players who know the Lion setup, but they must remember ...Nc5 after 4.dxe5 Nxe4 5.Qd5.
What is the main idea of the Philidor Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation?
Black counterattacks e4 with ...Nf6. White can take on e5 and play Qd5 against the knight and f7, or play Nc3 and transpose to the Lion setup.
What should White play next?
The engine's first choice is dxe5, with Nc3 and Bd3 close behind. 4.dxe5 opens the center so that Qd5 hits the knight on e4 and the f7 pawn.
Related lines
- Philidor Defense
- Exchange Variation
- Hanham Variation
- Lion Variation
- Morphy Gambit
- Lopez Countergambit
- How to beat the Philidor Defenseguide
Updated October 2026. Sources and method.