Nimzowitsch Defense
You play Black · 7 variations
Mixed practice
The machine picks a different variation every time.
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10 positions: find the next theory move in each. No take-backs, no hints.
Main variations · 1
Other variations · 6
- El Columpio Defense, El Columpio GambitB001. e4 Nc6 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. e5 Ng4 4. d4 d6 5. h3 Nh6 6. e66 moves
- El Columpio Defense, Exchange VariationB001. e4 Nc6 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. e5 Ng4 4. d4 d6 5. h3 Nh6 6. exd66 moves
- El Columpio Defense, Pin VariationB001. e4 Nc6 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. e5 Ng4 4. d4 d6 5. h3 Nh6 6. Bb56 moves
- Breyer VariationB001. e4 Nc6 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. d4 e53 moves
- Colorado Countergambit AcceptedB001. e4 Nc6 2. Nf3 f5 3. exf53 moves
- Hornung GambitB001. e4 Nc6 2. d4 d5 3. Be33 moves
What is the Nimzowitsch Defense?
The Nimzowitsch Defense begins with 1.e4 Nc6. Black develops the queen's knight at once and puts immediate pressure on d4, inviting White to build a centre that can later be attacked. Associated with Aron Nimzowitsch, it is an offbeat, hypermodern surprise weapon, sound enough for club play though rarely seen at the top. Its character depends on Black's second move: it can lead to French-like structures, open games or sharp gambits.
Main ideas and plans
After 1.e4 Nc6 2.d4, your main answers are ...d5 and ...e5. In the Scandinavian Variation, 1.e4 Nc6 2.d4 d5, you challenge the centre at once. If White pushes with 1.e4 Nc6 2.d4 d5 3.e5, you develop with ...Bf5 and ...e6, reaching a French-type structure in which your light-squared bishop is already outside the pawn chain, and later hit the centre with ...f6. If White plays 1.e4 Nc6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3, the game becomes sharp after ...dxe4 and the push d5, when your knight has to find a good square such as e5. With 1.e4 Nc6 2.d4 e5, you strike at d4 immediately, and after dxe5 or d5 you must be ready for open, tactical play.
Against 1.e4 Nc6 2.Nf3, most players reply with ...d6 or ...e5. The move 1.e4 Nc6 2.Nf3 e5 transposes directly into the open games, so you need a repertoire against the Italian, the Scotch and the Ruy Lopez. With 1.e4 Nc6 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 Nf6 4.Nc3 Bg4, you stay in Nimzowitsch territory and pressure d4 by pinning the knight on f3. The Colorado Countergambit, 1.e4 Nc6 2.Nf3 f5, is a provocative try that leads to wild positions but loosens your king considerably.
Who is it for?
The Nimzowitsch Defense suits creative players who like to leave theory early and feel at home in unusual structures, and it works well as an occasional surprise weapon. Its main downside is that White has simple ways to get a good centre, and since White can steer the game into the open games with Nf3, you need either a 1.e4 e5 repertoire or a reliable alternative such as ...d6. The knight on c6 also blocks your c-pawn, so the usual ...c5 break is not available. First learn the French-style plan with ...Bf5 and ...e6 after White pushes e5, and know your answer to Nf3.