Nimzowitsch Defense
ECO B00 · 1. e4 Nc6
The Nimzowitsch Defense, 1.e4 Nc6, develops the queen's knight first and stays flexible about pawn moves. Named after Aron Nimzowitsch, one of the fathers of hypermodern chess, it is an offbeat but respectable choice.
Plans for White
White takes the center with 2.d4 or 2.Nf3. After 2.d4 d5 White can advance with 3.e5 or keep tension with 3.Nc3, and after 2.d4 e5 the d5 push gains space and drives the knight back.
Plans for Black
Black plays ...d5 or ...e5 depending on White's setup, aiming for French, Scandinavian or open-game-like structures. The knight on c6 puts early pressure on d4.
Typical pawn structures
Varies with Black's second move; ...d5 lines often resemble the French or Scandinavian.
Who it suits
Surprise-weapon players who want to take opponents out of preparation from move one, and who are comfortable in many different structures.
Common traps
Pushing d5 too soon can overextend White, but Black's knight can also be kicked around by d5 and f4 ideas if Black plays passively.
Variations
- Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian Variation — 1. e4 Nc6 2. d4 d5
- Nimzowitsch Defense: Kennedy Variation — 1. e4 Nc6 2. d4 e5
- Nimzowitsch Defense: El Columpio Defense — 1. e4 Nc6 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. e5 Ng4
- Nimzowitsch Defense: Declined Variation — 1. e4 Nc6 2. Nf3
- Nimzowitsch Defense: Pseudo-Spanish Variation — 1. e4 Nc6 2. Bb5
- Nimzowitsch Defense: Wheeler Gambit — 1. e4 Nc6 2. b4
- Nimzowitsch Defense: Colorado Countergambit — 1. e4 Nc6 2. Nf3 f5
- Nimzowitsch Defense: Franco-Nimzowitsch Variation — 1. e4 Nc6 2. Nf3 e6
- Nimzowitsch Defense: French Connection — 1. e4 Nc6 2. Nc3 e6
- Nimzowitsch Defense: Mikenas Variation — 1. e4 Nc6 2. d4 d6
- Nimzowitsch Defense: Neo-Mongoloid Defense — 1. e4 Nc6 2. d4 f6
- Nimzowitsch Defense: Pirc Connection — 1. e4 Nc6 2. Nc3 g6
- Nimzowitsch Defense: Williams Variation — 1. e4 Nc6 2. Nf3 d6
- Nimzowitsch Defense: Woodchuck Variation — 1. e4 Nc6 2. d4 a6
- Nimzowitsch Defense: Colorado Countergambit Accepted — 1. e4 Nc6 2. Nf3 f5 3. exf5
- Nimzowitsch Defense: Hornung Gambit — 1. e4 Nc6 2. d4 d5 3. Be3
- Nimzowitsch Defense: Breyer Variation — 1. e4 Nc6 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. d4 e5