Nimzowitsch Defense
What is the Nimzowitsch Defense?
The Nimzowitsch Defense is a chess opening that begins with 1. e4 Nc6. It is classified under ECO B00 and has 43 named variations. Black chooses it with the move Nc6.
Moves: 1. e4 Nc6
ECO: B00
Chosen by: Black
Main variations
1. e4 Nc6 2. d4
1. e4 Nc6 2. Nf3
1. e4 Nc6 2. Bb5
1. e4 Nc6 2. b4
1. e4 Nc6 2. Nf3 f5
1. e4 Nc6 2. Nf3 e6
All 43 variations
| ECO | Variation | Moves |
|---|---|---|
| B00 | Main line | 1. e4 Nc6 |
| B00 | Main line | 1. e4 Nc6 2. d4 |
| B00 | Declined Variation | 1. e4 Nc6 2. Nf3 |
| B00 | Pseudo-Spanish Variation | 1. e4 Nc6 2. Bb5 |
| B00 | Wheeler Gambit | 1. e4 Nc6 2. b4 |
| B00 | Colorado Countergambit | 1. e4 Nc6 2. Nf3 f5 |
| B00 | Franco-Nimzowitsch Variation | 1. e4 Nc6 2. Nf3 e6 |
| B00 | French Connection | 1. e4 Nc6 2. Nc3 e6 |
| B00 | Kennedy Variation | 1. e4 Nc6 2. d4 e5 |
| B00 | Mikenas Variation | 1. e4 Nc6 2. d4 d6 |
| B00 | Neo-Mongoloid Defense | 1. e4 Nc6 2. d4 f6 |
| B00 | Pirc Connection | 1. e4 Nc6 2. Nc3 g6 |
| B00 | Scandinavian Variation | 1. e4 Nc6 2. d4 d5 |
| B00 | Williams Variation | 1. e4 Nc6 2. Nf3 d6 |
| B00 | Woodchuck Variation | 1. e4 Nc6 2. d4 a6 |
| B00 | Colorado Countergambit Accepted | 1. e4 Nc6 2. Nf3 f5 3. exf5 |
| B00 | Hornung Gambit | 1. e4 Nc6 2. d4 d5 3. Be3 |
| B00 | Kennedy Variation, Linksspringer Variation | 1. e4 Nc6 2. d4 e5 3. d5 |
| B00 | Scandinavian Variation, Advance Variation | 1. e4 Nc6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 |
| B00 | Scandinavian Variation, Bogoljubow Variation | 1. e4 Nc6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 |
| B00 | Breyer Variation | 1. e4 Nc6 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. d4 e5 |
| B00 | El Columpio Defense | 1. e4 Nc6 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. e5 Ng4 |
| B00 | Kennedy Variation, Bielefelder Gambit | 1. e4 Nc6 2. d4 e5 3. dxe5 Bc5 |
| B00 | Kennedy Variation, de Smet Gambit | 1. e4 Nc6 2. d4 e5 3. dxe5 d6 |
| B00 | Kennedy Variation, Hammer Gambit | 1. e4 Nc6 2. d4 e5 3. dxe5 f6 |
| B00 | Kennedy Variation, Herford Gambit | 1. e4 Nc6 2. d4 e5 3. dxe5 Qh4 |
| B00 | Scandinavian Variation, Aachen Gambit | 1. e4 Nc6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 Nb4 |
| B00 | Scandinavian Variation, Bogoljubow Variation | 1. e4 Nc6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 |
| B00 | Scandinavian Variation, Bogoljubow Variation, Brandics Gambit | 1. e4 Nc6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 a6 |
| B00 | Scandinavian Variation, Bogoljubow Variation, Erben Gambit | 1. e4 Nc6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 g6 |
| B00 | Scandinavian Variation, Bogoljubow Variation, Heinola-Deppe Gambit | 1. e4 Nc6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 e5 |
| B00 | Scandinavian Variation, Bogoljubow Variation, Vehre Variation | 1. e4 Nc6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 |
| B00 | Scandinavian Variation, Exchange Variation | 1. e4 Nc6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 Qxd5 |
| B00 | Kennedy Variation, Keres Attack | 1. e4 Nc6 2. d4 e5 3. dxe5 Nxe5 4. Nc3 |
| B00 | Kennedy Variation, Paulsen Attack | 1. e4 Nc6 2. d4 e5 3. dxe5 Nxe5 4. Nf3 |
| B00 | Scandinavian Variation, Exchange Variation, Marshall Gambit | 1. e4 Nc6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 Qxd5 4. Nc3 |
| B00 | Kennedy Variation, Main Line | 1. e4 Nc6 2. d4 e5 3. dxe5 Nxe5 4. f4 Ng6 |
| B00 | Kennedy Variation, Riemann Defense | 1. e4 Nc6 2. d4 e5 3. dxe5 Nxe5 4. f4 Nc6 |
| B00 | Scandinavian Variation, Bogoljubow Variation, Nimzowitsch Gambit | 1. e4 Nc6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. d5 Ne5 |
| B00 | Scandinavian Variation, Bogoljubow Variation, Richter Gambit | 1. e4 Nc6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. d5 Nb8 5. f3 |
| B00 | El Columpio Defense, El Columpio Gambit | 1. e4 Nc6 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. e5 Ng4 4. d4 d6 5. h3 Nh6 6. e6 |
| B00 | El Columpio Defense, Exchange Variation | 1. e4 Nc6 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. e5 Ng4 4. d4 d6 5. h3 Nh6 6. exd6 |
| B00 | El Columpio Defense, Pin Variation | 1. e4 Nc6 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. e5 Ng4 4. d4 d6 5. h3 Nh6 6. Bb5 |
How to learn an opening
Learn the ideas before the moves: where the pieces go, which pawn breaks matter and what the typical middlegame plans are. Then play it, and after each game look up the point where you or your opponent left the known moves. MentoChess shows that point automatically for every game you import.
Opening lessons: Three golden opening rules · Scholar’s mate and how to stop it · Italian Game: plans, not just moves · Answering 1.d4: the Queen’s Gambit Declined · Meeting the Sicilian with 2.c3 · From moves to structures