B00
Nimzowitsch Defense
1. e4 Nc6 2. d4
In the Nimzowitsch Defense, aim to understand the plans and pawn structures, not just memorize the first moves.
The Nimzowitsch Defense is a chess opening classified under ECO code B00. It is reached after the moves 1. e4 Nc6 2. d4: 3 moves in, with Black to play.
Learn its typical plans and pawn structures rather than memorizing moves — that’s what holds up over the board.
Dozens of named variations branch from this position; the list at the end of the page goes one move deeper into each.
Play the Nimzowitsch Defense? See where you go wrong.
Deepline reviews your real games, finds the exact moves that cost you, and trains the fixes.
Analyze my games free →Variations of the Nimzowitsch Defense
- Breyer Variation1. e4 Nc6 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. d4 e5
- Colorado Countergambit1. e4 Nc6 2. Nf3 f5
- Colorado Countergambit Accepted1. e4 Nc6 2. Nf3 f5 3. exf5
- Declined Variation1. e4 Nc6 2. Nf3
- El Columpio Defense1. e4 Nc6 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. e5 Ng4
- El Columpio Defense, El Columpio Gambit1. e4 Nc6 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. e5 Ng4 4. d4 d6 5. h3 Nh6 6. e6
- El Columpio Defense, Exchange Variation1. e4 Nc6 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. e5 Ng4 4. d4 d6 5. h3 Nh6 6. exd6
- El Columpio Defense, Pin Variation1. e4 Nc6 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. e5 Ng4 4. d4 d6 5. h3 Nh6 6. Bb5
- Franco-Nimzowitsch Variation1. e4 Nc6 2. Nf3 e6
- French Connection1. e4 Nc6 2. Nc3 e6
- Hornung Gambit1. e4 Nc6 2. d4 d5 3. Be3
- Kennedy Variation1. e4 Nc6 2. d4 e5
- Kennedy Variation, Bielefelder Gambit1. e4 Nc6 2. d4 e5 3. dxe5 Bc5
- Kennedy Variation, Hammer Gambit1. e4 Nc6 2. d4 e5 3. dxe5 f6
- Kennedy Variation, Herford Gambit1. e4 Nc6 2. d4 e5 3. dxe5 Qh4
- Kennedy Variation, Keres Attack1. e4 Nc6 2. d4 e5 3. dxe5 Nxe5 4. Nc3
- Kennedy Variation, Linksspringer Variation1. e4 Nc6 2. d4 e5 3. d5
- Kennedy Variation, Main Line1. e4 Nc6 2. d4 e5 3. dxe5 Nxe5 4. f4 Ng6
- Kennedy Variation, Paulsen Attack1. e4 Nc6 2. d4 e5 3. dxe5 Nxe5 4. Nf3
- Kennedy Variation, Riemann Defense1. e4 Nc6 2. d4 e5 3. dxe5 Nxe5 4. f4 Nc6
- Kennedy Variation, de Smet Gambit1. e4 Nc6 2. d4 e5 3. dxe5 d6
- Mikenas Variation1. e4 Nc6 2. d4 d6
- Neo-Mongoloid Defense1. e4 Nc6 2. d4 f6
- Pirc Connection1. e4 Nc6 2. Nc3 g6
- Pseudo-Spanish Variation1. e4 Nc6 2. Bb5
- Scandinavian Variation1. e4 Nc6 2. d4 d5
- Scandinavian Variation, Aachen Gambit1. e4 Nc6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 Nb4
- Scandinavian Variation, Advance Variation1. e4 Nc6 2. d4 d5 3. e5
- Scandinavian Variation, Bogoljubow Variation1. e4 Nc6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3
- Scandinavian Variation, Bogoljubow Variation, Brandics Gambit1. e4 Nc6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 a6
- Scandinavian Variation, Bogoljubow Variation, Erben Gambit1. e4 Nc6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 g6
- Scandinavian Variation, Bogoljubow Variation, Heinola-Deppe Gambit1. e4 Nc6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 e5
- Scandinavian Variation, Bogoljubow Variation, Nimzowitsch Gambit1. e4 Nc6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. d5 Ne5
- Scandinavian Variation, Bogoljubow Variation, Richter Gambit1. e4 Nc6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. d5 Nb8 5. f3
- Scandinavian Variation, Bogoljubow Variation, Vehre Variation1. e4 Nc6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6
- Scandinavian Variation, Exchange Variation1. e4 Nc6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 Qxd5
- Scandinavian Variation, Exchange Variation, Marshall Gambit1. e4 Nc6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 Qxd5 4. Nc3
- Wheeler Gambit1. e4 Nc6 2. b4
- Williams Variation1. e4 Nc6 2. Nf3 d6
- Woodchuck Variation1. e4 Nc6 2. d4 a6