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Nimzowitsch Defence
The Nimzowitsch Defence begins after the moves 1. e4 Nc6. It is one of Black's rarer replies, and is a favourite of players who want to leave theory early and do not mind giving White space in the centre.
- For black
- Unorthodox
- Hypermodern
Written by:
The Essentials
- Early moves:
- 1. e4 Nc6
- Colour:
- Played by Black
- Style:
- Unorthodox and hypermodern
- Difficulty to learn:
- Moderate
- Named after:
- Aron Nimzowitsch, who did not invent 1... Nc6 but was the first to play it with frequent success in major international events.
- Trivia:
- Long before Bobby Fischer, German players called 1... Nc6 the Fischer Defence, after the 19th-century master Eduard Fischer.
- Variations:
- Scandinavian Variation. Kennedy Variation. Williams Variation. Colorado Countergambit.
- Good for:
- BlitzRapidClassical
Best suited for rating
1200-2200
Why play the Nimzowitsch Defence?
The Nimzowitsch Defence swaps central presence for an active light-squared bishop.
After 1. e4, Black develops the knight to c6 at once. From there it already eyes the d4- and e5-squares.
Unlike in the French Defence, Black can bring the light-squared bishop to f5 or g4 before closing the centre with ...e6. The price is the knight in front of the c-pawn, which makes the usual ...c5 strike hard to arrange.
Against 2. d4, the main choices are the Scandinavian and Kennedy Variations. Against 2. Nf3, the Williams Variation keeps the game independent, while ...e5 turns it into an ordinary 1. e4 e5 game.
Black has to live with a knight that gets in the way. White uses the extra space to chase the bishop, and in some set-ups it struggles to find a good square.
The payoff is a game on your own terms. Few opponents prepare for 1... Nc6, and once the light-squared bishop finds a good square, Black's position has no obvious problem piece.
Try the Nimzowitsch Defence yourself!
Why the Nimzowitsch Defence is good with the:
Central grip - White can take the centre with 2. d4 at once, and the knight on c6 cannot win the d4-pawn.
Bishop hunt - With h3, g4 or Ne2-g3, White can harass Black's light-squared bishop and take away its best squares.
Common sense - White needs no special preparation, because ordinary moves such as 2. d4 and 2. Nf3 already lead to good positions.
Suited for - Classical players who like to take the centre when it is offered and use the extra space.
Why the Nimzowitsch Defence is good with the white pieces
Central grip - White can take the centre with 2. d4 at once, and the knight on c6 cannot win the d4-pawn.
Bishop hunt - With h3, g4 or Ne2-g3, White can harass Black's light-squared bishop and take away its best squares.
Common sense - White needs no special preparation, because ordinary moves such as 2. d4 and 2. Nf3 already lead to good positions.
Suited for - Classical players who like to take the centre when it is offered and use the extra space.
Why the Nimzowitsch Defence is good with the black pieces
Bishop first - Black can develop the light-squared bishop before ...e6 shuts it in, which the French Defence does not allow.
Late decision - Black picks between ...d5, ...e5 and ...d6 structures only after seeing White's second move, choosing the one that suits the game.
Rare guest - Few opponents meet 1... Nc6 often, so they are left to find their plans without theory to lean on.
Suited for - Independent players who like to choose their structure late and do not mind giving White space early.
Strategy
Typical plans, pawn breaks, and key squares.
Advance Variation set-up
White supports e5 with f4 and targets the f5-bishop with Bd3 and Ne2, while the c6-knight blocks the ...c5 break.
Kennedy Variation set-up
Black regroups with ...Ng6 and ...Nf6, puts the bishop on b4 or c5, and supports e5 with ...d6, leaving no problem piece.
Williams Variation with ...Bg4
Black aims for ...d5, and if White pushes e5, the position turns French-like, with ...Nd7 and ...f6 against the pawn.
Williams Variation with ...g6
Black's fianchetto controls the dark squares, but h3 and g4, then d5, take g4 and e6 from the light-squared bishop.
Traps and tactics
Four traps every Nimzowitsch Defence player should know.
Themes
Eyes on f2 and f7
When both sides open lines with ...e5 and Bc4, bishops on c4 and c5 aim at f2 and f7. A king left in the centre can fall to a sacrifice there.
Breaks without the c-pawn
With the knight in front of the c-pawn, Black hits the centre with ...d5, ...e5 or ...f6 instead of ...c5. Choosing the right break gives the pieces room.
The knight on the run
White's d4-d5 often chases the c6-knight, and its next square decides the opening. If it lands well on e5, e7 or g6, Black has lost little time.
Choosing the battleground
Against 2. Nf3, Black chooses between the independent Williams Variation and ordinary 1. e4 e5 lines, so the amount of theory is Black's to decide.
History
The history of the Nimzowitsch Defence, from its origins to modern play.
1840s
Early adopters
Games with 1... Nc6 already appear in print, and Kennedy and Williams are among the first players to meet 1. e4 with the knight.
1860s
The Paulsen school
Wilfried Paulsen learns the move from Eduard Fischer, and with his brother Louis he takes 1... Nc6 into serious competition.
1907-1920
Making it his own
Aron Nimzowitsch plays it at Ostend, studies it deeply in 1919 and annotates a game with it under the heading "Niemzowitsch's opening".
1989
Maverick spirit
Garry Kasparov and Raymond Keene write that it has never been fully accepted, yet is sound, and Tony Miles favours the Kennedy Variation.
2020s
Champion's choice
Engines give White a small edge after 2. d4, but Magnus Carlsen brings 1... Nc6 to top rapid and online events, from the Magnus Carlsen Invitational to the Champions Chess Tour.
Model Games
Four games from Tilburg 1981 to Toronto 2023.
FAQ
The Nimzowitsch Defence is the opening that begins after 1. e4 Nc6. Black develops a knight first and waits for White's second move before choosing a pawn structure.
Yes and no. 1... Nc6 develops a piece at once, as beginners are taught, but it hands White the centre and blocks the c-pawn, so the plans take some learning.
Yes, although it is a riskier choice than 1... e5. Engines give White a small edge after 2. d4, yet Black's position holds, and many opponents meet it unprepared.
Black develops the knight before committing the centre pawns. After 2. d4, Black strikes with ...d5 or ...e5, and after 2. Nf3, Black chooses between the independent Williams Variation and ordinary 1. e4 e5 lines.
It begins after 2. d4 e5, with Black striking at the centre at once. White usually exchanges on e5 or pushes past with 3. d5, which forces the knight to find a new square.
Both are named after Aron Nimzowitsch. The Nimzowitsch Defence answers 1. e4 with 1... Nc6, while the Nimzo-Indian is a defence to 1. d4, reached after 1... Nf6, 2... e6 and 3... Bb4.
There is no single best line. 2. d4 takes the centre at once and is the most direct test, while 2. Nf3 keeps things simple, since 2... e5 leads to familiar 1. e4 e5 positions.
Aron Nimzowitsch, Tony Miles and Christian Bauer made it a regular weapon. Vlastimil Hort, Nigel Short, Peter Leko, Levon Aronian, Richard Rapport, Daniil Dubov and Magnus Carlsen have used it as an offbeat choice.
Choose the Pirc if you want one fixed setup with ...d6, ...Nf6 and ...g6 against most White systems. Choose the Nimzowitsch if you want to pick your structure after White's second move and leave theory early.