Current position
Nimzowitsch Defense
1.e4 Nc6
The Nimzowitsch Defense starts with 1.e4 Nc6 and is catalogued under ECO B00, in the semi-open games half of the book. The catalog indexes 43 lines inside it, grouped into 41 named variations, and the position after those moves has 3 playable continuations to walk from here.
Root edges show how often each move is played around your Elo. Use the arrow on a position to reveal the next replies.
Current setup
Move ideas
Claims the center with a pawn and opens lines for the queen and king’s bishop.
Idea: Build quick development and make early castling possible.
Develops the knight to c6, bringing it into the game.
Idea: Improve piece coordination and clear the back rank for castling and the rooks.
Develops the knight to c3, bringing it into the game.
Idea: Improve piece coordination and clear the back rank for castling and the rooks.
Waiting for Lichess game popularity.
Each line below is an indexed entry under Nimzowitsch Defense. Open one to load it on the board and keep exploring from that position.
17 more named lines sit inside this family — the tree above walks all of them.
ECO groups openings by the structures they lead to, so these families tend to share plans with the Nimzowitsch Defense.