Semi-open games

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.

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Current setup

Move ideas

  1. 1.e4

    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.

  2. 1…Nc6

    Develops the knight to c6, bringing it into the game.

    Idea: Improve piece coordination and clear the back rank for castling and the rooks.

  3. 2.d4

    Advances to d4 to claim central space and control nearby key squares.

    Idea: Give the pieces room to develop behind a durable central foothold.

  4. 2…d5

    Advances to d5 to claim central space and control nearby key squares.

    Idea: Give the pieces room to develop behind a durable central foothold.

  5. 3.e5

    Advances to e5 to claim central space and control nearby key squares.

    Idea: Give the pieces room to develop behind a durable central foothold.

Book continuations

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0 moves
This is the end of the indexed line.

Named variations

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.

Openings from the same volume

ECO groups openings by the structures they lead to, so these families tend to share plans with the Nimzowitsch Defense.