Explore from here
Train this openingAbout this opening
Black develops a knight to attack your center rather than staking a claim with a pawn, which blocks the black c-pawn and takes away the queenside break most defenses rely on. That is the drawback, and it shows in the numbers. d4 is the most played move here and the strongest, taking the whole center while the knight has nothing to attack. Nf3 is also good. Note how well White scores from here: this defense is playable but it gives up the center voluntarily, and at club level the extra space usually tells before Black finds counterplay.
Plans
- Play d4 and build a full center at once.
- Meet the knight with d5 to gain a tempo when it helps.
- Develop Nf3 and Bc4 and castle short.
- Keep the center pawns defended so the knight has no target.
Where the pieces belong
- Pawn: d4, the center taken for free
- Pawn: e4, the other half of the big center
- Knight: f3, covering d4 and e5
- Bishop: c4, aiming at f7
- Knight: c3, supporting both center pawns
You get space and an easy game. Black's own knight blocks the c-pawn, so the usual queenside break is unavailable and you can play on both wings.
Variations
Nimzowitsch Defense
2. d4
Nimzowitsch Defense: Breyer Variation
2. Nc3 Nf6 3. d4 e5
Nimzowitsch Defense: Pirc Connection
2. Nc3 g6