Advance Variation, Nimzowitsch Attack

The Nimzowitsch Attack departs from the standard 4. c3 by sending the queen to g4 at once. Rather than shoring up the base of the chain, White ignores the threat to d4 and aims the queen at g7 and the kingside, where the e5-pawn already restricts Black's development. The point is to sacrifice the d-pawn and use the time to build an initiative. When Black captures with 4...cxd4 and White continues 5. Nf3, the line is known as the Nimzowitsch Gambit. The cost is an early queen sortie that can become a target and a center that loses its foundation once d4 falls.

Black's most frequent reply is 4...Nc6, adding pressure on d4 before deciding how to capture, with 4...cxd4 nearly as common and 4...Qb6 a rare alternative. Engines rate the position as a clear advantage for Black, also suggesting 4...h5 to drive the queen away, yet White scores well in online games, reflecting how awkward the kingside pressure is to meet in practice.