Theoria
8765432abcdefgh1

Nimzowitsch Defense

Scandinavian Variation, Bogoljubow Variation, Nimzowitsch Gambit

B00gambittactical

  1. 1.e4Nc6
  2. 2.d4d5
  3. 3.Nc3dxe4
  4. 4.d5Ne5
1,995 games52%45%

A Nimzowitsch Defense line in which Black, a pawn up after 3...dxe4 4. d5, centralizes the knight with 4...Ne5 and must weather attacks on it.

Train it in Theoria

About the Nimzowitsch Gambit

Black answers 4. d5 by centralizing the knight on e5 rather than retreating it to b8, keeping the extra e-pawn for now. The knight is exposed there: 5. Bf4 and 5. Qd4 both attack it and force 5...Ng6, and after 5. Bf4 Ng6 6. Bg3 the reply 6...f5 is critical but little explored. The most common choice, 5. Nxe4, simply regains the pawn, and 5...e6 then gives Black comfortable development. The engine gives White a slight edge.

Popular continuations