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Nimzowitsch Defense

Woodchuck Variation

B00offbeat

  1. 1.e4Nc6
  2. 2.d4a6
1,014 games52%45%

A rare B00 sideline of the Nimzowitsch Defense in which Black meets 2. d4 with the noncommittal 2...a6, leaving White's broad center unchallenged.

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About the Woodchuck Variation

The Woodchuck Variation answers 2. d4 with 2...a6. This noncommittal pawn move leaves White's two-pawn center unchallenged and passes over the more principled 2...d5 and 2...e5. The engine rates White as clearly better. The most frequent reply is 3. d5, which gains space and drives the knight from c6, while 3. Nf3 and 3. Nc3 simply develop. The line is rarely played, though Black's online results trail White's only modestly.

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