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We will learn today how to play the 2.Nf3 variation of the Nimzovich Defense chess opening on this page of chess-openings-for-beginners.blogspot.com. The Nimzovich Defense begins with 1.e4 Nc6, and the best 2 moves to respond the Nimzovich are 2.d4 and 2.Nf3. The Nimzovich Defense 2.Nf3 variation starts with the moves 1.e4 Nc6 2.Nf3 (see figure below).
I. Nimzovich Defense 2.Nf3 Variation
The official name of the discussed variation is Nimzovich Defense, 2.Nf3 variation (ECO code B00) with the moves 1.e4 Nc6 2.Nf3. The 2.Nf3 variation is the most popular variation of the Nimzovich Defense: it embraces 50% of all Nimzovich Defense games at master level. The variation has the only sub-variant called as Nimzovich Defense, Colorado counter variation 1.e4 Nc6 2.Nf3 f5.
Moves: 1.e4 Nc6 2.Nf3
Nimzovich Defense, 2.Nf3 Variation
Most popular, with 1 sub-variant (Colorado)
ECO Code: B00
• 8 Variations of the Nimzovich Defense
Learn in Chapter II to how play the Nimzovich 2.Nf3. See proven lines of the Nimzovich 2.Nf3 games played by chess masters and evaluated by chess engine: + White, - Black, 0-0.50 equal, 0.51-1.00 slightly better, 1.01-1.50 better, 1.51 much better. Examples: +1.31 (White is better as if he won 1.31 pawns by material), -0.62 (Black is slightly better), +0.30 (equal).
II. How to Play the Nimzovich, 2.Nf3 Variation
1.e4 Nc6 2.d4 ...
Chess masters respond to the Nimzovich 2.Nf3: 2... d6 (45%) and e5 (25%)
Less common responses are: 2... d5, Nf6, f5 (Colorado), e6, g6 (all 30%)
To respond to the Nimzovich 2.Nf3, best moves by chess engine (depth 25):
2... e5 (+0.32), g6 (+0.69), d6 (+0.73), e6 (+0.74), d5 (+0.80), Nf6 (+0.90).
Note. The Nimzovich 2.Nf3 often transposes into other chess openings.
See below how chess masters play the Nimzovich 2.Nf3 variant lines.
• Main Lines via 2... d6 (45%) and e5 (25%)
Nimzovich Defense, 2.Nf3 Variation
2... d6 3.d4 Nf6 4.Nc3 Bg4 5.Be3 e6 (+0.30)
2... d6 3.d4 Nf6 4.Nc3 g6 5.h3 Bg7 (+0.48)
2... d6 3.d4 Bg4 4.Be2 Nf6 5.Nc3 e6 (+0.82)
2... e5 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 (+0.41)
2... e5 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d3 Be7 5.0-0 0-0 (+0.65)
2... e5 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Bc5 5.Be3 Qf6 (+0.34)
• Other Lines via 2... d5, Nf6, e6, g6 (all 30%)
Nimzovich Defense, 2.Nf3 Variation
2... d5 3.exd5 Qxd5 4.Nc3 Qa5 5.Bb5 Bd7 (+0.65)
2... Nf6 3.e5 Ng4 4.d4 d6 5.h3 Nh6 (+1.14!)
2... e6 3.d4 d5 4.e5 f6 5.Bb5 Bd7 (+0.80)
2... g6 3.d4 Bg7 4.Nc3 d6 5.h3 Nf6 (+0.50)
Use the following link to return to the main page of the Nimzovich Defense:
• To the Main Page of the Nimzovich Defense | Lesson 45
On this page of chess-openings-for-beginners.blogspot.com we have learned the Nimzovich Defense, 2.Nf3 variation, B00, 1.e4 Nc6 2.Nf3. The 2.Nf3 is the most popular variation of the Nimzovich Defense. The best 2 moves to respond the 2.Nf3 variation are d6 (45%) and e5 (25%). You could see above proven lines played by chess masters and typical moves of the Nimzovich 2.Nf3.
