Nimzovich Defense | All 8 Variations

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The hypermodern Nimzovich Defense chess opening has 8 official variations according to the ECO code classification (ECO stands for the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings). The classification code for the Nimzovich Defense opening includes the only ECO code B00 which begins with 1.e4 without 1... e5, c5, e6, d6, c6, Nf6, d5 and which is officially called the King's Pawn Opening.

ECO code B00 embraces several openings including the Nimzovich Defense (the other ones of B00 include the unknown openings like the Barnes Defense, Corn Stalk Defence, Lemming Defence, etc.). On this page you will find a full list of all 8 official variations of the Nimzovich Defense and some useful info on each variation of the Nimzovich Defense chess opening.

I. Nimzovich Defense: The Main Picture

Below is the main picture of the B00 Nimzovich Defense with the moves 1.e4 Nc6.

B00 Nimzovich Defense
1.e4 Nc6

By chess engine: White is slightly better (+0.42)
Notes: +0.42 means that the White position is better as if White won 0.42 pawns by material (+ means that White is better/- Black). Chess engine evaluates and shows whose position is better as follows: 0-0.50 position is equal; 0.51-1.00 slightly better; 1.01-1.50 better; 1.51+ much better.
Learn the Nimzovich Defense Chess Opening 1.e4 Nc6

II. Nimzovich Defense: 8 Official Variations

• B00 Nimzovich Defense
1.e4 Nc6 (see next)


• B00 Nimzovich Defense, Wheeler gambit variation
1.e4 Nc6 2.b4 Nxb4 3.c3 Nc6 4.d4
By chess engine: Black is slightly better (-0.64)

• B00 Nimzovich Defense, 2.Nf3 variation
1.e4 Nc6 2.Nf3 (see next, link below)

By chess engine: The position is equal (+0.00)
This is the most popular variation of the Nimzovich Defense.
How to Play the Most Popular Nimzovich 2.Nf3 Variation

• B00 Nimzovich Defense, Colorado counter variation
1.e4 Nc6 2.Nf3 f5 (link below)
By chess engine: White is slightly better (+0.90)
How to Play the Nimzovich Defense Colorado ... 2.Nf3 f5

• B00 Nimzovich Defense, 2.d4 variation, "the Main line"
1.e4 Nc6 2.d4 (see next, link below)

By chess engine: The position is equal (+0.07)
This is also called the Main line of the Nimzovich Defense.
How to Play the Main Line of the Nimzovich Defense ... 2.d4

• B00 Nimzovich Defense, Marshall gambit variation
1.e4 Nc6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 Qxd5 4.Nc3
By chess engine: Black is slightly better (-0.77)
This variation runs via the Main line.

• B00 Nimzovich Defense, Bogolyubov variation
1.e4 Nc6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3
By chess engine: The position is equal (-0.07)
This variation runs via the Main line.

• B00 Nimzovich Defense, Neo-Mongoloid defense variation
1.e4 Nc6 2.d4 f6
By chess engine: White is better (+1.36)
This variation runs via the Main line.

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How to Play the Scandinavian Defense Main Line

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On this page of chess-openings-for-beginners.blogspot.com you can study how to correctly play the Scandinavian Defense Main Line which is 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5. Learn proven playing lines of the Scandinavian Defense chess opening proved by chess master games and confirmed by chess engine evaluations! Now it's time to closely look at what you see below...

I. Scandinavian Defense Main Line

Chess Opening Name: Scandinavian Defense (1.e4 d5)
Variation Name: Scandinavian Defense Main Line
Moves: 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5
ECO Code: B01
Popularity: 50%

The Main Line of the Scandinavian Defense is not an official variation of the Scandinavian (it is unofficial name), but it is the most popular playing line of the Scandinavian Defense (50% of all chess master games). By statistics, the chess masters play: 2.exd5 Qxd5 ~ 50%; 2.exd5 Nf6 ~ 40%; 2.exd5 c6, e6 ~ 5%. The Main Line of the Scandinavian Defense is the most popular play in the Scandinavian, and you should learn it first...

• See All Official Variations of the Scandinavian Defense

II. How to Play Scandinavian Defense Main Line

1.e4 d5 Scandinavian Defense
2.exd5 Qxd5 Scandinavian Defense Main Line
3.Nc3 ...
If 3.Nf3, then 3... Bg4 4.Be2 Nc6 (+0.25).


See three best moves to continue:
3... Qa5 ("classical"), Qd6 ("modern"), Qd8 ("old").
Learn 2 proven plays (variants) as shown below:

• Variant 1 of 2 (3... Qa5 "classical")

3... Qa5 4.d4 c6 5.Bc4 Nf6 6.Nf3



6... Bg4 7.h3 Bh5 8.g4 Bg6


Study the best line to continue (by chess engine):
9.Bd2 Nbd7 10.Nd5 Qd8 11.Nf4 e6 (White is slightly better, +0.67)

• Variant 2 of 2 (3... Qd6 "modern")

1.e4 d5 Scandinavian Defense
2.exd5 Qxd5 Scandinavian Defense Main Line
3.Nc3 ...
If 3.Nf3, then 3... Bg4 4.Be2 Nc6 (+0.25).


3... Qd6 4.d4 Nf6 5. Nf3 a6


6.g3 Bg4 7.Bg2 Nc6


Study the best line to continue (by chess engine):
8.0-0 0-0-0 9.h3 Bh5 10.Be3 e6 (=Equal, +0.46)

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On this page of chess-openings-for-beginners.blogspot.com you have studied how to play the Main Line of the Scandinavian Defense chess opening. The Main Line of the Scandinavian runs as 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5. It is ECO code B01, and it covers 50% of all Scandinavian Defense games played by chess masters. You can learn more on playing the Main Line of the Scandinavian Defense by downloading and seeing the Scandinavian Defense PGN file on this site. Thank you!