How to Play the Nimzovich Defense 2.Nf3 Variation

For navigation

[•: Chess Openings - See All Lessons]

[•: To the Main Page of the Nimzovich Defense]

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.

How to Play the Nimzovich Defense Colorado 2.Nf3 f5

For navigation

[•: Chess Openings - See All Lessons]

[•: To the Main Page of the Nimzovich Defense]

We will learn how to play the Nimzovich Defense Colorado (official name Colorado counter variation) on this page of chess-openings-for-beginners.blogspot.com. The Nimzovich Defense starts as 1.e4 Nc6, and the Colorado counter variation of the Nimzovich Defense embraces the moves 1.e4 Nc6 2.Nf3 f5. So, the Nimzovich Defense Colorado starts with 1.e4 Nc6 2.Nf3 f5.

I. Nimzovich Defense Colorado

The Colorado variation of the Nimzovich Defense starts with 1.e4 Nc6 2.Nf3 f5 and occupies ECO code B00 in the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings. The official name of this variation of the Nimzovich Defense is Colorado Counter Variation. It resembles the Latvian Gambit opening but is not dubious, and may be recommended for beginners. Its popularity is 5% of the Nimzovich games at master level.


Moves: 1.e4 Nc6 2.Nf3 f5
Nimzovich Defense Colorado
Colorado Counter Variation
ECO Code: B00
• 8 Variations of the Nimzovich Defense

Learn to how play the Nimzovich Colorado in Chapter II. See proven lines of the Colorado games played by chess masters and evaluated by chess engine: + White, - Black, ? weak move, 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 Nimzovich Defense Colorado

1.e4 Nc6 2.Nf3 f5

Chess masters play: 3.exf5 (80%), e5 (10%), Nc3 (5%); d3, Bc4, ...
See below 4 best moves by evaluation of chess engine (depth 25):
3.exf5 (+0.95), e5 (+0.60), Nc3 (+0.40), d3 (+0.35)
Chess masters use the next proven lines as best moves for white and black.

• Main Lines via 3.exf5 (80%)

Nimzovich Defense Colorado (Colorado Counter Variation)


3.exf5 d5 4.d4 Bxf5 5.Bb5 e6 6.Ne5 Ne7 7.Bg5 Qd6 (+0.58)
3.exf5 d5 4.d4 Bxf5 5.Bb5 Qd6 6.Ne5 Nf6 7.0-0 Nd7 (+1.37)
3.exf5 d5 4.d4 Bxf5 5.Bd3 Bg4 6.h3 Bxf3 7.Qxf3 Nf6 (+0.81)
3.exf5 d5 4.Bb5 Bxf5 5.Ne5 Qd6 6.d4 Nf6 7.0-0 Nd7 (+1.31)
Typical moves for white: exf5, d4, Bb5, Ne5, 0-0 (see and think why).
Typical moves for black: d5, Bxf5, e6, Ne7, Nf6-Nd7 (see and think why).

• Other Lines via 3.e5 (10%) and Nc3 (5%)

Nimzovich Defense Colorado (Colorado Counter Variation)


3.e5 d6 4.Bb5 dxe5 5.Nxe5 Qd5 6.Bxc6+ bxc6 7.Nf3 Qe6+ 8.Qe2 (+0.26)
3.e5 d6 4.exd6 cxd6 5.d4 Nf6 6.d5 Ne5 7.Bb5+ Bd7 (+0.90)
3.Nc3 fxe4 4.Nxe4 d5 5.Ng3 e5 6.Bb5 Bg4 (+0.87)

• 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 Colorado variation, 1.e4 Nc6 2.Nf3 f5, B00, official name Colorado counter variation. The best white moves to respond the Colorado are 3.exf5, second best 3.e5. The Nimzovich Defense Colorado resembles the Latvian Gambit but is not dubious and may be recommended for beginners.