Chess: Understanding the Nimzowitsch Defense

1 e4 Nc6 Line



What's the game plan for White?

What's the game plan for Black?

1 e4



1 ... Nc6



2 d4 d5 3 Nc3 dxe4 4 d5 Ne5 5 Qd4.

2 Nf3



2 d4
2 Nc3
2 Bb5
2 Bc4

In Mr Leonard Barden's PLAY BETTER CHESS,
White shouldn't fear 2 ... d5 here because it
gives him a favorable form of the Center Counter
after 3 exd5 Qxd5 4 Nc3. In the same book, he also
says White gets a small but clear advantage in space
after 2 ... d6 3 d4 Bg4 4 d5 Nb8 5 Be2 followed by h3.
2 ... d6 3 d4 Bg4 4 d5 Ne5? 5 Nxe5! Bxd1 6 Bb5+ c6
7 dxc6 Qa5+ 8 Nc3 gives White too much material for
the Queen.

2 ... d6



2 ... e5
2 ... Nf6
2 ... d5
2 ... e6
2 ... f5
2 ... g6


3 d4



3 Nc3
3 Bb5
3 h3
3 Bc4

3 ... Nf6



3 ... Bg4
3 ... e5
3 ... g6
3 ... f5

3 ... Bg4 4 d5 Nb8 5 Be2 followed by h3.
3 ... Bg4 4 d5 Ne5? 5 Nxe5! Bxd1 6 Bb5+ c6
7 dxc6 Qa5+ 8 Nc3.

4 Nc3



4 c3
4 Nbd2
4 Bd3
4 d5

4 ... Bg4



4 ... g6
4 ... e5

5 Be3



5 d5
5 Be2
5 Bb5
5 h3

5 ... e6



5 ... e5
5 ... d5
5 ... a6
5 ... g6

6 h3



6 Be2
6 Qd2
6 d5

6 ... Bh5



7 d5



7 Bb5
7 a3
7 Qe2
7 Be2

7 ... exd5



7 ... Ne7

8 exd5



8 ... Bxf3



8 ... Ne5

9 Qxf3



9 ... Ne5



10 Qe2



10 ... a6



10 ... Be7

11 O-O-O



11 f4

11 ... Be7



12 f4



12 ... Ng6



13 g4



13 ... Nd7



14 g5



14 ... O-O



By ChessCoach@care2.com

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