Black answers 1.e4 with the knight to c6 and attacks d4 at once. Against 2.d4 you learn two plans, the d-pawn to d5 and the e-pawn to e5. You also meet the quiet knight move to f3. Three traps show what happens when one side gets careless. This is a intermediate opening course for Black (ECO B00) with 6 variations and 3 traps, written for players rated around 1350. Each move is explained and then drilled on a board; it is free.
Key ideas of Nimzowitsch Defence
The c6 knight and the d-pawn attack d4 together. Many White moves leave d4 short of guards.
Against the advance to e5, the bishop goes to f5 before the e-pawn moves to e6. Then the f-pawn hits White's chain.
When White's queen comes out early, chase it with your knights and bishops and develop with tempo.
After White pushes to d5, the knight goes back to e7 and on to g6. Do not jump into d4, where it gets trapped.
Watch the long diagonal from b5 to e8. A bishop check on it often wins a loose knight on c6.
Variations you learn
Advance line: 3.e5 Bf5 – 1. e4 Nc6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. Nf3 e6 5. c3 f6 …. White grabs space with e5. Black develops the bishop to f5 first, then plays the e-pawn to e6. Next the f-pawn attacks White's centre, and Black trades the light-squared bishops.
Knight line: 3.Nc3 dxe4 – 1. e4 Nc6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. d5 Ne5 5. Qd4 Ng6 …. White develops the knight and keeps e4. Black takes on e4. After 4.d5 the knight jumps to e5 and then g6, and Black chases White's queen while developing.
Exchange line: 3.exd5 Qxd5 – 1. e4 Nc6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 Qxd5 4. Nf3 Bg4 5. Be2 O-O-O …. White trades in the centre. Black takes back with the queen and pins the f3 knight. Black castles long and hits the centre with the e-pawn.
Pawn grab: 3.dxe5 Nxe5 – 1. e4 Nc6 2. d4 e5 3. dxe5 Nxe5 4. Nf3 Nxf3+ 5. Qxf3 Qf6 …. White takes the e5 pawn and Black takes back with the knight. Black trades the knight on f3 and brings out the queen and the bishop with tempo.
Space line: 3.d5 Nce7 – 1. e4 Nc6 2. d4 e5 3. d5 Nce7 4. c4 Ng6 5. Nc3 Bc5 …. White pushes the d-pawn and chases the knight. The knight goes to e7 and then g6. Black trades the dark-squared bishops and keeps a solid position.
Quiet line: 2.Nf3 d6 – 1. e4 Nc6 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 Nf6 4. Nc3 Bg4 5. Be2 e5 …. White develops calmly with the knight. Black plays the d-pawn to d6 and the knight to f6. Black pins the f3 knight, takes it and puts a knight on d4.
Traps
Trapped knight: 3.d5 Nd4? 4.c3 – A warning for Black. After 3.d5 the knight jump to d4 looks strong. But after 4.c3 every square of the knight is covered, and White wins it.
Early capture: 5...Bxf3? Bxf3 – A warning for Black. In the line with the queen on d5, taking on f3 too early is a mistake. The bishop on f3 hits the queen and the c6 knight. Grabbing d4 then loses the queen.
Loose pawn: 4.Bd3? Nxd4 – In the 3.e5 line White often offers the bishop trade on d3. But the bishop blocks the queen, and the d4 pawn has no guard. The knight takes it for free.
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