Knight line: 3.Nc3 dxe4 is variation 2 of 6 in the Nimzowitsch Defence course, a intermediate opening course for Black (ECO B00). It runs 20 moves and begins 1. e4 Nc6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. d5 Ne5 …. 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. In the lesson every move is explained on a board and then drilled; it is free.
Move by move
1. e4 – White takes the centre.
1... Nc6 – The knight develops and attacks d4.
2. d4 – White takes more of the centre.
2... d5 – Black attacks e4.
3. Nc3 – White defends e4 with the knight.
3... dxe4 – Black takes the pawn. Now the d4 pawn feels the pressure of the c6 knight and the queen.
4. d5 – White chases the knight away from c6.
4... Ne5 – The knight goes to the centre.
5. Qd4 – The queen attacks e5 and e4 at the same time.
5... Ng6 – The knight steps back to safety.
6. Qxe4 – White wins back the pawn.
6... Nf6 – Black develops and attacks the queen.
7. Qa4+ – The queen escapes with check.
7... Bd7 – Black blocks the check and develops.
8. Qb3 – The queen eyes the b7 pawn.
8... e5 – Black opens the f8 bishop and fights for the centre.
The lesson goes on for 4 more moves, each with its explanation.
chessGM