Nimzowitsch Defence

Play as BlackDefence

A flexible reply that develops the queen's knight first.

The main line, move by move

1. e4 Nc6 2. Nf3 d5 3. exd5 Qxd5 4. Nc3 Qa5 5. d4 Nf6

1. 1. e4 — Claim the center and open lines for the queen and bishop.
2. 1... Nc6 — Brings the knight into the game.
3. 2. Nf3 — Brings the knight into the game.
4. 2... d5 — Strike at the e4 pawn at once.
5. 3. exd5 — Takes the pawn on d5.
6. 3... Qxd5 — Takes the pawn on d5.
7. 4. Nc3 — Brings the knight into the game.
8. 4... Qa5 — Attack the knight on c3 and get the queen out with a threat.
9. 5. d4 — Build a big center.
10. 5... Nf6 — Brings the knight into the game.

Related openings

• Sicilian Defense (Najdorf)
• French Defense
• Caro-Kann Defense
• Scandinavian Defense
• Pirc Defense

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