Nimzo-Larsen Attack

Why the Nimzo-Larsen Attack is worth training

The Nimzo-Larsen Attack starts with 1.b3. White fianchettoes the queen's bishop with 2.Bb2 and aims it down the long diagonal at e5 and g7. White lets Black take the center first, then attacks it with pieces and pawn breaks like f4 and c4. Against 1...e5, the bishop already hits the pawn, so Black has to spend time defending it.

Chessmate has a Nimzo-Larsen Attack course for White and a Nimzo-Larsen Attack course for Black. The White course has five lines against 1...e5, 1...d5, 1...Nf6, and 1...c5, and the Black course has four lines built around the classical center with 1...e5 and ...d5.

The Bb5 sample line for White

In the White sample line, Black takes the center with 1...e5 2.Bb2 Nc6 3.e3 d5. White pins the knight that defends e5 with 4.Bb5. After 4...Bd6, White attacks the pawn again with 5.f4, and Black adds the queen with 5...Qe7.

After 6.Nf3 Bg4, White opens the position with 7.fxe5 Bxe5 8.Bxe5, removing a defender. Black takes the knight with 8...Bxf3, and White recaptures with 9.Qxf3, keeping the pawn structure intact. After 9...Qxe5 10.d4 Qd6 11.O-O, White has a pawn on d4, a half-open f-file, and a lead in development.

The classical center sample line for Black

The Black sample line follows the same moves from Black's side. Black occupies the center with 1...e5, defends the pawn with 2...Nc6, and claims the full center with 3...d5. When White pins with 4.Bb5, Black defends e5 with 4...Bd6, and after 5.f4 adds the queen with 5...Qe7.

Black pins the knight with 6.Nf3 Bg4. After 7.fxe5 Bxe5 8.Bxe5, Black removes the knight that would recapture on e5 with 8...Bxf3. After 9.Qxf3, Black takes back the bishop with 9...Qxe5. When White claims the center with 10.d4, the queen steps back with 10...Qd6, and Black is ready to finish development.

c4, the Indian setup, and other White lines

Against 1...e5, the White course also covers 3.c4. After 3...Nf6 4.e3 d5 5.cxd5 Nxd5, White plays 6.a3 to keep Black's bishop off b4, then builds a quiet setup with Qc2, Nf3, d3, and Be2. Against 1...d5, White pins again with 4.Bb5, trades the bishop for the knight with 8.Bxc6, and puts a knight on the e5 outpost with 9.Ne5.

Against 1...Nf6, White plays the Indian setup with 4.c4, exchanges with 7.cxd5 exd5, and fianchettoes the second bishop with 8.g3 before claiming space with 10.d4. Against the English-style 1...c5, White opens the center with 5.d4 cxd4 6.Nxd4, trades with 7.Nxc6 bxc6, and fixes Black's queenside pawns with 10.a4.

Black's answers to c4 and g3

When White plays 3.c4, the Black course meets it with 3...Nf6 and 4...d5. After the knight recaptures on d5, Black castles, tucks the king away with 9...Kh8, and gains space with 10...f5, taking control of e4.

Against an early 3.Nf3, Black defends e5 with 3...d6. When White strikes with 4.d4, Black advances with 4...e4, hitting the knight and closing the long diagonal of the bishop on b2. After 5.Nfd2 d5, Black has a broad pawn center. Against the quiet 3.g3, Black builds the center with 3...d5, trades on c4 with 5.c4 dxc4, and exchanges the light-squared bishops with 7...Bd5.

What to train first

Pick the course for the color you play.

• If you play the Nimzo-Larsen Attack as White, start with the Nimzo-Larsen Attack course for White. Learn the Bb5 sample line first, then the Indian setup and the answer to 1...c5.
• If you face the Nimzo-Larsen Attack as Black, start with the Nimzo-Larsen Attack course for Black. Learn the classical center sample line first, then the 4...e4 advance against 3.Nf3.
• Whichever side you play, watch the long diagonal from b2. White's plans depend on pressure against e5, and Black's plans depend on defending or blocking it.

The Nimzo-Larsen Attack gives White a flexible setup and gives Black an early center. Train the lines until you know when the center is a strength and when it becomes a target.