Chess Openings Lab
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Nimzo-Larsen Attack

The Nimzo-Larsen Attack starts with 1.b3, preparing Bb2 to control e5 and the long diagonal toward g7. White plays a hypermodern game with e3, Nf3 and c4, letting Black take the center and then attacking it, while Black can build a broad center with ...e5 or ...d5 and develop freely.

Moves
1.b3
ECO
A01
Engine
−0.16 · level (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
41,380 games in our lichess sample
White scores
52.4%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • Develop the bishop to b2 at once so it hits e5 and aims down the long diagonal.
  • Follow with e3, Nf3 and Be2 or Bb5, keeping the d-pawn flexible.
  • Use c4 against ...d5 to hit the center from the flank, as in the top engine line.
  • Against ...e5 and ...Nc6, pin the knight with Bb5 to tie down a defender of e5.

Black

  • Take the center with ...e5, blocking the b2 bishop's diagonal and gaining space.
  • Support e5 with ...Nc6 and ...d6, or play ...d5 for a broad center.
  • Use a ...c5 and ...Nc6 setup to fight for d4, as in the English Variation lines.
  • Fianchetto with ...g6 to oppose the b2 bishop and blunt its aim.

Plans and pawn structure

In the ...e5 lines Black gets a broad center and White pressures it with Bb2, e3, c4 and sometimes Bb5 against the c6 knight. The top engine line 1...e5 2.Bb2 Nc6 3.c4 Nf6 4.e3 d5 5.cxd5 shows a reversed Sicilian with Black's center under fire. In the ...d5 and ...c5 lines the play is slower, with White aiming for a later d4 and Black developing with ...Nf6, ...e6 and ...Nc6. Both sides have equal chances.

What the Nimzo-Larsen Attack is about

1.b3 prepares Bb2, where the bishop controls e5 and looks down the long diagonal toward g7 and h8. White plays in a hypermodern style: let Black occupy the center, then attack it with pieces and flank pawns. The usual setup is Bb2, e3, Nf3 and c4, with Be2 or Bb5 depending on Black's moves.

Across 41380 games from the starting position White scored 52.4%. The engine's top replies, 1...e5, 1...c5 and 1...Nf6, all lead to balanced positions, with 1...e5 giving Black a tiny edge.

The main variations

The Modern Variation, 1...e5, is the most played reply. Black takes central space and blocks the b2 bishop. White hits e5 with Bb2, e3 and sometimes Bb5 to pin the c6 knight. The engine line 2.Bb2 Nc6 3.e3 d5 4.Bb5 Ne7 shows White hitting the center, with Black ready to give the e5 pawn for development.

The Classical Variation, 1...d5, is the other main answer. Black builds a full center with ...Nf6, ...e6 and often ...c5. The engine line 2.Bb2 c5 3.e3 Nf6 4.Nf3 e6 5.d4 leads to a queen's pawn structure where White's b2 bishop is well placed.

The Indian Variation, 1...Nf6, keeps Black flexible. White scored exactly 50% here. Black often adds ...c5 and ...Nc6 or ...g6, depending on White's setup.

The English Variation, 1...c5, fights for d4. Black usually plays ...Nc6, ...Nf6 and ...g6 or ...e6. The engine sees a balanced game.

The Symmetrical Variation, 1...b6, copies White. The engine likes 2.e4 here, taking the center Black has left free.

Typical plans for White

White develops with Bb2, e3, Nf3 and Be2, then castles short. The bishop on b2 is the most important piece; open its diagonal and keep Black's pawns from blocking it permanently.

  • Strike with c4. Against ...d5, c4 attacks the center from the side.
  • Pin with Bb5. Against ...Nc6 and ...e5, the pin weakens e5.
  • Play d4 later. In ...d5 and ...c5 setups, a well-timed d4 reaches queen's pawn positions with White's bishop already on b2.
  • Kingside play with f4. If Black's center is fixed on e5, f4 can open lines toward Black's king.

Typical plans for Black

Black's best plan is usually a broad pawn center. With ...e5, ...Nc6 and ...d5, Black takes space and limits the b2 bishop. With ...d5, ...Nf6 and ...e6, Black reaches a solid structure that is easy to play.

  • Defend e5 well. The b2 bishop, a knight on f3 and the pin Bb5 can all hit it.
  • Use ...g6 and a bishop on g7 to oppose the b2 bishop in the ...c5 and ...Nf6 lines.
  • Look for ...e4 to gain space and push White's knight from f3 when the center is secure.

Mistakes club players make

  • White forgetting the center. Bb2 alone is not a plan. Without e3, c4 or d4, Black's center grows unchallenged.
  • Black leaving e5 loose. The pin Bb5 against a c6 knight and pressure from b2 can win the pawn.
  • Black copying White with ...b6. It lets White take the center with e4.
  • Blocking the b2 bishop with your own pawns. White players often play d4 and e3 too early and leave the bishop staring at its own pawn.
  • Black castling into the long diagonal without care. With the b2 bishop and a queen ready to join, a kingside pawn push can open the diagonal against g7.

Who should play it

The Nimzo-Larsen suits White players who like flexible, positional play and do not want to learn a lot of theory. The same setup works against almost every reply, and the plans repeat from game to game.

For Black, 1...e5 and 1...d5 are the clearest answers. Both give equal chances with simple development, so the opening is not a big threat to a well-prepared player.

The Nimzo-Larsen also rewards patience. Many games stay closed for a long time, and the side that places its pieces better, especially the bishops, usually wins the middlegame. White should think about which pawn break fits each structure: c4 against a d5 pawn, f4 against an e5 pawn, and d4 when Black has set up with ...c5 and ...e6. Black, in turn, should not rush the center pawns forward without support.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position −0.16: level. Its three top choices for Black:

  1. −0.16 1...e5 2.Bb2 Nc6 3.c4 Nf6 4.e3
  2. −0.01 1...c5 2.Bb2 Nf6 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.e3
  3. +0.03 1...Nf6 2.Bb2 c5 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.e3

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

41,380 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 52.4%.

under 120052.4%
1200–159952.6%
1600–199952.1%
2000 and up53.0%

Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.

Variations of the Nimzo-Larsen Attack

How to play against it

As Black, the most direct answer is 1...e5, which blocks the b2 bishop and takes space; support it with ...Nc6 and ...d5. If you prefer a quieter setup, ...d5 with ...Nf6 and ...e6 or ...c5 is solid. Avoid loosening moves that leave e5 or the long diagonal undefended.

Questions

What are the moves of the Nimzo-Larsen Attack?

The Nimzo-Larsen Attack starts 1.b3. Its ECO code is A01.

Is the Nimzo-Larsen Attack good for White?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position −0.16 at depth 20, which is level. In 41,380 lichess games from our sample, White scored 52.4%. A flexible, low-theory choice for positional players, though Black reaches easy equality with a broad center.

What is the main idea of the Nimzo-Larsen Attack?

White fianchettoes the queen's bishop to control e5 and the long diagonal, letting Black build a center and then attacking it with c4, e3 and pieces. The opening is flexible and leads to many structures.

What should Black play next?

The engine's first choice is e5, with c5 and Nf6 close behind. 1...e5 takes the center at once and blocks the diagonal the b2 bishop wants to use.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.