Nimzo-Larsen Attack: Symmetrical Variation
The Symmetrical Variation of the Nimzo-Larsen Attack is 1.b3 b6, where Black copies White's fianchetto. White can take the center with e4 or play quietly with Bb2 and c4, while Black puts a bishop on b7 and fights for the long diagonal.
- Moves
- 1.b3 b6
- ECO
- A01
- Engine
- +0.48 · a slight edge for White (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
- Played
- 1,084 games in our lichess sample
- White scores
- 50.9%
Key ideas for both sides
White
- Play 2.e4, the engine's first choice, to grab the center while Black is fianchettoing.
- Develop with Bb2, Nc3 and Nf3 so the center pawns are supported.
- Set up with c4, Nf3 and g3 for a double fianchetto if you prefer a quiet game.
- Use the extra tempo to control e4 and d5 before Black does.
Black
- Play ...Bb7 to fight for e4 and the long diagonal toward White's king.
- Against 2.e4, hit the center with ...c5 and develop with ...Nc6 and ...e6.
- Use ...Nf6 and ...e6, then ...Be7 and castling for a solid setup.
- Don't copy White forever; strike the center with ...c5 or ...d5 at the right moment.
Plans and pawn structure
Both bishops will sit on the long diagonals. With the extra tempo, White can take the center with e4, which is why the engine likes it. Black answers with ...c5, ...Nc6 and ...e6 for a Sicilian-like setup. If White plays quietly with c4 and g3, the game becomes a slow maneuvering fight over e4 and d5. Black's best chance is to hit the center before White's space becomes a real edge.
What the engine plays from here
Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.48: a slight edge for White. Its three top choices for White:
- +0.48 2.e4 c5 3.Bb2 Nc6 4.Nc3 e6
- +0.33 2.Bb2 Bb7 3.c4 e6 4.Nf3 Nf6
- +0.26 2.Nf3 Bb7 3.c4 Nf6 4.Bb2 e6
Pawns, from White's side.
How it scores on lichess
1,084 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 50.9%.
Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.
How to play against it
Black, develop ...Bb7 quickly and hit the center with ...c5. Don't let White build e4 and d4 with no pressure on them. White, use 2.e4 to grab space while Black's bishop is not yet on b7, then develop Bb2, Nc3 and Nf3.
Questions
What are the moves of the Nimzo-Larsen Attack: Symmetrical Variation?
The Nimzo-Larsen Attack: Symmetrical Variation starts 1.b3 b6. Its ECO code is A01.
Is the Nimzo-Larsen Attack: Symmetrical Variation good for Black?
Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.48 at depth 20, which is a slight edge for White. In 1,084 lichess games from our sample, White scored 50.9%. A playable but passive reply, good for Black players who like quiet fianchetto games.
What is the main idea of the Nimzo-Larsen Attack: Symmetrical Variation?
Black mirrors White's fianchetto. White uses the extra tempo to take the center with e4, while Black fights back with ...Bb7 and ...c5.
What should White play next?
The engine's first choice is e4, with Bb2 and Nf3 close behind. 2.e4 grabs the center while Black's bishop is still on c8.
Related lines
Updated October 2026. Sources and method.