Nimzowitsch-Larsen Attack

• At a glance

  Nimzowitsch-Larsen Attack

  812 games, 58.9%: GMHess's 1.b3. The b2 bishop on the long diagonal, Bb5 against the c6 knight, and Black's e5 pawn as the target.

  17 cards, one idea each. Swipe to move on.

• The big idea

  Your games: 825× · you score 59%

  1.b3 then 2.Bb2: GMHess leaves the center to Black and aims at it from a distance. Against 1…e5 2…Nc6, he plays 3.e3 then Bb5: the bishop pins the knight that guards e5.

• The big idea

  812 games, 452 wins, 52 draws and 308 losses, for 58.9%: it is his most played opening with White.

• The big idea

  Several recurring moves are disputed by Stockfish, and the course shows what the engine plays instead.

• The big idea

  The thread of the course: against …d5 and …Bd6, attack e5 then prepare c4. Against an early …e4, hit the pawn far from its base.

• The big idea

  Against the …g6 fianchetto, the bishop to g2 before the g4 push.

• Principle

  The b2 bishop aims at e5

  Your games: 238× · you score 60%

  From 2.Bb2 on, the e5 pawn is under attack. White's whole plan is to add attackers on that pawn.

• Principle

  Bb5 pins the defender

  Your games: 74× · you score 53%

  Against …Nc6 and …d5, 4.Bb5 pins the knight that guards e5. Black has to find another defender.

• Principle

  c4 against Black's chain

  When Black closes the center with …e4 and …d5, c4 attacks the base of the chain.

• Principle

  Against an early …e4, c4 at once

  An e4 pawn pushed before …d5 is far from its base. 4.c4 stops Black from supporting it quietly.

• Principle

  The g2 bishop before the g4 push

  Against Black's fianchetto, g3 and Bg2 aim at d5. The g4 push mostly opens White's own king.

• Imbalance

  A bishop against a center

  Your games: 92× · you score 53%

  Black occupies the center with pawns. White aims at it with the b2 bishop, then strikes it with c4 or d4.

• Imbalance

  A pawn against the bishop pair

  Your games: 22× · you score 39%

  After 4…Ne7 and 5.Bxe5, White is a pawn up. Black has the bishop pair and a lead in development.

• Imbalance

  A reversed French

  Your games: 18× · you score 42%

  After …f6, d4 and …e4, Black's d5 and e4 chain blocks the center. White attacks it at the base with c4.

• The trade-off

  What you gain

  • A simple plan: Bb2, e3, Bb5, and the e5 pawn as the target.
  • Clear breaks, c4 and d4, that open the game for the b2 bishop.
  • Against an early …e4, 4.c4 gives close to a one-point edge according to Stockfish.
• The trade-off

  What you give up

  • Black takes the center: it has to be hit at the right moment.
  • Developing the knight to e2 often hands the edge to Black.
  • After 4…Ne7 and 7…h5, the position is equal but hard to play: 34% in 19 games.
• That's all

  Your turn

  These ideas only stick once you play the moves. The chapters make you find the right ones.

  Start chapter 1

Card 1 of 17: Nimzowitsch-Larsen Attack

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