Chessy
How to Play the Nimzo-Larsen Attack
The Nimzo-Larsen Attack (1.b3) fianchettoes the queen's bishop immediately, pointing it straight down the long diagonal toward Black's kingside. Stockfish rates it at -0.14 — marginally preferring Black, but White scores 49.5% across 26 million games, making this one of the most practical surprise systems for avoiding mainstream theory.
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Create a free account →Why 1.b3 works as a system
White's idea is simple: get Bb2 firing on the a1–h8 diagonal and then build a center with c4 or d4 depending on how Black responds. The bishop on b2 will pressure central squares without committing the pawns early — a hypermodern philosophy borrowed from Nimzowitsch and popularized by Larsen. Because the position is completely uncharted for most opponents, you'll often get 10 minutes of thinking time on moves 2-4 alone.
Black's main options
- 1...e5 — the most popular (10,373,151 games) and the engine's top choice; grabs the center. White scores 49.7%.
- 1...d5 — the classical response (6,620,154 games). White scores 49.0%.
- 1...Nf6 — flexible development (1,948,863 games). White scores 46.9% — Black's best practical result among common replies.
- 1...e6 — quiet and solid (1,821,269 games). White scores 51.0%.
- 1...c5 — Sicilian-style flank counter (1,261,878 games). White scores 48.7%.
- 1...g6 — fianchetto mirror (944,630 games). White scores 51.9% — the weakest Black try.
Developing the system after 1...e5
After the most common 1...e5 2.Bb2 Nc6, the engine suggests c4 — creating a broad fianchetto + flank structure. White can also play 3.e3 followed by f4 for an unbalanced game, or 3.Nf3 and steer toward a reversed Sicilian shape. Against 1...d5, play c4 to challenge the center and aim for a sort of English/Reti hybrid. The recurring motif across all lines: the Bb2 bishop is your main weapon — keep it active and trade it only when it wins material or forces a structural concession.
26 million games at a glance
White scores 49.5% across 26,223,712 games with a Stockfish eval of -0.14 — the computer slightly prefers Black, but the practical gap is negligible. The clearest pattern: 1...g6 (944,630 games, White 51.9%) and 1...e6 (1,821,269 games, White 51.0%) are the weakest Black replies; 1...Nf6 (1,948,863 games, White 46.9%) is where Black does best. Against well-prepared 1...Nf6 players, expect a slight headwind.
Results across 26,223,712 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| e5 | 10,373,151 | 49.7% |
| d5 | 6,620,154 | 49.0% |
| Nf6 | 1,948,863 | 46.9% |
| e6 | 1,821,269 | 51.0% |
| c5 | 1,261,878 | 48.7% |
| g6 | 944,630 | 51.9% |
Frequently asked questions
Is 1.b3 a serious opening?
Yes — GMs including Bent Larsen, Tigran Petrosian, and Magnus Carlsen have played it. The eval is -0.14, essentially equal, and White scores 49.5% across 26M Lichess games. It's a sound hypermodern system, not a gimmick.
What is the best way to meet the Nimzo-Larsen Attack?
1...Nf6 is Black's best practical result among common replies — White scores only 46.9% in 1,948,863 games. Occupying the center with 1...e5 or 1...d5 is the engine's preference, but both give roughly equal results.
What is the difference between the Nimzo-Larsen and Larsen's Opening?
These names are often used interchangeably for 1.b3. 'Nimzo-Larsen' acknowledges the hypermodern ideas of Nimzowitsch; 'Larsen's Opening' honors Bent Larsen who popularized it in the 1960s-70s. Same move, same plans.
How does White coordinate after fianchettoing the bishop?
After Bb2, the plan is usually Nf3 (or f4 for a Bird-like setup), e3, Be2/Bd3, and 0-0 — then advance in the center with d4 or c4 once developed. The b2 bishop's long diagonal is most powerful when White's center pawns support it.