The Nimzo-Larsen Attack: Classical Variation — How to Play as Black

The Nimzo-Larsen starts with 1.b3, a flank opening that aims to control the centre from the side. After 2.Bb2, White's bishop is pointing at the dark squares around your king's future home. By playing 2...Bf5 you do two important things: you develop your light-squared bishop outside the pawn chain before playing e6, and you put immediate pressure on the centre. Your bishop on f5 is active and hard to chase away quickly. The position is dead level — you are not worse here. Your task is straightforward: complete development, keep the centre stable, and look for chances on the kingside or in the centre once White commits to a pawn structure.

White has several reasonable moves, and the statistics show which ones you'll see most often at the board. Here is what the data says across nearly half a million games: - e3 (played in 200,224 games) — White scores 49.3%. This is by far the most common. White prepares d4 or Nf3, keeping things flexible. - g3 (88,836 games) — White scores 50.1%. A hypermodern setup with Bg2, aiming to control the centre with the fianchetto. - d3 (74,476 games) — White scores 48.1%. Solid but slightly passive; Black is already scoring well. - Nf3 (55,161 games) — White scores 49.5%. The engine's top choice. White develops naturally and keeps options open. - d4 (11,093 games) — White scores just 45.2%. A more aggressive push that actually gives Black the better results. - Nc3 (10,173 games) — White scores 45.5%. This is a known mistake (more on that next). Whatever White plays, you are doing fine. The numbers confirm you have nothing to fear.

The one move you should be especially alert for is Nc3. It is played in about 10,000 games — enough that you will see it occasionally — and the engine flags it as an inaccuracy costing roughly 1.0 pawns. White should have played Nf3 instead. After Nc3, Black gains a slight advantage. The exact follow-up depends on the position, but you want to think about taking the initiative. Since White's knight on c3 blocks the c-pawn and doesn't threaten much yet, you can consider moves like e6, Nf6, or even attacking the centre with c5. The key point: when you see Nc3, know that White has made a small concession and you can play more actively than usual.

Stockfish's top recommendation for White is Nf3, followed by e6, g3, Nf6. This is the most principled line: White develops the knight, fianchettoes the other bishop on g2, and aims for a flexible setup. As Black, you should expect to see this in stronger games. Your plan after Nf3 e6 g3 Nf6 is straightforward: castle kingside soon, contest the centre with c5 or Nbd7, and prepare to meet Bg2 with your own solid pawn structure. The resulting position is balanced and positional — the kind of game where small nuances matter. If you enjoy slow, strategic chess, this line suits you perfectly. And if your opponent plays something else, the statistics show you are already doing well.