Chessy
Play the Nimzo-Larsen Attack: Spike Variation as White
The Spike Variation starts with an early pawn push that asks Black a direct question. After 1.b3 Nf6 2.Bb2 g6 3.g4, the position becomes sharp very quickly, but it is not automatically better for either side. Your job in the drill is to handle Black’s reply, keep your pieces coordinated, and avoid helping Black settle comfortably. This page shows the most common continuations and the critical move the engine prefers, so you can practise the exact position with a plan instead of guessing.
Play the Nimzo-Larsen Attack: Spike Variation against the engine
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Create a free account →What the position is really about
This opening is less about memorising long theory and more about handling the tension created by 3.g4. You have pushed a kingside pawn early, so your play must be purposeful: develop with energy, keep your king safe, and be ready for Black to hit back in the centre or on the kingside. The key idea is simple: if Black responds accurately, you need to keep the position under control and avoid losing time with your advanced pawns.
The engine’s main answer for Black
Stockfish rates this -0.23, a small plus for Black. That means you are slightly worse here. The engine’s best move is h6, and the listed main continuation is h6 h3 d5 d4. In practical terms, Black’s idea is straightforward: stop your kingside expansion from becoming annoying and then challenge the centre before you get too much space.
What the database says you will face
Across 112,615 games at this exact position, the results are very close. White wins 51.0%, draws 3.5%, and Black wins 45.4%. The most common reply is Bg7, with 75,348 games and White scoring 50.1%. Other popular continuations are h6, Rg8, g5, Bh6, and d6. This is a position you will see often, so the drill is useful for building real familiarity, not just one-off pattern recognition.
Moves to be careful about
Several replies are flagged as problems. Rg8 is an inaccuracy and loses about 0.9 pawns; the better move was h6. g5 is a mistake and loses about 1.2 pawns; again, h6 was better. Bh6 is also an inaccuracy and loses about 1.0 pawns, with h6 preferred. If you are White, this is helpful because it tells you which aggressive-looking replies Black should not be allowed to play comfortably.
Results across 112,615 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| Bg7 | 75,348 | 50.1% |
| h6 | 18,304 | 48.1% |
| Rg8 | 7,600 | 50.5% |
| g5 | 5,097 | 58.3% |
| Bh6 | 1,558 | 64.1% |
| d6 | 1,391 | 67.1% |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Nimzo-Larsen Attack: Spike Variation good for White?
In this exact position, Stockfish gives -0.23, a small plus for Black, so White is not better. The database results are still very playable, but you should treat the opening as a practical weapon rather than a forced edge.
What is Black’s best move against 1.b3 Nf6 2.Bb2 g6 3.g4?
The engine’s best move is h6. The main continuation listed is h6 h3 d5 d4, which shows that Black wants to meet your early kingside push with direct counterplay in the centre.
What should I expect most often after this opening?
The most common continuation is Bg7, played 75,348 times. It is the main reply you should be ready for in the drill, since it appears far more often than the other listed options.
Which replies by Black are risky here?
Rg8, g5, and Bh6 are all marked as mistakes or inaccuracies. The common theme is that Black should prefer h6 instead, so those moves are good chances for you to gain the advantage in practice.
How many games feature the Nimzo-Larsen Attack: Spike Variation?
Over 112K Lichess games have reached the Nimzo-Larsen Attack: Spike Variation position. White wins 51.0%, Black wins 45.4%, with 3.5% draws — based on real rated games.