Chessy
Nimzowitsch Defense: Colorado Countergambit as Black
After 1.e4 Nc6 2.Nf3 f5, you are asking White an immediate question. The opening is sharp, but the position after White’s move is not pleasant for Black: the main fight often starts with White deciding whether to take on f5 or build in the centre. This page is built around that critical moment. Use the drill below to practise the right reactions, avoid the most common errors, and get a feel for the kind of middlegame you are actually heading into as Black.
Play the Nimzowitsch Defense: Colorado Countergambit against the engine
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Create a free account →What the position is telling you
Stockfish rates this +1.24, a clear edge for White. That means you are already worse, so your job is not to “equalise by force” but to stay active and avoid giving away more ground. The opening is aggressive and confrontational, yet the numbers show that White is the side with the lasting advantage. For Black, the practical goal is to meet White’s most direct move without drifting into a worse version of the same position.
The engine’s main reply
The engine’s best move here is exf5. In the listed continuation, exf5 d5 Bb5 Bxf5, White keeps the pressure and Black has to be precise from the start. This is a good position to drill because it shows the main theme of the opening: White is usually happy to simplify matters in a way that leaves Black with less freedom. In the lesson, focus on recognising that White’s capture is not a surprise to fear — it is the most important move to know how to face.
What the database says White actually plays
The most-played continuation is exf5, with 212,739 games and White scoring 46.1% there. The next most common choices are e5 in 100,853 games, Nc3 in 36,056 games, d3 in 19,822 games, Bc4 in 13,916 games, and d4 in 8,112 games. That tells you the opening is not about memorising one obscure trick: White has several natural moves, and you need a reliable answer to the main capture while staying alert to the quieter setups too.
The mistakes to punish and avoid
There are clear practical errors in this position. e5 is an inaccuracy and loses about 0.7 pawns; Nc3 is a mistake and loses about 1.1 pawns; d3 is also a mistake and loses about 1.1 pawns. The common theme is simple: if White does not take on f5, they can still go wrong by choosing a slower or less accurate setup. As Black, that means you should stay alert for loose moves and be ready to meet them with active development rather than passive defence.
Results across 406,782 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| exf5 | 212,739 | 46.1% |
| e5 | 100,853 | 45.7% |
| Nc3 | 36,056 | 44.1% |
| d3 | 19,822 | 46.1% |
| Bc4 | 13,916 | 39.1% |
| d4 | 8,112 | 42.6% |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Nimzowitsch Defense: Colorado Countergambit good for Black?
The numbers here are not encouraging for Black. Stockfish gives +1.24, which is a clear edge for White, and the database also shows White scoring well across this exact position. It is playable as a practical weapon, but you should know you are taking on a risky opening.
What is the best move for White in this position?
The engine’s best move is **exf5**. That is the move you need to understand most deeply if you are playing Black, because it is the main practical challenge in the opening.
What are White’s most common replies here?
The most-played continuation is **exf5**, and the other common moves are **e5**, **Nc3**, **d3**, **Bc4**, and **d4**. The drill is useful because these are all natural-looking choices that can appear quickly in real games.
Which White moves are the main mistakes?
In this position, **e5** is marked as an inaccuracy, while **Nc3** and **d3** are marked as mistakes. The key point is that White does not need to play perfectly to keep the advantage, so Black must be careful and active rather than hoping for an easy equal game.
How many games feature the Nimzowitsch Defense: Colorado Countergambit?
Over 406K Lichess games have reached the Nimzowitsch Defense: Colorado Countergambit position. White wins 45.3%, Black wins 51.5%, with 3.3% draws — based on real rated games.