Chessy
Nimzowitsch Defense: Kennedy Variation — play it as Black
The Nimzowitsch Defense: Kennedy Variation starts with an immediate challenge to White’s centre after 1.e4 Nc6 2.d4 e5. That choice leads to an opening where you must know what to do when White has the move and extra central space. The drill below puts you in that exact position as Black, so you can practise the practical replies, recognise the most common continuations, and avoid the moves that drift into a worse game.
Play the Nimzowitsch Defense: Kennedy Variation against the engine
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Play the drill now and practise the Kennedy Variation from Black’s side. Create a free account to track your opening training and improve faster.
Create a free account →What the position is saying
Stockfish rates this +0.56, a small edge for White. That means you are slightly worse here.
This is not a collapsed position, but White has the more pleasant start and can choose how to press. Your job is to stay active, meet the centre head-on, and avoid giving White an easy advantage. In openings like this, timing matters: if you let White settle, the extra space can become uncomfortable very quickly.
The engine’s main idea
The engine’s best move here is d5. The continuation given is d5 Nce7 h4 Nf6.
That tells you the core idea: strike back in the centre instead of sitting passively. When White has just taken the move in the opening, Black usually needs energetic counterplay, and this line shows that the fight is about central tension, piece activity, and not getting pushed around. In the drill, focus on finding that active response rather than drifting into a passive defence.
What club players most often choose
The database shows that the most-played continuation is d5, with 4,941,210 games and White scoring 54.1%. The next most common are Nf3, with 1,027,683 games and White scoring 54.0%, dxe5, with 850,357 games and White scoring 52.2%, c3, with 392,207 games and White scoring 52.3%, Bc4, with 128,203 games and White scoring 51.9%, and f4, with 31,027 games and White scoring 50.3%.
For training, that means you should expect White to favour direct central play and quick development. If you know how to answer the popular choices calmly, you will handle this opening much more confidently.
Moves that go wrong for White
The listed mistakes are useful because they show which ideas Black can punish. c3 is an inaccuracy and loses about 0.6 pawns; the better move was dxe5. Bc4 is a mistake and loses about 1.1 pawns; the better move was dxe5. f4 is a mistake and loses about 1.5 pawns; the better move was dxe5.
A simple lesson follows from that: when White ignores the central tension or overreaches, Black’s position gets easier to handle. If your opponent chooses one of those weaker plans, stay alert and take the initiative when the board gives it to you.
Results across 7,464,205 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| d5 | 4,941,210 | 54.1% |
| Nf3 | 1,027,683 | 54.0% |
| dxe5 | 850,357 | 52.2% |
| c3 | 392,207 | 52.3% |
| Bc4 | 128,203 | 51.9% |
| f4 | 31,027 | 50.3% |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Nimzowitsch Defense: Kennedy Variation good for Black?
It is playable, but the position after 1.e4 Nc6 2.d4 e5 gives White a small edge. Stockfish rates it +0.56, so you should expect to defend accurately and look for active counterplay rather than an automatic equal game.
What is the main move for Black in this position?
The engine’s best move here is d5. The suggested continuation is d5 Nce7 h4 Nf6, which shows that Black should meet the centre directly and keep the pieces active.
What should I expect White to play most often?
The most-played continuation is d5, and the database also shows Nf3, dxe5, c3, Bc4, and f4 as common choices. White’s most popular plans all point toward central play and quick development.
Which White moves should I be ready to punish?
c3 is listed as an inaccuracy, while Bc4 and f4 are listed as mistakes. In each case, the better move was dxe5, so you should be ready to meet overambitious play by staying active and watching the centre.
How many games feature the Nimzowitsch Defense: Kennedy Variation?
Over 7 million Lichess games have reached the Nimzowitsch Defense: Kennedy Variation position. White wins 53.6%, Black wins 42.9%, with 3.5% draws — based on real rated games.