Chessy
Nimzowitsch Defense: Kennedy Variation, Linksspringer Variation
After 1.e4 Nc6 2.d4 e5 3.d5, you get a sharp early pawn structure where White has space and Black must find the right follow-up. The position is already concrete, and the drill below lets you practise it from White’s side against an adapting engine. Stockfish rates this +0.53, a small edge for White. That means you are a little better here, but only if you stay active and avoid drifting.
Play the Nimzowitsch Defense: Kennedy Variation, Linksspringer Variation against the engine
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Create a free account →What you are trying to exploit
White’s space advantage is the main story here. Black has challenged the centre early, but the resulting position leaves White with more room and better chances to steer the game. Your task is not to rush blindly; it is to use the extra space sensibly, keep your pieces active, and make Black solve the problems. The statistics also support that this is a position you can play confidently, since White scores well across a very large sample of games.
The engine’s main reply
The engine’s best move here is Nce7, and that is the move you should expect most often. The listed continuation is Nce7 Nc3 Ng6 Qd3, which shows Black trying to regroup while White develops naturally and keeps the position under control. In practice, this is a useful pattern to learn: meet Black’s challenge calmly, develop with purpose, and keep your lead in space from turning into overextension.
What the database says
Across 4,947,114 games at this exact position, White wins 54.0%, draws 3.4%, and Black wins 42.5%. That is a healthy practical result for White, and it fits the engine’s small edge. The most-played continuation is Nce7 with 2,636,277 games, so this is the main road you should know first. Other tries appear too, but they are less common.
Common moves to meet carefully
A few continuations stand out in the database. Nd4 appears in 1,295,664 games, and White scores 64.9% there. Nb8 appears in 546,052 games, with White scoring 50.7%. Nb4 appears in 312,848 games, with White scoring 58.4%, and Na5 appears in 100,597 games, with White scoring 57.5%. Bb4+ is much rarer, with 23,992 games and White scoring 72.5%. The important lesson is that you should stay alert, because Black has several tries, but not all of them are equally sound.
The mistakes to punish
The clearest tactical and strategic lesson in this position is that some replies are outright bad for Black. Nd4 is a blunder and loses about 3.4 pawns; the better move was Nce7. Na5 is a mistake and loses about 1.1 pawns; again, Nce7 was better. Bb4+ is also a mistake and loses about 2.7 pawns, with Nce7 as the better move. When Black chooses one of these, you should be ready to keep the pressure on and convert the extra chance rather than drifting into a passive game.
Results across 4,947,114 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| Nce7 | 2,636,277 | 48.4% |
| Nd4 | 1,295,664 | 64.9% |
| Nb8 | 546,052 | 50.7% |
| Nb4 | 312,848 | 58.4% |
| Na5 | 100,597 | 57.5% |
| Bb4+ | 23,992 | 72.5% |
Frequently asked questions
What opening is this position from?
This comes from the Nimzowitsch Defense: Kennedy Variation, Linksspringer Variation. The move order is 1.e4 Nc6 2.d4 e5 3.d5, and it is Black to move in the drill position.
Who is better after 1.e4 Nc6 2.d4 e5 3.d5?
Stockfish gives +0.53, which favours White. So you have a small edge, but you still need accurate play to make it count.
What is Black’s best move here?
The engine’s best move is Nce7. A listed continuation is Nce7 Nc3 Ng6 Qd3, which is a useful pattern to recognise in the drill.
Which replies by Black are the biggest mistakes?
Nd4 is a blunder, while Na5 and Bb4+ are mistakes. In each case, the better move was Nce7, so those lines are the ones you should be ready to punish.
How many games feature the Nimzowitsch Defense: Kennedy Variation, Linksspringer Variation?
Over 5 million Lichess games have reached the Nimzowitsch Defense: Kennedy Variation, Linksspringer Variation position. White wins 54.0%, Black wins 42.5%, with 3.4% draws — based on real rated games.