Playing Black in the Nimzowitsch Defense: Kennedy Variation with 3.Nf3

The Nimzowitsch Defense isn't about grabbing space — it's about controlling key squares from a distance. After 3...exd4, you've traded your e-pawn for White's d-pawn, leaving White with a pawn on e4 and you with a pawn on... nothing in the centre for now. That's fine. Your knight on c6 and soon-to-be-developed kingside pieces will target the dark squares around White's position. The engine's best continuation is Nxd4 (White recaptures), after which you play Nf6, threatening the e4 pawn. White's best reply is Nxc6, letting you recapture with the b-pawn (bxc6), giving you a solid pawn duo on the queenside and open lines for your bishop. This is a typical Nimzowitsch structure — not obviously better, but full of imbalance to play for.

The most popular move by far is Nxd4 (played in over 32 million games), and White scores only 51.5% with it — barely above average. That's good news for you. The move that should worry you most is c3 (White scores 56.0%) or the tricky Bc4 (White scores 55.7%). Both of these are played less often but give White a more solid score. The statistic shows that when White plays the natural recapture Nxd4, the position stays close to equal. Your job is to make sure you're ready for the lines where White tries something sharper.

Not every White player knows the theory here. Three moves are outright bad, and the engine says you should be able to seize the advantage if your opponent plays them. Ng5 is a mistake that loses about 1.5 pawns of advantage — White should have played Nxd4 instead. After Ng5, you have time to consolidate and come out ahead. e5 is also a mistake, losing about 1.2 pawns — White pushes the e-pawn, but you can handle it comfortably. Bb5 is an inaccuracy, losing about 0.7 pawns; it's not as bad as the others but still leaves you slightly better. The engine's verdict is clear: Nxd4 is the only move that keeps the game level. If White plays anything else, look for ways to grab the initiative.

With nearly 46 million games in the Lichess database, this position is well-tested. Here's how White's main options score (White win% + draw%):- Nxd4 (32.8M games): White scores 51.5% — the most principled and your most common opponent.- Bc4 (8.3M games): White scores 55.7% — the most dangerous at club level.- Ng5 (2.4M games): White scores 54.7% — but this is a mistake according to the engine, so don't be intimidated.- c3 (1.9M games): White scores 56.0% — another sharp try that scores well even if it's engine-neutral.- Bb5 (219K games): White scores 47.9% — an inaccuracy, and Black actually outscores White here!- e5 (88K games): White scores 45.0% — a mistake, and Black has the edge in practice too.What this tells you: trust the engine's recommendation. When White deviates from Nxd4, you're often the one who ends up with the more pleasant position.