Chessy
Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian Variation, Bogoljubow Variation, Heinola-Deppe Gambit
After 1.e4 Nc6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 e5, you reach a sharp position where White is to move and your choices matter immediately. The engine says White has a small edge here, so this is not a carefree gambit to memorise and hope for the best. Instead, use the drill to learn the most reliable reaction and the kinds of moves White actually plays most often. Your job is to stay accurate, stay active, and know which continuations you must meet first.
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Create a free account →What the position asks of Black
This opening asks Black to challenge the centre right away and accept that White may get the easier game if you are careless. Stockfish rates this +0.65, a small edge for White. That means you are slightly worse here, so your goal is not to force a miracle; it is to keep the position playable and avoid drifting into a worse structure for no reason. In the drill, focus on calm development and on meeting White’s central tension before it becomes uncomfortable.
The move the engine trusts most
The engine’s best move here is dxe5. That is the move to recognise first in the drill, because it shows the most reliable way to answer the position. The listed continuation is dxe5 d4 Nd5 Nge7, which gives you a clear picture of the kind of play the engine expects after the central tension resolves. Learn the pattern rather than just the first move: if you understand the reply sequence, you will handle the opening more confidently under pressure.
What White plays most often
The database shows that White has several popular continuations from this exact position, and you should be ready for all of them. The most-played is exd5 with 19,515 games, followed by dxe5 with 10,493 games, Nf3 with 5,244 games, Bb5 with 4,246 games, Nxd5 with 2,787 games, and Be3 with 1,412 games. The key practical lesson is simple: White often chooses a direct move against the centre, so do not spend too long admiring your opening idea. Know the first accurate response and keep the game in a form you understand.
The mistakes to punish
There are clear move-quality warnings in this position, and they are useful for training. exd5 is an inaccuracy and loses about 0.5 pawns compared with dxe5. Nf3 is also an inaccuracy and loses about 0.7 pawns compared with dxe5. Be3 is a mistake and loses about 1.5 pawns compared with dxe5. That tells you the opening is tactical enough that sloppy White moves can go wrong quickly, but it also reminds you that Black still has to choose accurately to make the most of those chances.
Results across 45,174 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| exd5 | 19,515 | 56.6% |
| dxe5 | 10,493 | 57.2% |
| Nf3 | 5,244 | 51.2% |
| Bb5 | 4,246 | 57.0% |
| Nxd5 | 2,787 | 53.5% |
| Be3 | 1,412 | 50.2% |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian Variation, Bogoljubow Variation, Heinola-Deppe Gambit sound for Black?
This position is not shown as an equal or better result for Black. Stockfish gives +0.65, a small edge for White, so you should treat it as a line that needs careful handling rather than a fully comfortable equaliser.
What is the best move for Black in this position?
The engine’s best move here is dxe5. The suggested continuation is dxe5 d4 Nd5 Nge7, which is the main pattern you should learn in the drill.
Which White moves are most common here?
The most-played continuations are exd5, dxe5, Nf3, Bb5, Nxd5, and Be3. exd5 is the most common, with 19,515 games, so it is especially worth knowing how to meet.
Which White moves should I be most careful about?
exd5 and Nf3 are marked as inaccuracies, while Be3 is a mistake. The engine prefers dxe5 over all three, so those are the moves where White is giving you the best chance to take control of the game.
How many games feature the Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian Variation, Bogoljubow Variation, Heinola-Deppe Gambit?
Over 45K Lichess games have reached the Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian Variation, Bogoljubow Variation, Heinola-Deppe Gambit position. White wins 55.4%, Black wins 39.9%, with 4.7% draws — based on real rated games.