Chessy
How to Play the Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian Variation, Exchange Variation: c3 as the
You've entered a surprising but thoroughly sound line of the Nimzowitsch Defense. After 1.e4 Nc6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 Qxd5 4.c3 e5, you've already steered the game far away from standard opening theory. The engine rates your position at -0.35 — a small but real edge for you as Black. The statistics back that up: across nearly 75,000 games, Black scores an impressive 52.9%, while White manages only 42.6%. Below, you can test yourself against the engine and learn exactly how to handle White's most common replies.
Play the Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian Variation, Exchange Variation: c3 against the engine
Free, no signup — you play black, the engine adapts to your level.
Try the interactive drill below and practice the Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian Variation, Exchange Variation with c3. See if you can convert Black's small 0
Create a free account →The Main Idea: Why the Position Favors You
The Nimzowitsch Defense aims to control the center with pieces rather than pawns, and this line is a perfect example. After 4.c3 e5, you've challenged White's d4 pawn immediately. White's c3 move, while solid, doesn't develop a piece — it just defends the d4 square. Your queen on d5 is well-placed for now, eyeing both the center and potential kingside activity. The statistics reveal the truth: in this exact position, Black wins 52.9% of games, compared to White's 42.6% (with just 4.5% draws). That's a remarkable practical edge. The engine's evaluation of -0.35 confirms that this small advantage is real — you stand slightly better right out of the opening, and the challenge is to convert that edge against accurate play.
What to Do Against the Most Popular Reply: Nf3
White's most common move by far is 5.Nf3, appearing in over 34,000 games. Against this, the engine's top continuation is 5...Nf6 6.Be2 e4. This sequence is instructive: you develop your knight and immediately kick White's knight with ...e4, gaining space and time. After 6.Be2, your ...e4 pawn push attacks the f3-knight, forcing it to move again. You're already ahead in development and have a comfortable spatial advantage in the center. White scores only 45.5% after 5.Nf3 — below average for White in this position — which tells you that even the best reply doesn't erase your edge.
Punishing White's Worst Replies
White has several tempting alternatives to Nf3, and the statistics show they all backfire. The most punishing is 5.c4, played over 2,000 times — a mistake that loses roughly 2.3 pawns according to the engine. After 5.c4, your queen can retreat to d8 or a5, targeting White's weakened queenside. Next is 5.Qe2, an inaccuracy costing about 0.8 pawns. And 5.dxe5 is also inaccurate, losing about 0.5 pawns. Notice the pattern: White's errors usually involve moving the queen prematurely or opening the center in a way that benefits your active pieces. When you face these replies in the drill, trust your instincts — Black's position is resilient and your counterplay comes naturally.
What the Numbers Tell Us About All White Options
Here's a quick summary of how each White move scores in practice. After 5.Nf3 (34,308 games): White scores 45.5%. After 5.Be3 (14,912 games): White scores 44.3%. After 5.dxe5 (7,493 games): White scores just 37.2%. After 5.Qe2 (4,265 games): White scores 39.3%. After 5.c4 (2,038 games): White scores 30.4%. And after 5.Qf3 (1,996 games): White scores 41.3%. In every single case, White scores below 50%. When White plays the most accurate move (Nf3), Black still wins more often. When White blunders with c4 or Qe2, your winning chances skyrocket. This is an opening where understanding your plans matters more than memorizing long lines — and the drill below will help you build that understanding.
Results across 74,099 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| Nf3 | 34,308 | 45.5% |
| Be3 | 14,912 | 44.3% |
| dxe5 | 7,493 | 37.2% |
| Qe2 | 4,265 | 39.3% |
| c4 | 2,038 | 30.4% |
| Qf3 | 1,996 | 41.3% |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian Variation with c3 a good opening for beginners?
Yes. The position after 4.c3 e5 is relatively simple to understand — you control the center with your queen and pawn, develop naturally, and often gain space with ...e4. The statistics show Black scores over 52% from this position, so it's both solid and practical.
What does the engine say about the position after 4.c3 e5?
Stockfish evaluates the position at -0.35, which means a small but clear advantage for Black. You are slightly better as Black, and the engine recommends that White respond with 5.Nf3 just to keep the game balanced.
Should I be worried about White playing 5.dxe5?
No. In fact, 5.dxe5 is an inaccuracy that loses about half a pawn. After 7,493 games with this move, White scores only 37.2% — that's very poor. You can meet it confidently by developing your pieces.
What is the engine's best continuation after 5.Nf3?
The engine recommends 5...Nf6 6.Be2 e4. This develops your knight and then chases White's knight with your e-pawn. You gain space and time, maintaining your slight advantage.
How many games feature the Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian Variation, Exchange Variation: c3?
Over 74K Lichess games have reached the Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian Variation, Exchange Variation: c3 position. White wins 42.6%, Black wins 52.9%, with 4.5% draws — based on real rated games.