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Nimzowitsch Defense: Williams Variation – Playing as Black
The Nimzowitsch Defense is a fighting response to 1.e4. Instead of the classical 1…e5, you immediately attack the centre with your knight, inviting your opponent to overextend. The Williams Variation, reached after 1.e4 Nc6 2.Nf3 d6 3.Nc3 g6, sets up a flexible kingside fianchetto. The engine gives White a +0.77 advantage, so you are clearly worse from the start — but this position has been played over 23,000 times on Lichess, and Black scores a respectable 47.0%. The drill below will help you navigate the critical moments that follow.
Play the Nimzowitsch Defense: Williams Variation: Nc3 against the engine
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Try the interactive drill below to practise the Nimzowitsch Defense: Williams Variation as Black. The engine will adapt to your moves and help you learn the key
Create a free account →What the Statistics Reveal
From 23,424 games at this exact position, the results are surprisingly close: White wins 48.6%, Black wins 47.0%, and only 4.4% end in a draw. Despite White's theoretical edge, the practical chances are nearly equal. This is a recurring theme in the Nimzowitsch Defense — the position may look slightly suspect, but it demands precise play from White, and many opponents mishandle it. The most popular move for White is d4 (10,359 games), which scores a modest 49.8% — barely above a coin flip. Other common tries like Bc4 and Bb5 also score below 49%. These numbers tell you that Black is very much in the game from the start.
The Main Line and a Typical Setup
The engine recommends d4 as White's best move, continuing with d4 Bg7 Be3 Nf6. This is the line you should expect a good opponent to play. After d4, Black's pawn structure is compact and flexible. Your dark-squared bishop on g7 will bear down on the long diagonal, while your knight on f6 eyes the centre. The position often leads to a closed or semi-closed centre where your king can castle kingside safely behind the fianchetto. Your long-term plan involves striking back in the centre with …c5 or …e5 at the right moment, and putting pressure on White's d4-pawn. Keeping this setup in mind helps you feel at home when your opponent pushes d4.
The Most Common Mistake to Punish
White's quiet move b3 is played in 449 games, but the engine flags it as a clear inaccuracy — it loses about 0.6 pawns of evaluation compared to the best move d4. By playing b3, White neglects the centre and gives you extra time to complete your development. If your opponent plays b3, you should react actively: fianchetto your bishop, develop quickly, and look to challenge the centre with …d5 or …e5. The statistics are on your side too — White scores just 44.5% after b3, the worst result of any common move. Recognising this mistake and punishing it is one of the quickest ways to turn the game in your favour.
Facing the Popular Bishop Moves
After 3…g6, White often plays Bc4 (5,135 games) or Bb5 (4,354 games). Both score similarly — around 48.5% for White. Against Bb5, you can play …Bg7 and then …Nf6, with the idea of meeting d4 by exchanging on c6 or playing …a6 to gain time. Against Bc4, be careful not to let White target the f7-square with an early Ng5 threat. In both cases, you should continue your development with …Bg7 and …Nf6, castle quickly, and only challenge the centre once your king is safe. These bishop moves are less threatening than d4 because White doesn't immediately occupy the centre — and the statistics show Black holds up very well.
Results across 23,424 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| d4 | 10,359 | 49.8% |
| Bc4 | 5,135 | 48.4% |
| Bb5 | 4,354 | 48.5% |
| d3 | 1,234 | 46.5% |
| h3 | 583 | 46.3% |
| b3 | 449 | 44.5% |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Nimzowitsch Defense: Williams Variation good for Black?
The engine evaluates it as +0.77 in White's favour, so you start with a slight disadvantage. However, in practice Black scores 47.0% across 23,424 games — very close to equality. It is a solid, offbeat choice that can throw opponents off their preparation.
What is the best move for White after 3…g6?
The engine recommends d4, continuing with d4 Bg7 Be3 Nf6. This is considered the most challenging line. However, White's most popular move, d4, only scores 49.8% for White — meaning Black scores half the points in practice.
Is b3 a mistake for White in this position?
Yes — b3 is classified as an inaccuracy, losing about 0.6 pawns of evaluation compared to d4. White only scores 44.5% after b3, the lowest win rate for any common move. If your opponent plays b3, you should seize the initiative in the centre.
How should Black develop after 3…g6?
The standard plan is to fianchetto your bishop with …Bg7, then play …Nf6, castle kingside, and later challenge the centre with …c5 or …e5. Your compact pawn structure and active fianchetto give you a flexible, resilient position.