Nimzowitsch Defense: Woodchuck Variation as Black

The headline is simple: White has the better game, and the edge is not just temporary. In the database position after 1.e4 Nc6 2.d4 a6, White scores well and the position is often handled with direct central play. Across 91,015 games, White wins 56.0%, draws 3.6%, and Black wins 40.4%. For you as Black, that means this opening should be played with care, not optimism. Your task is to keep the game coherent and avoid drifting into a worse position without a fight.

The engine's best move here is d5. That is the move to learn first, because it shows the kind of central challenge Black needs if you want to keep the game from slipping further. The listed continuation is d5 Nb8 Nf3 d6, which gives you a sense of the kind of position this opening can lead to: pieces still matter, development still matters, and the centre remains the main battleground. In the drill, look for the moment where you can stop White from building an easy space advantage.

The most-played continuations are d5, Nf3, c4, Nc3, f4, and c3. That tells you White usually chooses a normal developing move or a direct central expansion, and you should expect a game where White tries to take space quickly. The most common line in the database is d5, followed by Nf3 and c4-type play, so prepare for straightforward pressure rather than a bizarre tactical trick. A practical attitude helps here: finish development, watch the centre, and be ready to respond to White's most direct plan.

The one known mistake in this position is c4, which is marked as an inaccuracy and loses about 0.6 pawns; better was d5. That is very useful for training, because it gives you a clear signal about what White should not do and what you should expect to face most often. If White chooses c4, you know the move is less accurate than the strongest option, but you still need to answer it properly. This is exactly the sort of position where one move can decide whether White keeps the advantage or lets it grow.