Question about 1.e4 Nc6 (Nimzowitsch Defense)

... and i dont need to know tun of theory.

Neither does your opponent. You make it easy on yourself, then you make it easy on your opponent. You will "hit the wall" quite soon with the Nimzowitch.

The Center Counter Defense (Scandinavian) would probably be a better choice if avoiding tons of theory is your goal.

@KamiAmane said [^](/forum/redirect/post/KvRztf1g) <snip> > ... and i dont need to know tun of theory. Neither does your opponent. You make it easy on yourself, then you make it easy on your opponent. You will "hit the wall" quite soon with the Nimzowitch. The Center Counter Defense (Scandinavian) would probably be a better choice if avoiding tons of theory is your goal.

the-cisco-kid edited

@tpr said ^

Nimzovich Defense is solid and less known.
After 1 e4 Nc6 2 d4 d5 3 e5 Bf5 6 c3 e6 black enjoys a lead in development.
Most players will avoid it with 2 Nf3, when 2...e5 transposes to 1...e5, 2...d5 transposes to 1...d5, 2...d6 transposes to 1...d6.

Black's lead in development is only temporary. John Nunn, in his book "Secrets of Practical Chess" called it a "false initiative".

As for whether most people would avoid the Nimzo, I don't know that this is true. It might be true for lower rated players, but above 2000 I would expect that most would play 2.d4. There ain't a whole lot for White to "know". White should do just fine playing according to general principles. Probably you can say much the same about the French Guimard variation. Not much need to prepare for that either.

edit: or the Queen's Gambit Chigorin Defense. same thing, None of these openings will get you very far.

@tpr said [^](/forum/redirect/post/HJiUIk6s) > Nimzovich Defense is solid and less known. > After 1 e4 Nc6 2 d4 d5 3 e5 Bf5 6 c3 e6 black enjoys a lead in development. > Most players will avoid it with 2 Nf3, when 2...e5 transposes to 1...e5, 2...d5 transposes to 1...d5, 2...d6 transposes to 1...d6. Black's lead in development is only temporary. John Nunn, in his book "Secrets of Practical Chess" called it a "false initiative". As for whether most people would avoid the Nimzo, I don't know that this is true. It might be true for lower rated players, but above 2000 I would expect that most would play 2.d4. There ain't a whole lot for White to "know". White should do just fine playing according to general principles. Probably you can say much the same about the French Guimard variation. Not much need to prepare for that either. edit: or the Queen's Gambit Chigorin Defense. same thing, None of these openings will get you very far.

KamiAmane

@the-cisco-kid said ^

Nimzovich Defense is solid and less known.
After 1 e4 Nc6 2 d4 d5 3 e5 Bf5 6 c3 e6 black enjoys a lead in development.
Most players will avoid it with 2 Nf3, when 2...e5 transposes to 1...e5, 2...d5 transposes to 1...d5, 2...d6 transposes to 1...d6.

Black's lead in development is only temporary. John Nunn, in his book "Secrets of Practical Chess"...

Honestly thank you man. It truelly help. So I am
going to play nimzo specially for study the pawn structure and initiative.

I have some theory book about it, but obviosly know it wont get me far. So i will think about change to the scandi or french in future.

@the-cisco-kid said [^](/forum/redirect/post/ZA8W0SiL) > > Nimzovich Defense is solid and less known. > > After 1 e4 Nc6 2 d4 d5 3 e5 Bf5 6 c3 e6 black enjoys a lead in development. > > Most players will avoid it with 2 Nf3, when 2...e5 transposes to 1...e5, 2...d5 transposes to 1...d5, 2...d6 transposes to 1...d6. > > Black's lead in development is only temporary. John Nunn, in his book "Secrets of Practical Chess"... Honestly thank you man. It truelly help. So I am going to play nimzo specially for study the pawn structure and initiative. I have some theory book about it, but obviosly know it wont get me far. So i will think about change to the scandi or french in future.

tpr edited

"above 2000 I would expect that most would play 2.d4"

No, most play 2 Nf3, when 2...e5 transposes back and other replies are unsound.
See the masters database here: 3800 times 2 Nf3, 1800 times 2 d4.

"You will hit the wall quite soon with the Nimzowitch."

No. GM Knaak played it always when young. The problem is 2 Nf3.

"false initiative"

Black has 2 pieces out, white none.
Black's bad bishop is at f5 outside his pawn chain, white's bad bishop Bc1 is inside his pawn chain.

"change to the scandi "

The Scandinavian is less sound than the Nimzowitch.
In the Scandinavian black loses a tempo and white gets a lead in development.

"above 2000 I would expect that most would play 2.d4" * No, most play 2 Nf3, when 2...e5 transposes back and other replies are unsound. See the masters database here: 3800 times 2 Nf3, 1800 times 2 d4. "You will hit the wall quite soon with the Nimzowitch." * No. GM Knaak played it always when young. The problem is 2 Nf3. "false initiative" * Black has 2 pieces out, white none. Black's bad bishop is at f5 outside his pawn chain, white's bad bishop Bc1 is inside his pawn chain. "change to the scandi " * The Scandinavian is less sound than the Nimzowitch. In the Scandinavian black loses a tempo and white gets a lead in development.