Nimzowitsch Defence
chess opening 1. e4 Nc6
The Nimzowitsch Defence is a somewhat uncommon chess opening characterised by the moves:
1. e4 Nc6
It is named after Aron Nimzowitsch. Play usually continues 2.d4 d5 (the Scandinavian Variation) or 2.d4 e5 (the Kennedy Variation). White can also play 2.Nf3, offering a transposition to a more common opening if Black plays 2...e5. Black can refuse this, usually by playing 2...d5 or 2...d6 (the Williams Variation).
This opening is an example of a hypermodern opening in which Black invites White to occupy the centre of the board at an early stage with pawns. Black's intent is to block or otherwise restrain White's central pawns and, if allowed to do so by inaccurate play by White, eventually undermine the White pawn centre by well-timed pawn advances of their own or by attacking the white pieces defending the centre. World Champion Garry Kasparov and Grandmaster Raymond Keene wrote that it "has never been fully accepted as a dependable opening. Nevertheless it is sound and offers the maverick spirit a great deal of foreign territory to explore."
The Nimzowitsch is included under code B00 in the Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings.
Main line: 2.d4
White takes the initiative in the centre.
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