ECO B00 · Nimzowitsch Defense

Nimzowitsch Defense: El Columpio Defense

1. e4 Nc6 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. e5 Ng4

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White to move. The arrow shows Stockfish’s best move.
Best move

4. d4+1.20

White is clearly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Nimzowitsch Defense: El Columpio Defense (B00), reached after 1. e4 Nc6 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. e5 Ng4, Stockfish 18 recommends 4. d4 for White. White is clearly better (+1.20).

Top engine moves

  1. +1.204. d4 d6 5. h3 Nh6 6. Nc3 g6 7. g4 Bg7 8. Qe2 dxe5
  2. +0.614. Qe2 d6 5. d4 dxe5 6. dxe5 Bf5 7. h3 Ngxe5 8. Nxe5 Nd4
  3. +0.204. Nc3 Ncxe5 5. Nxe5 Nxe5 6. d4 Ng6 7. h4 e6 8. h5 Ne7

Variations

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Nimzowitsch Defense: El Columpio Defense?
After 1. e4 Nc6 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. e5 Ng4, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 4. d4 for White, continuing d6 5. h3 Nh6 6. Nc3 g6 7. g4 Bg7 8. Qe2 dxe5. White is clearly better (+1.20). The next best moves are 4. Qe2 (+0.61) and 4. Nc3 (+0.20).
Is the Nimzowitsch Defense: El Columpio Defense a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +1.20: white is clearly better. Evaluations this early in the game are small, so practical results depend far more on knowing the plans and typical structures than on the engine's number.
What is the ECO code of the Nimzowitsch Defense: El Columpio Defense?
B00. ECO codes classify chess openings from A00 to E99; B is the volume for semi-open games (other than the French).

Opening names from the Lichess opening book (CC0). Pieces by Colin M.L. Burnett (GPLv2+).