ECO B00 · Nimzowitsch Defense

Nimzowitsch Defense: El Columpio Defense, El Columpio Gambit

1. e4 Nc6 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. e5 Ng4 4. d4 d6 5. h3 Nh6 6. e6

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

6… fxe6+0.68

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Nimzowitsch Defense: El Columpio Defense, El Columpio Gambit (B00), reached after 1. e4 Nc6 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. e5 Ng4 4. d4 d6 5. h3 Nh6 6. e6, Stockfish 18 recommends 6… fxe6 for Black. White is slightly better (+0.68).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.686… fxe6 7. c3 g6 8. Bd3 Nf7 9. h4 Bg7 10. h5 gxh5 11. Rxh5
  2. +1.326… d5 7. Bxh6 gxh6 8. exf7+ Kxf7 9. Nc3 a6 10. Bd3 Rg8 11. Bxh7
  3. +1.976… Nb8 7. Bxh6 gxh6 8. Bb5+ c6 9. exf7+ Kxf7 10. Bc4+ e6 11. Qe2

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Nimzowitsch Defense: El Columpio Defense, El Columpio Gambit?
After 1. e4 Nc6 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. e5 Ng4 4. d4 d6 5. h3 Nh6 6. e6, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 6… fxe6 for Black, continuing 7. c3 g6 8. Bd3 Nf7 9. h4 Bg7 10. h5 gxh5 11. Rxh5. White is slightly better (+0.68). The next best moves are 6… d5 (+1.32) and 6… Nb8 (+1.97).
Is the Nimzowitsch Defense: El Columpio Defense, El Columpio Gambit a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.68: white is slightly 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, El Columpio Gambit?
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+).