ECO B00 · Nimzowitsch Defense

Nimzowitsch Defense: Hornung Gambit

1. e4 Nc6 2. d4 d5 3. Be3

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

3… dxe4−0.53

Black is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Nimzowitsch Defense: Hornung Gambit (B00), reached after 1. e4 Nc6 2. d4 d5 3. Be3, Stockfish 18 recommends 3… dxe4 for Black. Black is slightly better (−0.53).

Top engine moves

  1. −0.533… dxe4 4. d5 Nb4 5. c4 e6 6. a3 Na6 7. Nc3 Nf6 8. Qc2
  2. +0.213… e6 4. e5 Nge7 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bc1 Na5 7. c3 c5 8. dxc5
  3. +0.433… e5 4. dxe5 Nge7 5. Bb5 a6 6. Bxc6+ Nxc6 7. Qxd5 Qxd5 8. exd5

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Nimzowitsch Defense: Hornung Gambit?
After 1. e4 Nc6 2. d4 d5 3. Be3, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 3… dxe4 for Black, continuing 4. d5 Nb4 5. c4 e6 6. a3 Na6 7. Nc3 Nf6 8. Qc2. Black is slightly better (−0.53). The next best moves are 3… e6 (+0.21) and 3… e5 (+0.43).
Is the Nimzowitsch Defense: Hornung Gambit a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −0.53: black 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: Hornung 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+).