ECO B00 · Nimzowitsch Defense

Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian Variation, Bogoljubow Variation, Vehre Variation

1. e4 Nc6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6

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

4. e5+0.82

White is clearly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian Variation, Bogoljubow Variation, Vehre Variation (B00), reached after 1. e4 Nc6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6, Stockfish 18 recommends 4. e5 for White. White is clearly better (+0.82).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.824. e5 Ng8 5. Be2 Bf5 6. g4 Bg6 7. f4 h5 8. f5 Bh7
  2. +0.384. exd5 Nxd5 5. Nf3 e5 6. Nxe5 Nxc3 7. bxc3 Nxe5 8. Qe2 Qd5
  3. −0.034. f3 dxe4 5. d5 Ne5 6. fxe4 e6 7. Nf3 Nxf3+ 8. gxf3 exd5

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian Variation, Bogoljubow Variation, Vehre Variation?
After 1. e4 Nc6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 4. e5 for White, continuing Ng8 5. Be2 Bf5 6. g4 Bg6 7. f4 h5 8. f5 Bh7. White is clearly better (+0.82). The next best moves are 4. exd5 (+0.38) and 4. f3 (−0.03).
Is the Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian Variation, Bogoljubow Variation, Vehre Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.82: 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: Scandinavian Variation, Bogoljubow Variation, Vehre Variation?
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+).