ECO B00 · Nimzowitsch Defense

Nimzowitsch Defense: Williams Variation

1. e4 Nc6 2. Nf3 d6

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

3. Nc3+0.59

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Nimzowitsch Defense: Williams Variation (B00), reached after 1. e4 Nc6 2. Nf3 d6, Stockfish 18 recommends 3. Nc3 for White. White is slightly better (+0.59).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.593. Nc3 e5 4. d4 Nf6 5. d5 Nb8 6. a4 Be7 7. Bd3 O-O
  2. +0.593. d4 e5 4. d5 Nce7 5. a4 Nf6 6. Nc3 g6 7. Bb5+ Bd7
  3. +0.433. c3 Nf6 4. d4 e5 5. Bb5 Bd7 6. Bd3 g6 7. O-O Bg7

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Nimzowitsch Defense: Williams Variation?
After 1. e4 Nc6 2. Nf3 d6, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 3. Nc3 for White, continuing e5 4. d4 Nf6 5. d5 Nb8 6. a4 Be7 7. Bd3 O-O. White is slightly better (+0.59). The next best moves are 3. d4 (+0.59) and 3. c3 (+0.43).
Is the Nimzowitsch Defense: Williams Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.59: 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: Williams 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+).