ECO B00 · Nimzowitsch Defense

Nimzowitsch Defense: Woodchuck Variation

1. e4 Nc6 2. d4 a6

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

3. d5+0.86

White is clearly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Nimzowitsch Defense: Woodchuck Variation (B00), reached after 1. e4 Nc6 2. d4 a6, Stockfish 18 recommends 3. d5 for White. White is clearly better (+0.86).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.863. d5 Nb8 4. Nf3 d6 5. Nc3 Nf6 6. Be3 g6 7. Qd2 b5
  2. +0.763. Nc3 e6 4. d5 Nce7 5. Nf3 exd5 6. exd5 d6 7. Ne4 f5
  3. +0.743. Nf3 d6 4. Bd3 Nf6 5. O-O Nb4 6. Re1 Nxd3 7. Qxd3 g6

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Nimzowitsch Defense: Woodchuck Variation?
After 1. e4 Nc6 2. d4 a6, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 3. d5 for White, continuing Nb8 4. Nf3 d6 5. Nc3 Nf6 6. Be3 g6 7. Qd2 b5. White is clearly better (+0.86). The next best moves are 3. Nc3 (+0.76) and 3. Nf3 (+0.74).
Is the Nimzowitsch Defense: Woodchuck Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.86: 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: Woodchuck 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+).