Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...Nc6/2. d4/2...d5/3. Nc3/3...a6

Nimzowitsch Defence
a b c d e f g h
8 a8 b8 c8 d8 e8 f8 g8 h8 8
7 a7 b7 c7 d7 e7 f7 g7 h7 7
6 a6 b6 c6 d6 e6 f6 g6 h6 6
5 a5 b5 c5 d5 e5 f5 g5 h5 5
4 a4 b4 c4 d4 e4 f4 g4 h4 4
3 a3 b3 c3 d3 e3 f3 g3 h3 3
2 a2 b2 c2 d2 e2 f2 g2 h2 2
1 a1 b1 c1 d1 e1 f1 g1 h1 1
a b c d e f g h
Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation (FEN)
Moves: 1. e4 Nc6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 a6

Nimzowitsch Defence edit

It seems that after 3...a6!? Black has given away his pawn for nothing, but the pawn can be regained by 4...Nb4, 5...Nf6 and then Nbxd5. Having a pawn on a6 is constructive because it denies White's bishop the ability to check on b5 which would be bad for black as white has a pawn on d5 for the time being. White's main option here is to accept black's counter gambit with:

4. exd5

Theory table edit

For explanation of theory tables, see theory table and for notation, see algebraic notation..

'1. e4 Nc6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 a6'

4
exd5
...

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References edit