Ponderchess / Openings
Play the guided film, or select a scene to pause and study its position.
Opening
The Nimzo-Larsen Attack in 3D
1.b3. White fianchettoes the queen's bishop at once to control e5 and the long diagonal, keeping the centre pawns flexible for later.
Rebuild the sequence yourself. The board responds to each move, and hints are available.
Click or drag to move · Arrow keys + Enter to play
Your turn · white to play
Select a piece, then its destination. Switch to 2D for a clear overhead view or rotate the 3D board to explore the position.
Nimzo-Larsen Attack: Modern Variation, move by move: b3 e5 Bb2 Nc6 c4 Nf6
The white pieces
Pressure e5 and the long diagonal with Bb2, Nf3 and e3, and choose the c4 or f4 break depending on Black's setup. Bb5, pinning a knight on c6, adds to the pressure on e5.
The black pieces
Occupy the centre with ...e5 and ...d5, or blunt the b2 bishop with ...d5, ...Nf6 and ...e6. Keeping e5 well protected takes much of the sting out of White's play.
Look a little deeper · 01
The bishop on b2 is the key piece. White follows with e3, Nf3 and either c4 or f4, aiming for a reversed Queen's Indian or a Bird-like setup.
Look a little deeper · 02
1...e5 (the Modern Variation) is Black's most direct answer, building a classical centre. After 2.Bb2 Nc6, White pressures e5 with 3.e3, Bb5 and Nf3, or plays 3.c4 for an English with the bishop already on b2.
Look a little deeper · 03
Against 1...d5 (the Classical Variation) or 1...Nf6 (the Indian Variation), White usually adds Nf3, e3 and c4, reaching positions close to the Réti or a Queen's Indian with colours reversed.
Nimzo-Larsen Attack: Modern Variation, move by move: b3 e5 Bb2 Nc6 c4 Nf6
Keyboard: Space pauses, the arrow keys step. Gold arrows are White's moves, violet are Black's, red rays are threats, green shows support, blue shows plans.
