Key ideas
- After 2.d4, Black's main choices are 2...d5, the Scandinavian Variation, and 2...e5, the Kennedy Variation. After 2...d5, 3.e5 gains space, and 3.Nc3 (the Bogoljubow Variation) invites 3...dxe4 4.d5 with sharp play.
- In the Kennedy Variation, 2...e5 3.dxe5 Nxe5, White gains time against the centralised knight with 4.Nf3 or 4.f4. The alternative 3.d5 drives the knight away at once and gains space.
- 2.Nf3, the Declined Variation, keeps the game near 1.e4 e5 territory: 2...e5 transposes to the open games, while 2...d6 and 2...e6 stay independent.
- Many Nimzowitsch players steer toward French or Pirc structures by transposition, for example after 2.Nc3 e6 (the French Connection) or 2.Nc3 g6 (the Pirc Connection).
Plans for White
Grab the centre with d4 and develop naturally with Nf3 and Nc3. Against ...d5 the push e5 gains space, and against ...e5 use the pawn on e4 and quick development to harass the black knight.
Plans for Black
Pressure d4 with the knight, ...Bg4 and ...e6 or ...e5. After 2.d4 d5 3.e5, the plan with ...Bf5, ...e6 and ...f6 resembles a French in which the light-squared bishop is already outside the pawn chain.