Back in the day, the Nimzowitch was my main (or secondary) weapon as Black. Then everyone started playing 2. Nf3 or 3. Nf3 if I used the 2. e5 line. I didn't feel like learning the Black side of the Scotch/Giucco Pianos etc so I moved on. Thanks for this highly anticipated video Solomon! I think I'll give it another try
Hey Danny! Ya that's totally fair, I think more e4 players should think about 2. Nf3 because it forces e5 or d5 (which turns into a worse version of the Scandinavian for black). However, against 2. d4 black can get some great positions. Thanks Danny.
@@TheChessGiantIn case you are looking for an interesting defense against 2.Nf3 you can look at d5, 3. exd5 Qxd5 4. Nc3 Qd6!! This is a very nice Move trying to justify the early development of the Knight to C6, with the idea of castling Queenside as soon as possible and moving the Queen back to D8 if forced to by a move like Nb5 This Opening Reportoire is used by strong German chess youtuber Moritex Chess and ive been using it with great success aswell
I have been playing the nimzowitsch defense for a long time and have learned a lot in the opening I think you give a good introduction to the opening, it truly is an underrated opening and actually has a lot of untapped theory that gives both sides a fighting game. I have been wanting to create a course on this for chess able button sure how much interest there would b, thanks for the awesome video!
Hey Henry! That's awesome you play the Nimzowitsch, very underplayed and underrated system for black. Most e4 players don't know where to start against it. Happy to help, and ya if you end up doing that on chessable let me know!!
@@TheChessGiant i will! Im just not sure how you actually make Chessable courses haha, I have loads of theory that I’ve studied and come up with tho ready to share it :)
I have played the Nimzowitsch and have struggled to keep up with all the theory against the Scotch. I would love to see a video on how to play against the Scotch for Black!
Thanks Solomon for accepting my request, I was so excited for this! I still think that the Classical Variation (2. Nf3) was missing, the Williams Variation (2. ... d6 ) is almost a key move for the Nimzowitsch Defense player, trying to avoid transpositions to KP's games! I'm hoping to see the "Modern Nimzowitsch" it in the future! Btw i love this type of 30 minute videos, i like really long and instructive opening theory videos. My recommendation is that you should do more ( just an suggestion haha)! Loves from Brazil! Have a nice weekend, Solomon! Edit: Also i still have these requests hahaha -Mikenas Defense ( 1. d4 Nc6 or 1. c4 Nc6 (anglo Lithuanian variation ) -Williams Variation of the Classical Nimzowitsch Defense( 1. e4 Nc6 2. Nf3 d6 )
You got it Scav! And okay sounds good thanks for sharing these other great requests! I know I'm unable to do them all right away, but I do appreciate all the openings you keep sending over!
The Williams is either a worse Pirc or a worse Phillidor defense unfortunately Instead i recommend 1. e4 Nc6 2. Nf3 d5 3. exd5 Qxd5 4. Nc3 Qd6!! with the idea of castling queenside as soon as possible and an eventual e5
Watching this video again and the reason I never play the Kennedy is because of the transposition to the Scotch. If one plays the Nimzo to get out of mainline openings, then why play the Kennedy and simply invite white to get back into his type of game? I think Nimzo's idea of playing a French without the bad bishop is a more solid approach. Which is perhaps why at the higher levels, d5 is preferred. And by the way, I love how you analyze the themes and don't have Stockfish sitting on the side. Thanks for these videos -- they are very much appreciated. :) Keep up the good work!
This is a very good video! Against 2.Nf3.. I’ve dabbled with e6 (inviting a rare line of the French def) with d5, and if white plays e5, hit back with f6 to liquidate white’s center. Some Bd3 by white require Black to sac the exchange, but Stockfish then gives black a big edge as Black is up in development, controls the center, & white’s Queen is uncomfortably stuck on a8.
In the Nc3 lines, after Qd4, white should play Nxe4 instead of Qxe4. Then all of white’s moves are natural; I prefer to avoid 3...dxe & instead play 3...Nf6! If 4.e5, then Nd7, & if white replies Nxd5 then Nd-g8! Whereby Black wins white’s pawn on d4 by force, evening things up nicely. If White does not play Nxd5, then Nd7-Ng6 holds d5 and frees up black’s QB to jump to f5. Black pawn structure is like a French but his white squared Bishop has freedom. True, Black will need to move his Nc6 if he wants to get c5 in, but the center is locked up and the slight loss of time is a trade off for Black not having any bad bishop. Black can also skip c5 ideas altogether and attack white’s pawn chain at the tip with f6. In short, black has options and white players are usually winging it as Black’s set up with pawn c7 and Nc6 is rare. Anyway, love this video; great stuff!
Thank you for this video, Solomon. The Scandinavian variation has strong similarities to Chigorins Defense, a very tactical opening, which may explain why this variation is favored by Grandmasters.
Yessir! Ya there are some unexpected turns that can take place if the e4 player is not prepared. I agree on the similarities to the Chigorin Defense, it looks awkward but once you study it, it works. Thanks Dennis!
I've been experimenting with premoving Nc6 in blitz/bullet, with a fair bit of success. In fast games and at my low level, you can really summarize this with: play Nc6 then just play sensible chess.
I really like unorthodox play styles in this game. Since I've been getting back into chess recently I really enjoy getting the drop on players with Wayward Queen attacks in the 300-500 range, it's always fun to take unexpecting noobs like myself by surprise with such an aggressive opening. But as black I enjoy the Nimzowitch response. Thanks for the explanation video. I hope to get my chess game right and reach 1200 elo sometime by the Fall. Here's hoping!
@@TheChessGiant Thanks! It's been a month but I've managed to get my chess ELO to just shy of 800 in Rapid and close to 700 in Blitz. I got to play the Nimzowitch defense scand. Variation in full the other day and by the 7th/8th move the other player just resigned after I castled/checked them with it lol I think I need to learn more openings and better tactics but my game has increased. Thanks for that!
Thank you Solomon for making this. On another note I’ll give you another suggestion or two. The Kveinis and Godiva Sicilians are very interesting sidelines and it made me laugh that you remembered my comment thank you again
I love the Nimzowitsch Defense, quick and easy developement! --- 2. Nf3 you can play f5 the colorado gambit (if you don't want to play e4 e5) --- And if white advances to e5, there's a common mistake Bd3 which gives you d4 for free: 1. e4 Nc6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. Bd3 Nxd4 5. Bxf5 Nxf5 --- I like to respond Bb5 with Qd6, but regardless, it's not end of the world if white takes Knight on c6 --- 2. Bc4 engine recommends playing e6, then you could go d5 later --- Keep an eye out for c6, if white won't play it you could go for Kc2 forks It's also good warmup for (accelerated) dragon sicilian.
Hey! If they do that is totally okay with us as we can capture off that bishop and then starting going after white's extended pawn formation by bring out sideline pawn to a5. This threatens axb4 and white cannot capture back with a pawn unless they want to lose their rook. Something like Rb1 could work, but of course we have the option of taking anyways... and if they play b5 the queenside is simply locked up forever which isn't good for white. Hope this helps! Thanks, Solomon
Kingcrusher did a video on the Colorado Gambit a couple of years ago (1. e4 Nc6 2. Nf3 f5). It's crazy Latvian Gambit type stuff. I've only dared use it in Blitz. 😂
I’ve played this opening thousands of times on the internet. IMHO In response to e5 3... f6 is much sharper & tricker for white to play against than 3...f5.
This is a very fair take Robert!! Hard for white to deal with that. Black just needs to be prepared with the opening knowledge so they don't get swept!
My grandfather plays this kind of opening a lot and he wins every game. He plays double fianchetto in the first four turns. I wonder what the name of that opening too
Yep - d4 is exactly what we want as Nimzowitsch Defense players, but unfortunately after 2. Nf3 there are not many great options except 2. e5 which transposes exactly into what white wants
Hard opening to go against! For white, I recommend 2. Nf3 - this gives them options such as e5 (classical position reached) or d5 (worse Scandinavian).
I do use this opening quite often. ..along with f3. Takes people out of theory and makes book work useless. Tactics u know B3. F3. H4 Nc3. Gedult defense
Back in the day, the Nimzowitch was my main (or secondary) weapon as Black. Then everyone started playing 2. Nf3 or 3. Nf3 if I used the 2. e5 line. I didn't feel like learning the Black side of the Scotch/Giucco Pianos etc so I moved on. Thanks for this highly anticipated video Solomon! I think I'll give it another try
Hey Danny! Ya that's totally fair, I think more e4 players should think about 2. Nf3 because it forces e5 or d5 (which turns into a worse version of the Scandinavian for black). However, against 2. d4 black can get some great positions. Thanks Danny.
@@TheChessGiantIn case you are looking for an interesting defense against 2.Nf3 you can look at d5, 3. exd5 Qxd5 4. Nc3 Qd6!!
This is a very nice Move trying to justify the early development of the Knight to C6, with the idea of castling Queenside as soon as possible and moving the Queen back to D8 if forced to by a move like Nb5
This Opening Reportoire is used by strong German chess youtuber Moritex Chess and ive been using it with great success aswell
This is a criminally underrated video. You make some of the best videos for us beginners. Thanks!
Currently my opening for black. Very good and underrated opening. You also have 2 choices in the main line with 2…d5 or 2…e5
Yessir!! Ya very underrated and hard to go against if black goes into the lines/variations they want.
I have been playing the nimzowitsch defense for a long time and have learned a lot in the opening I think you give a good introduction to the opening, it truly is an underrated opening and actually has a lot of untapped theory that gives both sides a fighting game. I have been wanting to create a course on this for chess able button sure how much interest there would b, thanks for the awesome video!
Hey Henry! That's awesome you play the Nimzowitsch, very underplayed and underrated system for black. Most e4 players don't know where to start against it. Happy to help, and ya if you end up doing that on chessable let me know!!
@@TheChessGiant i will! Im just not sure how you actually make Chessable courses haha, I have loads of theory that I’ve studied and come up with tho ready to share it :)
The Williams line (d6 in reply to 2Nf3) is also playable if Black is ok playing into a pirc or modern set up, if need be.
Ya for sure!
Thanks for the video! I love the Nimzowitsch Defence. Even in correspondence play, White often has no idea how to best proceed.
You got it brother! Ya the Nimzowitsch Defense is it's own world, most never entering into it until someone plays it against them.
Excellent video Solo, thank you!
Thanks!!!
I have played the Nimzowitsch and have struggled to keep up with all the theory against the Scotch. I would love to see a video on how to play against the Scotch for Black!
Got it! Thanks for sharing this request!
I second that recommendation
I thought the point of playing 1. ...Nc6 was to avoid the main lines after 1.e4 e5 2. Nf3?
Thanks Solomon for accepting my request, I was so excited for this! I still think that the Classical Variation (2. Nf3) was missing, the Williams Variation (2. ... d6 ) is almost a key move for the Nimzowitsch Defense player, trying to avoid transpositions to KP's games! I'm hoping to see the "Modern Nimzowitsch" it in the future!
Btw i love this type of 30 minute videos, i like really long and instructive opening theory videos. My recommendation is that you should do more ( just an suggestion haha)! Loves from Brazil! Have a nice weekend, Solomon!
Edit: Also i still have these requests hahaha
-Mikenas Defense ( 1. d4 Nc6 or 1. c4 Nc6 (anglo Lithuanian variation )
-Williams Variation of the Classical Nimzowitsch Defense( 1. e4 Nc6 2. Nf3 d6 )
You got it Scav! And okay sounds good thanks for sharing these other great requests! I know I'm unable to do them all right away, but I do appreciate all the openings you keep sending over!
The Williams is either a worse Pirc or a worse Phillidor defense unfortunately
Instead i recommend 1. e4 Nc6 2. Nf3 d5 3. exd5 Qxd5 4. Nc3 Qd6!! with the idea of castling queenside as soon as possible and an eventual e5
Also it is very different to the scandinavian in many ways and give a lot of unique dynamic positions
Watching this video again and the reason I never play the Kennedy is because of the transposition to the Scotch. If one plays the Nimzo to get out of mainline openings, then why play the Kennedy and simply invite white to get back into his type of game? I think Nimzo's idea of playing a French without the bad bishop is a more solid approach. Which is perhaps why at the higher levels, d5 is preferred. And by the way, I love how you analyze the themes and don't have Stockfish sitting on the side. Thanks for these videos -- they are very much appreciated. :) Keep up the good work!
Thanks for these great thoughts! Ya the world of openings and how there can be similarities and differences and transpositions is such a trip.
Been playing the nimzo for a few years. I love the games that come out of the nimzo Scandinavian advanced variation.
That's awesome to hear! And ya I'm totally with that.
I plan on watching this a few times. I've been playing Caro and its 50/50 if I win a very frustrating feeling. This seems much more solid. Thank You!
Wooow! This seems like a really interesting opening! Will definitely try it out! :)
Hey! Glad you found this interesting lars! Let me know how it goes!
Hard to find thorough tutorials on the Nimzowitsch. this was great, thanks.
You got it Timothy! Glad you liked it brotha, the Nimzowitsch Defense is a great one.
This is a very good video! Against 2.Nf3.. I’ve dabbled with e6 (inviting a rare line of the French def) with d5, and if white plays e5, hit back with f6 to liquidate white’s center. Some Bd3 by white require Black to sac the exchange, but Stockfish then gives black a big edge as Black is up in development, controls the center, & white’s Queen is uncomfortably stuck on a8.
This is my next Nimzowitsch Defense video... responding to 2. Nf3, which of these do you like the most?
this one is deep... gonna have to right click the tab and add to reading list for another watch
Yessir! Ya the Nimzowitsch Defense is it's own little world of opening theory.
Excellent! Thank you
Glad you enjoyed it!
Can we have a Blackburne-Kloosterboer Gambit Video from you? Please 🥺
I'll add this to the list! Thanks brotha.
Thanks Solomon for this vid
You got it KentBrian Galleros! Glad you enjoyed this one, I think you've said the Nimzowitsch Defense is your favorite chess opening. Good taste!
Yes I play nimzowitsch in blitz but In Kennedy variation it can transposing into scotch game nf3
Im a beginner and i had a hard time finding theory for this defence. Its my prefered move im surely gonna watch this a couple of Times thanks a lot
You got it brotha! Ya it's not played a ton and it should be played more. Glad you liked some of the variations/lines. Keep it up!
Great video. I play some of these lines and have pretty good success but i still learned a lot.
Thanks Kevin! Glad you still got some stuff out of this one! And that's cool you play the Nimzowitsch Defense, rare nowadays!
Thank you ! Can you please also touch on the Nimzo-Scand ?
1. e4 Nc6
2. Nf3 (or d4) d5
Very much appreciated !!!
Got another request for this, I will add it!
Hello Samuel I am a nimzowitch defence player, thanks you for the video. I wonder if you could make a new video for the kings gambit thank you
Thanks for sending in this chess opening recommendation Tommaso!
In the Nc3 lines, after Qd4, white should play Nxe4 instead of Qxe4. Then all of white’s moves are natural; I prefer to avoid 3...dxe & instead play 3...Nf6! If 4.e5, then Nd7, & if white replies Nxd5 then Nd-g8! Whereby Black wins white’s pawn on d4 by force, evening things up nicely. If White does not play Nxd5, then Nd7-Ng6 holds d5 and frees up black’s QB to jump to f5. Black pawn structure is like a French but his white squared Bishop has freedom. True, Black will need to move his Nc6 if he wants to get c5 in, but the center is locked up and the slight loss of time is a trade off for Black not having any bad bishop. Black can also skip c5 ideas altogether and attack white’s pawn chain at the tip with f6. In short, black has options and white players are usually winging it as Black’s set up with pawn c7 and Nc6 is rare. Anyway, love this video; great stuff!
Thanks for these great thoughts Robert!
my new repertoire of that
Yessir! The Nimzowitsch Defense is solid!
Thank you for this video, Solomon. The Scandinavian variation has strong similarities to Chigorins Defense, a very tactical opening, which may explain why this variation is favored by Grandmasters.
Yessir! Ya there are some unexpected turns that can take place if the e4 player is not prepared. I agree on the similarities to the Chigorin Defense, it looks awkward but once you study it, it works. Thanks Dennis!
Great stuff, sir
Thank you sir! Glad you liked it. The Nimzowitsch Defense is rare but effective.
Now this is my fav opening for black
Such a great system!
I've been experimenting with premoving Nc6 in blitz/bullet, with a fair bit of success. In fast games and at my low level, you can really summarize this with: play Nc6 then just play sensible chess.
I really like unorthodox play styles in this game. Since I've been getting back into chess recently I really enjoy getting the drop on players with Wayward Queen attacks in the 300-500 range, it's always fun to take unexpecting noobs like myself by surprise with such an aggressive opening. But as black I enjoy the Nimzowitch response. Thanks for the explanation video. I hope to get my chess game right and reach 1200 elo sometime by the Fall. Here's hoping!
That's awesome! Best of luck hitting 1200, you got this!
@@TheChessGiant Thanks! It's been a month but I've managed to get my chess ELO to just shy of 800 in Rapid and close to 700 in Blitz. I got to play the Nimzowitch defense scand. Variation in full the other day and by the 7th/8th move the other player just resigned after I castled/checked them with it lol
I think I need to learn more openings and better tactics but my game has increased. Thanks for that!
I love to play the Nimzovitch!
Good on you! The Nimzowitsch Defense is a great system.
Very cool video , thanks
You bet!
2.Bc4 e5 leads you to Bishop’s opening. It would be interesting to cover this variant. Or, maybe there is a better response to 2.Bc4 ?
15:41 what happen if the opponent kick the ngiht using the pawn?
Great question! We actually just play Nxb5 (knight takes bishop) and we're up material!
Hope this helps,
Thanks,
Solomon
Thank you Solomon for making this. On another note I’ll give you another suggestion or two. The Kveinis and Godiva Sicilians are very interesting sidelines and it made me laugh that you remembered my comment thank you again
Got it! Thanks for sharing these brotha!
So much Sicilian lines, that's crazy ! But they look a lot alike tbf
@@monstermagnet3150 they can look alike but the ideas and plans are so much different
@@TheChessGiant to be honest I have an entire Google doc full of unexpected openings lol
I love the Nimzowitsch Defense, quick and easy developement!
--- 2. Nf3 you can play f5 the colorado gambit (if you don't want to play e4 e5)
--- And if white advances to e5, there's a common mistake Bd3 which gives you d4 for free:
1. e4 Nc6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. Bd3 Nxd4 5. Bxf5 Nxf5
--- I like to respond Bb5 with Qd6, but regardless, it's not end of the world if white takes Knight on c6
--- 2. Bc4 engine recommends playing e6, then you could go d5 later
--- Keep an eye out for c6, if white won't play it you could go for Kc2 forks
It's also good warmup for (accelerated) dragon sicilian.
Yessir! Great thoughts thanks for sharing these.
At 29:08 why can’t the white play pawn b4?
and btw what if white doesn’t go d4 after black goes c6
Hey! If they do that is totally okay with us as we can capture off that bishop and then starting going after white's extended pawn formation by bring out sideline pawn to a5. This threatens axb4 and white cannot capture back with a pawn unless they want to lose their rook. Something like Rb1 could work, but of course we have the option of taking anyways... and if they play b5 the queenside is simply locked up forever which isn't good for white.
Hope this helps!
Thanks,
Solomon
This is an underrated defense. Lots of ways for white to go wrong against this!
Yessir!
Kingcrusher did a video on the Colorado Gambit a couple of years ago (1. e4 Nc6 2. Nf3 f5). It's crazy Latvian Gambit type stuff. I've only dared use it in Blitz. 😂
ooo ok this would be fun to cover!
Just added this to my chess openings google doc!
@@TheChessGiant awesome!
@@TheChessGiant if you'd like to dig even further, search GJ_chess Colorado Gambit. He has a whole playlist from 9 years ago on the topic.
Hello thank you for your course. Its very dense indeed. I personally would be very interested in some guidance on the Scotch gambit. 😮
You got it! And do you mean how to play against the Scotch Gambit? Or how to play it as white?
@@TheChessGiant both to be honest.
At first sight, this is
"Man I wanna play the indian game but everyone plays e4"
Hahaha I haven't thought of it like this but facts!
I'm stuck at-
White position: Pawns at e4 & d4 and knight at c3
Black position: Knights at c6 & f6
Black to play next move
Would you be able to send me a timestamp? Thanks!!
What do you do when white 2nd move is nf3
I like this better than Owens- faster development.
The Nimzowitsch Defense definitely has a lot of pros!
I’ve played this opening thousands of times on the internet. IMHO In response to e5 3... f6 is much sharper & tricker for white to play against than 3...f5.
This is a very fair take Robert!! Hard for white to deal with that. Black just needs to be prepared with the opening knowledge so they don't get swept!
What do you have on English Game counter play
I haven't made a video on this but I will have to think on that Mathew!
My grandfather plays this kind of opening a lot and he wins every game. He plays double fianchetto in the first four turns. I wonder what the name of that opening too
That's cool man! And double fianchetto quickly? That sounds like he's closing in on a Hippo setup!
nice video thank you! (note for myself: 9:40)
The engine has always told me to play Bf4 after Nc3….ima start playing e6
Let me know how it goes!
How to play against Scotch game?
Hey Joseph! Here it is! ruclips.net/video/wOmVdolCRGU/видео.html
When trying this defense what do you do when their second move is qh5?
2. …Nf6
Computer says 2.d4 is inaccurate and 2.Nf3 or 2.Nc6 prioritizing development are both better.
Yep - d4 is exactly what we want as Nimzowitsch Defense players, but unfortunately after 2. Nf3 there are not many great options except 2. e5 which transposes exactly into what white wants
I always spend too much time when black plays Nc6.
Hard opening to go against! For white, I recommend 2. Nf3 - this gives them options such as e5 (classical position reached) or d5 (worse Scandinavian).
@@TheChessGiant Give them the option of transposing into something I know. That's what I'll do.
What is your FIDE rating ?
Close to 2000. My USCF is 2210. Hard because I haven't had the chance to play in a ton of full FIDE events, but would love to in the future.
❤️❤️❤️
great content but you have to have a video of yourself talking, great content.
Leave some oxygen for us man 😂
😂
I was taught nc6 followed by d6.
Interesting! Ya I usually think of it as e5 or d5 from black, although d6 does get played too. The Williams Variation? I'm forgetting the name...
I do use this opening quite often. ..along with f3. Takes people out of theory and makes book work useless. Tactics u know
B3. F3. H4 Nc3. Gedult defense