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Nimzowitsch Defense

B00For BlackLow theory

1. e4 Nc6

A line for Black. Every figure below is computed separately for each rating band, and every one carries its own sample size.

Win rate, Black
43.3%44.7%45.2%47.2%
Band 600, n = 54,348Band 1000, n = 143,537Band 1400, n = 89,107Band 1800, n = 167,979
Blunder rate
45.3%40.7%39.2%45.8%
Band median 44.6%Band median 42.9%Band median 40.0%Band median 36.4%
Tier
CCCC
Black, band 600Black, band 1000Black, band 1400Black, band 1800
Share of games
1.3%1.0%0.8%0.8%
Of band 600 gamesOf band 1000 gamesOf band 1400 gamesOf band 1800 games
Every band, source period 2026-05
BandWhiteDrawBlackBlunderBook exitGamesTier
60052.1%4.6%43.3%45.3%ply 2.054,348C
100051.5%3.8%44.7%40.7%ply 2.0143,537C
140051.1%3.7%45.2%39.2%ply 2.089,107C
180048.7%4.1%47.2%45.8%ply 2.0167,979C

Results by band

What it actually does, band by band.

All four bands are on the page. The one matching your rating is marked. Nothing here is averaged across bands.

600Your bandC at 600Blunder rate 45.3%, band median 44.6%

At 600, the Nimzowitsch Defense scores 43.3% for Black across 54,348 games. That is below average at this level. Games in this line leave known theory around move 1 on average, and 45.3% include an early material blunder (53 games at 600).

1000Your bandC at 1000Blunder rate 40.7%, band median 42.9%

At 1000, the Nimzowitsch Defense scores 44.7% for Black across 143,537 games. That is below average at this level. Games in this line leave known theory around move 1 on average, and 40.7% include an early material blunder (86 games at 1000).

1400Your bandC at 1400Blunder rate 39.2%, band median 40.0%

At 1400, the Nimzowitsch Defense scores 45.2% for Black across 89,107 games. That is below average at this level. Games in this line leave known theory around move 1 on average, and 39.2% include an early material blunder (74 games at 1400).

1800Your bandC at 1800Blunder rate 45.8%, band median 36.4%

At 1800, the Nimzowitsch Defense scores 47.2% for Black across 167,979 games. That is below average at this level. Games in this line leave known theory around move 1 on average, and 45.8% include an early material blunder (83 games at 1800).

Variations

Where the line goes next.

The lines that continue the Nimzowitsch Defense, most played first at your band. Switch the band in the header and both the figures and the order follow.

  • DCDCB00

    Nimzowitsch Defense: Declined Variation

    1. e4 Nc6 2. Nf3

    0.5% of games at 600, n = 21,8970.5% of games at 1000, n = 70,3550.4% of games at 1400, n = 43,2020.3% of games at 1800, n = 72,201

  • DCCCB00

    Nimzowitsch Defense

    1. e4 Nc6 2. d4

    0.2% of games at 600, n = 10,3750.2% of games at 1000, n = 32,5960.2% of games at 1400, n = 23,2380.3% of games at 1800, n = 59,973

Questions

Common questions about this page.

At 600, the Nimzowitsch Defense scores 43.3% for Black across 54,348 games. That is below average at this level. Games in this line leave known theory around move 1 on average, and 45.3% include an early material blunder (53 games at 600).

At 1000, the Nimzowitsch Defense scores 44.7% for Black across 143,537 games. That is below average at this level. Games in this line leave known theory around move 1 on average, and 40.7% include an early material blunder (86 games at 1000).

The Nimzowitsch Defense (B00) is a line for Black. The main line runs 1. e4 Nc6.