On Lichess, across N = 298,322 games between players rated 900 to 1700 (September 2026 data), you score 52% as White with the Nimzo-Larsen Attack, 1.. The b3 pawn clears b2 for the bishop, which eyes d4 and e5 along the long diagonal from there. Against , the reply of 4 in 10 opponents, that bishop is already hitting the pawn on move two.
Lichess games from September 2026 (30,577,162 rated 900 to 1700) and 31,791 over-the-board games rated 2300+ from the last 12 months. Data updated: October 14, 2026.
13 named lines in this family; 1 with their own page.
The opening's share in each Lichess rating band.
After 1., 4 in 10 opponents at your level play , and 1 in 4 go for . Among online players rated 2200+ the choice is more spread out: drops to 27 in 100 games and climbs to 20 in 100, against 7 in 100 at your level. Against , 2. is standard in both groups, in 9 games out of 10, and is the usual defense, in 61 of every 100 games at your level. The split comes on move three. After , players at your level choose 3. in 45 of every 100 games and 3. in 20. Strong players pick 3. 70 times in 100, and their second choice is 3., at 14.
| Move | Lichess 900–1700 | White's score | Online, 2200+ | Over the board, 2300+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 39.4% | 51.6% | 27.1% | 33.7% | |
| 25.8% | 51.5% | 24.3% | 40.8% | |
| 7.0% | 53.4% | 3.5% | no data | |
| 6.8% | 50.4% | 20.4% | 25.5% | |
| 4.3% | 51.4% | 6.7% | no data | |
| 3.5% | 54.8% | no data | no data | |
| no data | no data | 3.5% | no data |
| Move | Lichess 900–1700 | White's score | Online, 2200+ | Over the board, 2300+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 90.6% | 52.0% | 94.3% | 100.0% | |
| 1.9% | 49.6% | 0.1% | no data | |
| 1.5% | 51.5% | 3.3% | no data | |
| 1.3% | 47.0% | no data | no data | |
| 1.2% | 46.2% | 0.2% | no data | |
| 0.7% | 46.1% | 1.8% | no data | |
| no data | no data | 0.1% | no data |
| Move | Lichess 900–1700 | White's score | Online, 2200+ | Over the board, 2300+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 60.7% | 51.4% | 73.9% | 81.8% | |
| 17.1% | 51.1% | 20.8% | 18.2% | |
| 5.0% | 53.0% | 2.8% | no data | |
| 3.8% | 54.2% | 0.7% | no data | |
| 3.3% | 52.3% | 1.1% | no data | |
| 2.8% | 53.4% | no data | no data | |
| no data | no data | 0.3% | no data |
| Move | Lichess 900–1700 | White's score | Online, 2200+ | Over the board, 2300+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 44.7% | 53.8% | 70.4% | 69.6% | |
| 20.0% | 49.7% | 3.9% | no data | |
| 11.5% | 51.9% | 8.5% | no data | |
| 6.2% | 49.8% | 0.8% | no data | |
| 6.0% | 47.3% | 1.3% | no data | |
| 3.6% | 47.2% | no data | no data | |
| no data | no data | 13.6% | 30.4% |
| Move | Lichess 900–1700 | White's score | Online, 2200+ | Over the board, 2300+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 46.3% | 54.9% | 35.1% | 100.0% | |
| 21.3% | 51.8% | 34.9% | no data | |
| 11.7% | 53.4% | no data | no data | |
| 7.0% | 52.4% | 5.1% | no data | |
| 3.4% | 50.1% | 10.1% | no data | |
| 2.6% | 53.1% | no data | no data | |
| no data | no data | 6.8% | no data | |
| no data | no data | 1.9% | no data |
The line strong players repeat most is 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.. It all revolves around Black's e5 pawn. Your b2 bishop hits it from the long diagonal, Black defends it, and you take away a defender and add an attacker. You end up with pawns on b3, e3 and f4 facing Black's pawns on d5 and e5.
2. attacks e5 as soon as the pawn lands there, which is why guards it in 74 of every 100 strong games. 3. does two jobs. It covers d4, a square the c6 knight is also eyeing, so the c6 knight can't jump there without being taken by the pawn or the bishop. And it opens the f1 bishop's diagonal toward b5. It has to come before the bishop move: while the pawn still sits on e2, that bishop has no way out.
grabs the center but empties d7. That opens the diagonal from b5 to e8, and 4., chosen by 87 of every 100 strong players, pins the c6 knight to the king. The knight still stands next to e5, but it can no longer capture there, so the pawn has no real defender. That's why Black covers it with . If needed, your b5 bishop can also take that knight and strip e5 of its defender for good. Then 5. brings a second attacker onto e5, this time a pawn. In that position strong players go 5. in 67 of every 100 games; at your level, in 26.
The f1 bishop doesn't always head for b5. Among online players rated 2200+, it ends up on g2 in 23 of every 100 games, on e2 in 22 and on b5 in 20. Over the board, among players rated 2300+, g2 rises to 49 in 100 and b5 drops to 11. That's the fianchetto: knight to f3, pawn to g3 and bishop to g2, so both your bishops sit on the two long diagonals. Against , move order matters. Knight first, since it watches e5. Push the g-pawn first with Black's knight on c6, and Black can plant a pawn on e5 that cuts off your b2 bishop.
Plan played in 49% of the 276 over-the-board games rated 2300+ with this structure.
Online, 2200+: 23.2% of 24,562. Over the board, 2300+: 49.3% of 276; the alternative, : 22.5% and 12.7%; the alternative, : 9.9% and 4.3%; the alternative, : 1.8% and 2.9%; the alternative, : 20.0% and 10.9%.
| Move | Strong games | Chosen by |
|---|---|---|
| 21,883 | 27.1% | |
| 5,924 | 94.3% | |
| 5,570 | 74.0% | |
| 4,236 | 70.4% | |
| 3,032 | 35.3% | |
| 1,226 | 87.4% | |
| 1,033 | 61.6% | |
| 603 | 66.7% |
After 1. 2. , 3. is an inaccuracy chosen by 23 of every 100 players at your level. It allows : the pawn, backed by the c6 knight, blocks your bishop's diagonal. After 3., that push would drop the pawn to the knight and bishop. You score 54 of every 100 points with 3. and 50 with 3..
23 in 100 play it in this position. It gives away 0.9 pawns of advantage. It scores 49.8%; scores 54.4%.
After 1. 2. , 3. is a mistake. The queen hits e5 and f7, but protects the pawn and the king covers f7. Your queen is exposed: after 4. 5. , it moves again with 6.. Opponents at your level often don't punish it: you score 57 of every 100 points with it, 53 with 3..
8 in 100 play it in this position. It gives away 1.2 pawns of advantage. It scores 57.1%; scores 52.6%.
Against 1. 2. , the e5 pawn is left hanging, and 3. wins it because no black piece can recapture. 3. lets the chance slip and is a mistake: after the pawn is protected and your bishop runs into it. You score 58 of every 100 points with 3. and 53 with 3..
24 in 100 play it in this position. It gives away 1.1 pawns of advantage. It scores 53.3%; scores 58.5%.
In that same position, 3. is an even bigger mistake than 3.: you prepare the fianchetto and leave the loose e5 pawn alone. Black covers it with , and after 4. the black bishop eyes f2. 15 of every 100 players at your level choose it; you score 52 of every 100 points with it and 58 with 3..
15 in 100 play it in this position. It gives away 1.5 pawns of advantage. It scores 52.1%; scores 58.5%.
After 1. 2. , 3. is an inaccuracy: the knight lands on your bishop's diagonal and cuts it off from e5. Black takes the center with , and after 4. 5. 6. your bishop is shut in behind the knight and the d4 pawn. You score 54 of every 100 points with 3. and 47 with 3..
4 in 100 play it in this position. It gives away 0.7 pawns of advantage. It scores 47.2%; scores 53.8%.
If you meet with 2. and Black replies , that pawn blocks your bishop's diagonal. 3. attacks it a second time; 3. ignores it and is a mistake. After 4. , two pawns hold it up. At your level it barely costs you: you score 53 of every 100 points with 3. and 54 with 3..
17 in 100 play it in this position. It gives away 1.1 pawns of advantage. It scores 52.7%; scores 54.0%.
| White | Black | Games |
|---|---|---|
| 102,762 | ||
| Not castled | 39,632 | |
| Not castled | Not castled | 38,565 |
| 29,337 | ||
| Not castled | 26,045 | |
| 25,584 |
| White | Black | Games |
|---|---|---|
| 203 | ||
| 17 | ||
| Not castled | 12 | |
| 10 | ||
| Not castled | 10 | |
| Not castled | 8 |
1. · 119,140 amateur games · 34 over the board
is the most common reply, with 119,140 games; 2. goes after that pawn straight away.
1. · 79,475 amateur games · 209 over the board
takes the center without giving your bishop a target; strong over-the-board players prefer it.
1. · 18,853 amateur games · 24 over the board
watches e4 and d5; 20 in 100 players rated 2200+ choose it, against 7 at your level.
1. · 12,148 amateur games · 3 over the board
eyes d4 from the queenside; you score 51 of every 100 points across 12,148 games.
1. · 7,319 amateur games · 2 over the board
mirrors your move and frees b7 for Black's bishop; 7,319 games at your level.
1. · A01
1,978 amateur games · White's score: 52.4%
1. 2. · A01
1,308 amateur games · White's score: 49.2%
1. 2. 3. · A01
1,185 amateur games · White's score: 55.2%
1. · A01
713 amateur games · White's score: 55.8%
1. 2. 3. · A01
147 amateur games · White's score: 50.7%
1. 2. 3. · A06
40 amateur games · White's score: 48.7%
1. 2. 3. · A01
10 amateur games · White's score: 65.0%