The Nimzowitsch Defense is 1. : you bring out a knight before moving a center pawn and aim it at d4. In Lichess public games from September 2026 (N = 405,486), you score 46.7% with it, and it turns up in 1.3% of games. Against 2., strong players answer and steer toward a locked center after 3..
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.
41 named lines in this family; 1 with their own page.
The opening's share in each Lichess rating band.
After 1. , the reply you'll see most at your level is 2., in 42 of every 100 games; 2. comes in 23 and 2. in 11. Strong Lichess players split almost evenly between 2. and 2.: 43 and 42 of every 100. Against 2., they answer in 55 of every 100 games, the public in 34. After 3. comes the biggest gap: strong players shore up d4 with 4. in 68 of every 100, while at your level only 16 of every 100 do. What you'll face most is 4., in 31 of every 100, and 4., in 17.
| Move | Lichess 900–1700 | White's score | Online, 2200+ | Over the board, 2300+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 41.9% | 53.7% | 42.2% | 78.0% | |
| 23.3% | 53.8% | 42.6% | 22.0% | |
| 10.7% | 52.5% | 0.7% | no data | |
| 8.5% | 52.6% | 10.0% | no data | |
| 3.2% | 52.5% | no data | no data | |
| 3.2% | 51.8% | 1.1% | no data | |
| no data | no data | 1.0% | no data |
| Move | Lichess 900–1700 | White's score | Online, 2200+ | Over the board, 2300+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 34.0% | 51.5% | 55.0% | 100.0% | |
| 25.8% | 53.5% | 36.7% | no data | |
| 17.2% | 54.1% | 2.7% | no data | |
| 8.5% | 56.3% | 1.2% | no data | |
| 6.7% | 55.4% | 3.2% | no data | |
| 2.3% | 60.5% | 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+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 49.5% | 52.1% | 64.2% | 100.0% | |
| 25.2% | 51.9% | 23.5% | no data | |
| 16.6% | 50.9% | 11.0% | no data | |
| 3.1% | 53.7% | 0.8% | no data | |
| 1.5% | 40.0% | no data | no data | |
| 1.4% | 48.8% | no data | no data | |
| no data | no data | 0.6% | no data |
| Move | Lichess 900–1700 | White's score | Online, 2200+ | Over the board, 2300+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 44.2% | 51.8% | 85.1% | 100.0% | |
| 24.3% | 53.0% | 12.5% | no data | |
| 20.7% | 54.3% | 1.1% | no data | |
| 1.8% | 54.9% | no data | no data | |
| 1.7% | 51.9% | 0.4% | no data | |
| 1.5% | 48.9% | no data | no data | |
| no data | no data | 0.9% | no data |
| Move | Lichess 900–1700 | White's score | Online, 2200+ | Over the board, 2300+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30.5% | 52.2% | 15.1% | no data | |
| 17.3% | 51.6% | 3.1% | no data | |
| 15.6% | 53.5% | 67.7% | no data | |
| 10.4% | 51.3% | no data | no data | |
| 7.1% | 52.1% | 2.8% | no data | |
| 4.8% | 53.1% | 2.8% | no data | |
| no data | no data | 2.1% | no data |
The strong players' line heads for a locked center where your pieces gang up on d4: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. . By the end, your pawns on d5 and e6 hold back White's on d4 and e5, your light-squared bishop sits outside the chain, and two knights can hit d4.
Your c6 knight attacks d4 from move 2, and after 2. that pawn is guarded only by the queen. With you also hit e4, which nothing defends. White has to choose, and strong players push 3. in 64 of every 100 games. The pawn grabs space and takes f6 away from your g8 knight, but it can never come back: d4 becomes the base of the chain, and that is where you press.
Before you move the e7 pawn, you get the bishop out with , the choice of 85 of every 100 strong players. Move order matters here. Push the pawn to e6 first and you close the c8 diagonal, leaving the bishop stuck behind your own pawns. From f5 it covers e4 and d3, and d3 is where White's f1 bishop would like to go.
With 4., the c3 pawn joins the queen in guarding d4. You follow with : the pawn supports d5, protects the f5 bishop and opens the diagonal for your f8 bishop.
5. offers a bishop trade. If White takes on f5 and you could only recapture with the e6 pawn, you'd end up with two pawns on the f-file. That is why 81 of every 100 strong players choose . The knight can't go to f6, which the e5 pawn controls, and from e7 it guards f5. After the trade you take back with the knight, and from f5 it hits d4 alongside the c6 knight: two pieces against the c3 pawn and the queen.
At your level the game leaves this line early. After 3., the public plays in 44 of every 100 games, and then 4., which also guards d4, is more common than 4.. Watch out for 4.: the bishop pins your c6 knight to your king, because your d-pawn has already left d7, and the knight can't move until you deal with the pin.
| Move | Strong games | Chosen by |
|---|---|---|
| 12,168 | 42.5% | |
| 5,381 | 55.1% | |
| 2,966 | 64.3% | |
| 1,902 | 85.2% | |
| 1,590 | 67.7% | |
| 1,065 | 83.7% | |
| 872 | 43.0% | |
| 371 | 81.1% |
After 2. 3., moves an already developed knight again and offers it up for a trade: 4. 5., and White castles while your king is still on e8. 4 of every 100 play it here. At your level it rarely gets punished: you score 53 of every 100, against 47 with .
4 in 100 play it in this position. It gives away 1.2 pawns of advantage. It scores 52.8%; scores 46.7%.
This position is in the free course: If Black hits e4 with the knight.
After 2. 3., lets 4. hit your knight. It drops back with , a square that blocks your f8 bishop, which then has to come out via g7 after 5. while White gains space. 9 of every 100 play it. At your level it barely matters: you score 44 of every 100, and 45 with .
9 in 100 play it in this position. It gives away 0.9 pawns of advantage. It scores 44.3%; scores 45.4%.
After 2. 3., empties f7 and leaves the c4 bishop staring at g8. After 4. 5. 6. , both e-pawns are gone and the file is wide open in front of your king. At your level it's rarely punished: you score 53 of every 100, and 47 with .
3 in 100 play it in this position. It gives away 1.1 pawns of advantage. It scores 53.1%; scores 46.7%.
This position is in the free course: If Black hits e4 with the knight.
After 2. 3., leaves e5 guarded only by the c6 knight, and 4. chases it away. After 5. the pawn falls. wins it back, but 6. hits that knight and blocks your f8 bishop. At your level it often goes unpunished: you score 43 of every 100; with , 45.
5 in 100 play it in this position. It gives away 1.4 pawns of advantage. It scores 42.6%; scores 45.4%.
After 2. 3., the c3 pawn prepares d4, and puts your bishop where that push hits it. After 4. 5. the new d4 pawn attacks it again, 6., and White has two pawns in the center. 27 of every 100 play it. This one hurts: you score 45 of every 100, against 55 with .
27 in 100 play it in this position. It gives away 1.1 pawns of advantage. It scores 45.3%; scores 54.8%.
After 2. 3., props up e5 but takes f6 from your knight and clears the c4–g8 diagonal. 4. aims at g8, and you can't castle short while the bishop stays there. After 5. 6. , White has castled and your knight is back on c6. You score 39 of every 100; with , 45.
3 in 100 play it in this position. It gives away 1.8 pawns of advantage. It scores 38.5%; scores 45.4%.
| White | Black | Games |
|---|---|---|
| 112,693 | ||
| Not castled | 67,383 | |
| Not castled | Not castled | 61,899 |
| 57,187 | ||
| Not castled | 28,186 | |
| 24,887 |
| White | Black | Games |
|---|---|---|
| 35 | ||
| 7 | ||
| Not castled | 5 | |
| Not castled | Not castled | 3 |
| Not castled | 2 | |
| 2 |
1. 2. · 97,630 amateur games · 7 over the board
Against 2. you reply , hitting d4 with pawn and knight: 97,630 public games.
1. 2. · 95,689 amateur games · 11 over the board
Against 2., attacks the e4 pawn, which nothing defends: 95,689 public games.
1. 2. · 41,016 amateur games · 5 over the board
With 2. White holds back the d4 push and eyes e5: 41,016 public games.
1. 2. · 28,418 amateur games · 4 over the board
After 2., prepares to push your d-pawn with support: 28,418 public games.
1. 2. · 18,457 amateur games · 28 over the board
After 2., covers e5 and opens your c8 bishop; you score 46 of every 100.
1. 2. · 13,396 amateur games · 1 over the board
Against 2., prepares a supported e5 push: 13,396 public games.
1. 2. · 8,328 amateur games · 1 over the board
With 2. White's bishop attacks your c6 knight: 8,328 public games.
1. 2. · 6,008 amateur games
After 2., prepares to push your pawn to d5 against e4: 6,008 public games.
1. 2. 3. · B00
2,071 amateur games · White's score: 55.0%
1. 2. · B00
1,755 amateur games · White's score: 50.9%
1. 2. 3. · B00
1,625 amateur games · White's score: 53.8%
1. 2. · B00
1,276 amateur games · White's score: 54.9%
1. 2. 3. · B00
1,074 amateur games · White's score: 52.3%
1. 2. · B00
910 amateur games · White's score: 51.0%
1. 2. · B00
643 amateur games · White's score: 64.0%
1. 2. 3. · B00
305 amateur games · White's score: 60.3%
1. 2. · B00
35 amateur games · White's score: 31.4%
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. · B00
16 amateur games · White's score: 71.9%
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. · B00
9 amateur games · White's score: 77.8%
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. · B00