Nimzo-Larsen Attack: English Variation

Nimzo-Larsen Attack: English Variation

Definition

The Nimzo-Larsen Attack begins with the flank move 1. b3, preparing to fianchetto the queen’s bishop to b2. The English Variation arises after the common reply 1…e5 when White continues:

2. Bb2 Nc6 3. c4

The move 3. c4 mirrors structures from the English Opening (hence the name) and immediately challenges Black’s center, while also staking out queenside space.

Typical Move-Order

• 1. b3 e5
• 2. Bb2 Nc6
• 3. c4 Nf6 (3…g6 or 3…d6 are also playable)
• 4. e3 or 4. Nc3, transposing to setups that resemble the English, Queen’s Indian or even reversed Sicilian structures.

Strategic Ideas

• Queenside Expansion: By advancing b- and c-pawns, White gains space on the queenside and keeps the option of c4-c5 to cramp Black.
• Pressure on the e5 pawn: The fianchettoed bishop on b2, often reinforced by Nf3 and d2-d4, targets e5. If Black plays …d6, the bishop’s scope increases further.
• Reverse Queen’s Indian: With colors reversed (and an extra tempo), White can adopt ideas analogous to the Queen’s Indian: Bb2, g3, Bg2, Nc3 and d4.
• Flexible Center: White often keeps the d-pawn back (d2-d3 or d2-d4) to decide later whether to strike in the center or maintain tension.
• Piece Play over Pawn Play: White’s early development makes it easy to castle either side and launch piece pressure before committing the central pawns.

Historical & Theoretical Significance

The opening is named after Aaron Nimzowitsch and Bent Larsen, both great proponents of flank strategies that challenge classical dogma. Although the mainstream Nimzo-Larsen (1. b3) fell out of top-level vogue for decades, it has enjoyed periodic revivals. The English Variation, in particular, gained attention when Bent Larsen used it to upset established grandmasters in the 1960s-70s, showcasing how “unorthodox” setups could outfox well-prepared opponents.

Modern Usage

The line is popular with practical players who:

• want to sidestep vast 1. e4 and 1. d4 theory,
• enjoy slow-burn strategic battles, and
• seek positions where understanding plans outweighs concrete memorization.

Elite grandmasters such as Richard Rapport, Hikaru Nakamura, and Baadur Jobava deploy the English Variation as a surprise weapon in rapid and blitz, while correspondence and engine games show that the opening is theoretically sound if handled precisely.

Illustrative Game

B. Larsen – V. Hort, Havana 1967 Larsen demonstrates a textbook English Variation, steering play into a reversed Sicilian where his queenside space and diagonal pressure forced concessions in the middlegame.

Key moments:

1. 3. c4! immediately seizes central space.
2. 8. Bb5 pins the c6-knight, exploiting the pressure on e5.
3. Larsen’s queenside castling and rapid advance of pawns created an overwhelming attack against Black’s king stuck in the center.

Plans for Each Side

For White

• Fianchetto the b2-bishop and pressure e5.
• Play c4-c5 or a2-a3 & b4 to gain space on the queenside.
• Delay d-pawn moves to keep the position flexible.
• Consider O-O-O for an opposite-side pawn storm if the center is closed.

For Black

• Break with …d5 or …f5 to challenge the central light-squared bishop.
• Develop harmoniously: …Nf6, …Bc5 (or …Bd6), …O-O.
• If White castles long, counter with a kingside pawn storm (…f5-f4, …g5).
• In some lines, trade dark-squared bishops with …Ba3 to weaken White’s queenside.

Common Tactical Motifs

• e5-pin: Nf3 places a knight on e5 after trades, especially potent if the c6-knight is pinned.
• b-file pressure: Once Black castles kingside, the b1–h7 diagonal and the semi-open b-file (after bxc6) can be coordinated for mating nets.
• Reversed Sicilian strikes: c4-c5, d2-d4 and f2-f4 can appear with colors reversed, catching players unfamiliar with tempo nuances.

Interesting Facts

• Bent Larsen famously answered a reporter who called 1. b3 “irresponsible” by beating several top grandmasters with it in the same tournament.
• Some engines now give the English Variation a near-equal evaluation for Black, yet practical results in faster time controls favor White due to unfamiliarity.
• Nimzowitsch himself used 1. b3 to beat both Teichmann (Berlin 1928) and Spielmann (Carlsbad 1929), but did not employ the 3. c4 plan; Larsen innovated that decades later.

Summary

The Nimzo-Larsen Attack: English Variation offers a sound, flexible, and strategically rich alternative to mainstream openings. It leverages flank pressure to undermine the center and often transposes into favorable reversed Sicilians or Queen’s Indian-type structures where White sets the agenda. Whether used as a primary weapon or a surprise sideline, it rewards players who value understanding over rote theory.