Nimzowitsch Defence: 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5

Nimzowitsch Defence: 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5

Definition

The line 1. e4 Nc6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 is a branch of the Nimzowitsch Defence, an off-beat reply to the King’s Pawn opening that immediately challenges White’s centre with the knight instead of the more classical 1…e5 or 1…c5. After the further moves 2.d4 d5 3.e5, Black develops the queen’s bishop to f5, stepping outside the pawn chain before closing the centre with …e6. The position resembles certain Advance French and Caro-Kann structures, but arises from a completely different move order and often leads to unique middlegame plans.

Move Order and Basic Ideas

1. e4 Nc6 (Nimzowitsch Defence)
2. d4 d5 (the most principled reply—immediate central strike)
3. e5 Bf5 (the Advance Variation; sometimes called the Scandinavian–French hybrid)
Typical continuations include:

• 4. Nf3 e6 5. Be2 Nge7 6. 0-0 Ng6 – Black develops smoothly and may castle either side.
• 4. g4!? Be4 5. f3 Bg6 – the Keres Attack, a sharp attempt by White to trap the f5-bishop.
• 4. c3 e6 5. Nf3 f6 – Black immediately undermines the e5-pawn.

Strategic Themes for Black

• Piece Activity: The early …Bf5 places the bishop on its best diagonal before it could be shut in by …e6.
• Central Counterplay: Black often follows with …e6, …f6, or …c5 to break at the base of White’s pawn chain.
• Flexible Castling: With the centre closed, Black can choose 0-0 or 0-0-0 depending on where counterplay is easiest.
• Pressure on c2 and d4: …Nb4 and …Qc7 ideas echo the French Defence, tactically targeting the soft squares behind White’s spearhead pawn on e5.

Strategic Themes for White

• Space Advantage: The pawn on e5 cramps Black’s pieces and claims territory in the centre.
• Kingside Expansion: Moves like g4, h4, and f4 can harass Black’s f5-bishop and set the stage for an attack.
• Outpost on b5 or g5: Knights and bishops often land on these squares to increase the pressure before Black completes development.
• Endgame Edge: If Black exchanges the dark-squared bishops voluntarily, White’s extra space can make simple positions unpleasant for the second player.

Historical Background

The opening is named after Aron Nimzowitsch, one of the founding fathers of hyper-modern chess, though he employed several move orders rather than the exact 3…Bf5 line. The first known game with this precise sequence was Spielmann – Bogoljubow, Bad Kissingen 1928, where Black’s bishop sortie proved adequate against the creative Spielmann. In the computer era, the variation has been a surprise weapon for grandmasters such as Igor Glek, Baadur Jobava, and Hikaru Nakamura, who appreciate the fresh, unbalanced middlegames it produces.

Typical Pawn Structures

After 4.Nf3 e6 5.Be2 Nge7, the pawn skeleton resembles a French Advance without Black’s light-squared bishop blocked inside the chain:

• White: Pawns on e5, d4, c2; strong spatial grip but a potential weakness on d4.
• Black: Pawns on d5, e6, f7; breakpoints at …c5, …f6, sometimes …g5 when castled long.

Illustrative Games

1. H. Nakamura – M. Rodshtein, Internet Blitz 2009
   
   

   A modern example showing Black’s thematic …f6 break. Despite being a blitz game, it illustrates how quickly the position can sharpen.

2. Spielmann – Bogoljubow, Bad Kissingen 1928
   
   

   The earliest high-level outing. Bogoljubow equalised comfortably and later won after undermining the e5-pawn.

Practical Tips

• Know your move-order tricks: 4.g4 and 4.c4 are only strong if you follow up precisely; otherwise the bishop slips back to g6 and Black is fine.
• As Black, do not hesitate to play …f6 early—many white players overprotect e5 and fall behind in development.
• Watch the clock: Unfamiliar, closed positions cause time trouble; keep a repertoire cheat-sheet handy if you use this as a surprise weapon.

Interesting Facts & Anecdotes

• Grandmaster Igor Glek once tweeted that he likes the line because “it’s a French without the bad bishop and a Caro-Kann without the boredom.”
• In a 2011 bullet session, Magnus Carlsen employed 3…Bf5 on Chess.com, winning in 23 moves—proof that even world champions toy with off-beat openings when speed is essential.
• The Dutch correspondence specialist Arno Nickel used the variation in ICCF play and held several higher-rated opponents despite the engine’s early preference for White.