Nimzowitsch Defense: Kennedy Linksspringer Variation

Nimzowitsch Defense: Kennedy, Linksspringer Variation

Definition

The Kennedy, Linksspringer Variation of the Nimzowitsch Defense arises after the moves 1. e4 Nc6 2. Nf3 Nf6.
• “Nimzowitsch Defense” refers to Black’s unorthodox reply 1…Nc6 to 1.e4.
• “Kennedy” designates White’s second-move development 2.Nf3, named for the 19th-century English master Hugh Alexander Kennedy.
• “Linksspringer” is German for “left knight.” It highlights the fact that Black’s other knight (the one that started on g8, the player’s “left” from the German perspective) now hops to f6 on move 2, giving the sequence its distinctive double-knight character.

Typical Move Order

1. e4 Nc6 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. e5 Nd5 (or 3…Ng4) is by far the most common continuation, after which play often transposes to lines that resemble the Steinitz Variation of the French, the Alekhine, or the Four Knights Game.

Strategic Themes

Provocation. By playing both knights early, Black invites White to chase them with pawn advances (e5, d4 and sometimes c4), hoping the resulting weaknesses can later be attacked.
Flexible Center. Black can choose between …d6 → …d5 structures (resembling the Philidor or French) or …e6 and …d5 setups reminiscent of the Queen’s Gambit in reverse.
Transpositional Power. After 3.Nc3 or 3.e5, the game may transpose to the Four Knights Game, a Classical French, or even certain Pirc-like positions, making the variation an attractive surprise weapon.
Piece Activity vs. Space. White usually claims more central space, while Black tries to exploit the knights’ flexible routes (…Nd5-b6-d5 or …Ng4-h6-f5) to stir counterplay.

Historical Notes

• The line appeared in casual games of Aaron Nimzowitsch, but was never a staple of his tournament practice.
• “Linksspringer” was popularised in German literature by Hans Kmoch, who loved colorful terminology.
• Although rare at top level, it has been tried by creative grandmasters such as Vadim Zvjaginsev and Baadur Jobava, often in rapid or blitz settings where surprise value matters.

Illustrative Game

The following miniature, played in the German Bundesliga (2011), shows Black’s dynamic chances when White over-extends:

Theory Snapshot (June 2024)

Main Line: 3.e5 Nd5 4.d4 d6 5.c4 Nb6 6.exd6 exd6. Evaluation ≈ 0.20 (slight space plus for White).
Aggressive Try: 3.e5 Ng4 4.d4 d6 5.h3 Nh6 6.exd6 Qxd6. Play is sharp; engines give approximate equality.
Quiet System: 3.Nc3 d5 4.exd5 Nxd5 5.Bb5, transposing to a Four Knights Scotch. Completely sound for both sides.

Practical Tips

For White: Use pawn thrusts (e5, d4, c4) to gain space, but watch the c4–e4 complex; Black’s knights love outposts there.
For Black: Trade strategically—Black often benefits from exchanging a cramped bishop for a central white knight, easing queenside development (…Bf5 or …Bg4).
Keep an eye on move-order tricks. After 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nc3, 3…e5! can transpose to a favorable Scotch Four Knights where Black has a tempi-up version of the Petroff.

Interesting Facts

Because both black knights come out before any pawns move in the center, some German clubs nickname the line “Die tanzenden Springer” (“the dancing knights”).
The variation was jokingly called “the mirror Alekhine” by GM Richard Réti, since Black invites an early pawn advance to chase knights just as in the real Alekhine, but from a different starting square.
Online blitz statistics () show the variation scoring within one percentage point of mainstream defenses below 2200-level, underlining its surprise value.

Further Study

• Look up Karpov – Spassky, Bugojno 1986 (rapid), where Spassky used an allied setup with …Nc6 and …Nf6 to equalise effortlessly.
• Modern reference works: “1…Nc6: The Nimzowitsch Defence” by Christoph Sielecki (2014) dedicates an entire chapter to the Kennedy, Linksspringer idea.

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Last updated 2025-06-24