Nimzowitsch Defense & Kennedy–Riemann Defense
Nimzowitsch Defense (1. e4 Nc6)
Definition
The Nimzowitsch Defense is an ECO code B00 reply to the King’s Pawn Opening that begins with 1…Nc6. Black immediately develops the queen’s knight to its most natural square, eyeing the central squares e5 and d4 while delaying the commitment of the e- or d-pawn.
How It Is Used in Play
Because 1…Nc6 neither occupies nor directly strikes at the centre with a pawn, the opening is classed as a semi-open defense. Black keeps options flexible:
- If White plays 2.d4, Black may head for a Scandinavian structure with 2…d5, or a Nimzowitsch–Scandinavian Hybrid with 2…e5.
- If White develops 2.Nf3, Black can choose 2…d6 (transposing to the Pirc/Old Indian family), 2…e5 (returning to a standard Open Game while gaining a tempo on the knight), or the ambitious 2…f5!? (the Williams Gambit).
- An immediate 2…e5 is also possible, offering a mirror position of the Double King’s Pawn Game where Black has coaxed White into declaring 2.Nf3 early.
Strategic & Historical Significance
The opening is named after the Latvian-Danish grandmaster Aron Nimzowitsch, who advocated piece play over early pawn occupation. The move 1…Nc6 reflects his hyper-modern philosophy: control the centre from a distance and exploit pawn targets once the opponent over-extends.
Although never a mainstream defense at elite level, it appears regularly as a surprise weapon—even in correspondence and engine chess, where its flexibility makes concrete refutation difficult.
Main Variations
- Scandinavian Variation: 1.e4 Nc6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 (or 3…Nf6) leads to unbalanced pawn structures resembling the Scandinavian Defense.
- Classical (Two Knights) Variation: 1.e4 Nc6 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nc3 d5. A highly flexible setup that can transpose into a Chigorin or Pirc-style middlegame.
- Williams Gambit: 1.e4 Nc6 2.Nf3 f5!? An aggressive pawn sacrifice championed by FM GingerGM Simon Williams.
- Bogoljubow–Mikenas Attack: 1.e4 Nc6 2.d4 e5 3.Nf3 exd4 4.Bc4, where White gambits a pawn for rapid development.
Illustrative Example
Nimzowitsch – Johner, Dresden 1926. The inventor himself employed his pet opening to out-maneuver a strong Swiss master.
Interesting Facts & Anecdotes
- World Champion Magnus Carlsen occasionally toys with 1…Nc6 in online blitz to sidestep heavy opening preparation.
- Grandmaster Alexei Fedorov once defeated a 2600-rated opponent in barely 20 moves after springing the Williams Gambit.
- A common beginners’ trap: 1.e4 Nc6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5? Qxd5! wins a pawn because 4.Nc3?? runs into 4…Qxd4.
Kennedy – Riemann Defense (1. e4 e5 2.Nf3 Qe7)
Definition
The Kennedy–Riemann Defense (ECO C40) arises after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Qe7. Instead of developing a minor piece, Black protects the e-pawn with the queen. The line is named after the 19-century English master Hugh Kennedy and German analyst Carl Riemann, who annotated it in Deutsche Schachzeitung (1881).
Purpose & Practical Usage
By playing 2…Qe7, Black:
- Defends e5 without blocking the f-pawn, enabling …f5 in some lines (creating a pseudo-King’s Gambit in reverse).
- Aims to sidestep heavily analysed Open Games (e.g., Ruy López, Italian) because White cannot immediately play 3.Bb5 or 3.Bc4 to pin c6 or pressure f7.
- Keeps the option of an early …d6, …g6, and kingside fianchetto, transposing to Pirc-like structures.
Its chief drawback is that the queen becomes an overworked piece: it blocks the light-squared bishop and can be a tactical target after White’s d2–d4 break.
Main Continuations
- 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 – the most principled. Black may play 4…Qxe4+ 5.Be2 Nc6, but White usually gains time with Nc3 and rapid development.
- 3.Bc4 h6 4.O-O Nf6 5.d4 – White delays the central strike. Black hopes the queen defends e5 long enough to castle queenside.
- 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bc4 – the quiet build-up, waiting to catch the queen mis-placed.
Strategic Themes
- Tempo & Development: White tries to prove that Qe7 is premature. Fast piece play and opening the centre with d4 are thematic.
- Unbalanced Castling: Because …e5 is already supported, Black sometimes castles queenside, aiming for mutual attacks on opposite wings.
- Psychological Weapon: Rarely seen in master play, it often steers the game into unfamiliar waters where home preparation matters less.
Historical & Modern Practice
The earliest recorded use was Kennedy – Staunton, London 1851, where Staunton (Black) experimented with the queen move and held the draw. In modern times, Grandmaster Timur Gareyev has wheeled it out in blindfold exhibitions, enjoying the confusion it causes.
Illustrative Miniature
L. Sergeant – H. Kennedy, London 1852 (13 moves). White over-pressed and fell victim to the centrally posted queen.
Trivia & Fun Facts
- In some older English texts it is nicknamed the “Queen’s Defense to King’s Knight’s Opening,” a playful inversion of the Queen’s Gambit.
- The line received a brief renaissance in computer play: early engines evaluated Qe7 as “=“, but stronger engines later downgraded it after deeper tactical scans.
- Because the queen sits on e7, Black’s light-squared bishop sometimes emerges via d8–e7–g5, an odd detour compared with classical development.