Nimzowitsch Defense: Kennedy Variation, Paulsen Attack
Nimzowitsch Defense: Kennedy Variation
Definition
The Kennedy Variation of the Nimzowitsch Defense begins with the moves: 1. e4 Nc6 2. Nf3. By immediately developing the king’s knight, White prevents Black’s most common equalizing plan …e7-e5, threatens to seize the centre with d2-d4, and prepares rapid castling. In the Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings it is classified under the B00 code.
How It Is Used in Play
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2…d6 (main reply) – Black steers toward
Pirc-/Modern-style structures:
3.d4 Nf6 4.Nc3 g6 5.Be2 Bg7 when the game resembles a Pirc Defence with the knight already on c6. - 2…e5?! – Transposes to the Scotch Four Knights / Vienna-style positions after 3.Nc3 Nf6 or 3.d4.
- 2…Nf6 – Directly attacks e4, but 3.e5 Nd5 4.d4 leaves White with extra space.
- Flexibility: White can choose quiet systems (Be2, 0-0) or aggressive setups (Nc3, Be3, Qd2, long castling, and g2-g4).
Strategic Themes
- Central Clamp. After d2-d4 White often achieves a broad pawn centre (e4 + d4) that restricts Black’s pieces.
- Piece Pressure on e5. By preventing …e5 and controlling d5, White forces Black into less familiar structures.
- Fianchetto Counterplay. Black typically relies on …g6, …Bg7, and breaks with …e5 or …c5 to undermine White’s centre.
Historical Significance
Named after the 19th-century Irish master Hugh Kennedy, the variation became a favourite of hyper-modern players who enjoyed luring opponents into unfamiliar territory. Though it rarely appears in elite events today, it remains popular in rapid and club play where the surprise value of 1…Nc6 is high.
Illustrative Game
[[Pgn|e4|Nc6|Nf3|d6|d4|Nf6|Nc3|g6|Be2|Bg7|0-0|0-0|Re1|e5|dxe5|dxe5|Bg5| arrows|e4e5,d4d5|squares|e5]]Ian Nepomniachtchi – Alexander Motylev, Moscow 2014 (rapid, annotated). White’s central pawns eventually rolled forward, and the game was decided after a thematic d4-d5 break on move 23.
Interesting Facts
- Because Black’s knight blocks the c-pawn, the usual Sicilian break …c5 must be specially prepared, often giving White extra tempi.
- GM Tony Miles once quipped that after 1…Nc6 “the opponent has to start thinking on move one,” an idea he frequently used in simultaneous exhibitions.
- The Kennedy Variation can transpose into a Pirc, a Philidor, or even a Scotch Game, making it an opening chameleon.
Nimzowitsch Defense: Paulsen Attack
Definition
The Paulsen Attack is an energetic antidote to 1…Nc6 that immediately opens the centre and chases the black queen. A typical move order is: 1. e4 Nc6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 Qxd5 4.Nc3, when White hits the queen and gains time for development. It is named after the German-American master Louis Paulsen, a pioneer of dynamic central play in the 19th century.
Key Ideas and Usage
- Tempo-gaining Knight Jumps. 4.Nc3 attacks the advanced queen; after …Qa5 or …Qd6 White continues Nf3, Bf4/Bg5, and sometimes d4-d5.
- Open Centre. By exchanging on d5 early, White prevents Black from building a solid pawn chain and keeps lines open for pieces.
- Transpositional Weapon. The resulting positions resemble Scandinavian Defense structures, but Black’s knight on c6 can become awkwardly placed in front of the c-pawn.
- Typical Black Plans. …Nf6, …Bg4, and long castling aim at counterpressure on the d-file or a kingside pawn storm with …e7-e5.
Historical & Strategic Significance
Louis Paulsen used similar queen-chasing ideas against early …d5 structures long before they became fashionable. In modern times the line is a favourite of attacking players who want to sidestep the slower manoeuvring battles in the Kennedy Variation.
Model Game
[[Pgn|e4|Nc6|d4|d5|exd5|Qxd5|Nc3|Qa5|Nf3|Bg4|d5|O-O-O|Be2|e6|O-O|exd5| arrows|d4d5,c3d5|squares|d5,a5]]Louis Paulsen – Adolf Anderssen, Leipzig 1877 (informal game). Paulsen’s 11.Nb5! exploited the misplaced queen and triggered a direct attack on c7, a classic illustration of the strategy.
Typical Tactical Motifs
- Fork on b5 or d5. The c3-knight often jumps with tempo on the queen and simultaneously threatens c7.
- Pin on the c-file. After c2-c4, Rc1, the black queen can become trapped along the diagonal a4-e8.
- Central Break d4-d5. Even after the early exchange, the d-pawn can advance again, opening files toward the king.
Fun Anecdotes
- Paulsen allegedly prepared this line to surprise Anderssen during post-tournament skittles—they played it five times in one evening, with Paulsen scoring +3-1=1.
- Because the variation mirrors Scandinavian Defense ideas, some databases list it under both “Nimzowitsch” and “Scandinavian” openings, causing classification confusion.
- In online blitz, the Paulsen Attack has one of the highest scoring percentages against 1…Nc6 according to Chess.com insight data from 2020-2022.