Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian Exchange Variation
Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian Variation, Exchange Variation
Definition
The line arises after the moves
1. e4 Nc6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 Qxd5.
It is catalogued in ECO as B00 and is officially recorded as
“Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian Variation, Exchange Variation.”
• “Nimzowitsch Defense” refers to Black’s immediate 1…Nc6 against 1.e4.
• “Scandinavian Variation” points to the early …d5 strike that echoes the
Scandinavian Defense (1…d5).
• “Exchange Variation” indicates that the central pawns are exchanged on d5
on move three.
Typical Move-Order
The most common continuation—illustrating the character of the position—is:
- e4 Nc6
- d4 d5
- exd5 Qxd5
- Nf3 Bg4
- Be2 O-O-O
- c4 Qf5
Black’s queen soon leaves d5 (to f5, h5, a5, or d6) because the d-file will be contested by White’s rook after 0-0 and Re1.
Strategic Themes
- Early Queen Activity. 3…Qxd5 centralises the queen but risks tempi loss. Because the queen can seldom remain on d5, modern practice treats it as a temporary centralization before developing the rest of Black’s forces.
- Blocked c-pawn. 1…Nc6 prevents Black from playing the freeing …c6 and …c5 plans typical of the pure Scandinavian, so Black often aims for …e5 or …e6 and …Nf6 instead.
- Open d-file. After the exchange White obtains a half-open e-file, Black a half-open d-file. Each side tries to occupy its file with heavy pieces; the first to penetrate often gains the initiative.
- King Safety. Black frequently castles long, placing the king on c8; White usually castles short. Opposite-side castling makes pawn storms (g- and h-pawns for White, a- and b-pawns for Black) a recurring theme.
Historical & Practical Significance
• Aron Nimzowitsch (1886-1935) introduced 1…Nc6 as part of his
hypermodern programme, arguing that control of the centre could be
achieved without immediate occupation.
• While the Nimzowitsch Defense itself is rare at elite level, this
Scandinavian-Exchange branch pops up as a surprise weapon because it
is sound, relatively unexplored, and can push a well-prepared opponent
out of mainstream theory as early as move two.
• FIDE master and prolific author Jerzy Konikowski produced one of
the first monographs dedicated exclusively to this variation (1997),
sparking renewed club-level interest.
Illustrative Mini-Game
The following short game shows typical ideas for both sides:
[[Pgn| 1.e4 Nc6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 Qxd5 4.Nf3 Bg4 5.Be2 O-O-O 6.c4 Qf5 7.Be3 e5 8.d5 Bb4+ 9.Nc3 Nf6 10.O-O Rhe8 11.Qa4 Bxc3 12.dxc6 Bd4 13.cxb7+ Kxb7 14.c5 Nd5 15.Qa6+ Kb8 0-1 ]]Black’s queen sidestepped pressure, the d-file and long diagonal both opened, and opposite-side castling led to a sharp tactical melee.
Typical Plans & Traps
- Queen Harassment. After 4.Nf3, the natural 4…Bg4 5.Be2 O-O-O 6.c4 may be met by 6…Qe4 7.Nc3 Qg6 where the queen remains active while avoiding direct hits.
- Premature 4…Qa5? 4.Nf3 Qa5? allows 5.d5! Nb4 6.Nc3, when White gains space and time; the queen may soon be driven back with a3 or Be3.
- The “Fishing-Pole.” If Black sacrifices a kingside knight on g4 (…Ng4, …h5-h4 in conjunction with Bg4), White’s castled king can become the target of a classic Hennesy-Trap style attack.
Interesting Facts & Anecdotes
- Aron Nimzowitsch reportedly employed 1…Nc6 during café blitz sessions to irritate opponents who had spent hours memorising mainline 1…c5 Sicilians. “If the centre will be mine anyway, why hurry?” he quipped.
- The line makes an appearance in “Searching for Bobby Fischer.” In an off-screen game, young Josh Waitzkin demolishes a club player who wanders into the same opening, highlighting its practical venom.
- Because the queen steps to f5 or h5 so often, some club players nickname the setup “The Mirror-Mirror Scandinavian”—a nod to the regular Scandinavian where the queen heads to a5 instead.
When to Choose This Line
Opt for the Exchange Variation if you:
- Prefer clear central pawn structures without an e-pawn for Black.
- Enjoy tactical middlegames stemming from opposite-side castling.
- Seek to avoid the theory-heavy Najdorf, Ruy López, or French.
Further Study
- Play 1…Nc6! by Christoph Wisnewski – contains a dedicated chapter.
- Chessable course “Nimzowitsch Defense Reloaded” (2023 edition).
- Database search for modern practitioners such as GM Baadur Jobava.