Nimzowitsch Larsen Attack Dutch Variation

Nimzo-Larsen Attack, Dutch Variation (ECO A01)

Definition

The Nimzo-Larsen Attack, Dutch Variation arises after the opening moves 1. b3 f5. White begins with the flank pawn thrust 1.b3, intending to fianchetto the queen’s bishop on the long diagonal. Black’s reply …f5 mirrors the Dutch Defence idea (normally reached after 1.d4 f5) but with colours reversed—hence the name “Dutch Variation.” The position may also be viewed as a Bird’s Opening (1.f4) with an extra tempo for White, yet with a different move order that keeps Black guessing.

Typical Move-Order

  1. 1.b3 f5 – Dutch Variation
  2. 2.Bb2 Nf6 (or …d6/…e6)
  3. 3.e3 preparing d4 and opening the bishop
  4. 3…e6 4.Nf3 Be7 5.d4 when both sides fight for the centre from an unbalanced stance.

Strategic Themes

  • Flank vs. Centre: White’s early fianchetto on a1–h8 exerts long-range pressure, while Black’s …f5 claims kingside space and challenges the e4-square.
  • Reversed Dutch/Bird Structure: If White later plays f4, the game can transpose to classical Bird positions with an extra tempo; if not, play often resembles Queen’s Indian set-ups.
  • Piece Activity: The dark-square bishop on b2 targets g7 and e5. Black may counter by fianchettoing their own bishop with …g6 …Bg7 or building a Stonewall (…d5 …e6 …Bd6).
  • King Safety: Because …f5 loosens e6 and the diagonal to h5–e8, tactical shots such as Bxg7, Qh5+, or a timely e3-e4 break are common motifs for White.

Historical Background

The opening move 1.b3 was popularised by Aron Nimzowitsch in the 1920s and later adopted as a main weapon by the Danish grandmaster Bent Larsen in the 1960s–70s, hence the double eponym. The specific Dutch Variation received attention when Larsen began meeting aggressive players—who often replied …f5—with calm, positional counter-punching. ECO grouped these lines under A01, giving them formal theoretical status.

Model Game


Annotated Highlights:

  • 6.c4 immediately strikes at Black’s light squares, leveraging the fianchettoed bishop.
  • After …b6 …Bb7, Black places their own bishop on the long diagonal, creating asymmetrical tension that typifies the variation.
  • The arrow from f5→e4 shows Black’s thematic knight leap, while b2→g7 highlights White’s pressure point.

Practical Tips

  • Against the Stonewall: If Black plants a pawn on d5 and builds a Stonewall, White can undermine with c4 and later Ba3, exchanging the good Dutch bishop.
  • Dynamic Play: Don’t be afraid to castle long. Opposite-side attacks are frequent, especially if Black pushes …g5.
  • Transpositions: Keep an eye on move orders— Black can reach the Leningrad Dutch (…g6) or Classical Dutch (…e6 …d6), and White may slip into reversed English/ Queen’s Indian territory with Nf3 g3 Bg2 c4.

Interesting Facts & Anecdotes

  • Bent Larsen once quipped that “1.b3 is the move for people who have read My System twice but still like coffee-house chess.” His surprise victories with the line against top Soviet players forced them to study it seriously.
  • Because engines initially undervalued flank openings, the Nimzo-Larsen had an excellent score in early computer vs. human matches; only in the 2000s did stronger hardware equalise the databases.
  • The variation occasionally appears in blitz and bullet: Magnus Carlsen experimented with 1.b3 f5 2.Bb2 g6 against Ian Nepomniachtchi in an online event (blitz, 2020), winning with a kingside pawn storm.

Further Study

Consult game collections of Bent Larsen (1965-1975) for pioneering ideas, and modern correspondence databases where the Dutch Variation remains a testing ground for original strategic plans.

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Last updated 2025-06-24