Van Geet Opening: Reversed Nimzowitsch

Van Geet Opening: Reversed Nimzowitsch (1. Nc3)

Definition

The Van Geet Opening, also called the Reversed Nimzowitsch, arises after the very first move 1. Nc3 by White. By placing a knight on c3, White mirrors Black’s setup in the Nimzowitsch Defense (1. e4 Nc6) but with an extra tempo. It is an irregular, flank-style opening that avoids the mainline theory of 1. e4 and 1. d4 while preserving the option to transpose into many familiar systems.

Typical Move-Orders & Usage

After 1. Nc3, Black has several broad replies:

• 1…d5 – The most common. Play often continues 2. e4 (a Scotch-like center) or 2. d4 (transposing to the Veresov setup).
• 1…e5 – White may answer 2. Nf3 followed by 3. d4 (Scotch Four Knights) or 2. e4 (reaching a reversed Open Game).
• 1…c5 – White can steer into a Closed Sicilian structure with 2. e4 or keep things original with 2. Nf3 and 3. d4.
• 1…Nf6 – 2. e4 leads to a Budapest Gambit reversed, while 2. d4 lets White obtain a Jobava-Prie Attack (Nc3 + Bf4).

Strategic Themes

The Van Geet emphasizes flexibility:

1. Central choice. White can delay committing the c-pawn or the e-pawn, waiting to see Black’s intentions.
2. Early piece activity. The knight on c3 eyes d5 and e4, giving latent pressure on the center at the very start.
3. Transpositional weapon. From 1. Nc3, White can jump into:
   • Vienna Game set-ups (after e4).
   • Queen’s Pawn systems like the Veresov or Jobava.
   • English-type positions after c4.
4. Psychological edge. Because 1. Nc3 is off the beaten path, opponents often leave their theoretical safety net.

Historical Background

The opening is named after Dutch master Dick van Geet (1932-2012), a prolific correspondence and OTB player who championed 1. Nc3 throughout the 1960s-80s. The “Reversed Nimzowitsch” nickname highlights that White copies the idea of meeting a king-pawn opening with …Nc6, but enjoys one extra move.

Notable Games & Examples

Two instructive encounters:

• Van Geet vs. Wippermann, corr. 1974 – A model attacking win featuring e4, f4, and a swift kingside pawn storm.
• Bologan vs. Istratescu, Reykjavik Open 2009 – Shows how 1. Nc3 can transpose to a powerful English Attack against a Sicilian setup.

Below is a miniature illustrating White’s tactical opportunities when Black is careless:

Interesting Facts

• FIDE Master Scott Van der Mark once played 1. Nc3 in 23 consecutive tournament games, scoring +14 =6 -3.
• In bullet and blitz databases, 1. Nc3 scores surprisingly well, hovering near 55 % for White .
• The opening is legal evidence that every piece move other than 1. Na3 and 1. Nh3 has been used at elite level (GM Maxime Vachier-Lagrave tried 1. Nc3 vs. Magnus Carlsen, Paris Rapid 2018).

Common Transpositions

• To the English: 1. Nc3 c5 2. e4 Nc6 3. Nf3 transposes to a reversed Closed Sicilian.
• To the Vienna: 1. Nc3 e5 2. e4 Nf6 (2…Nc6) 3. Nf3 – pure Vienna.
• To the Veresov: 1. Nc3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. Bg5.

Practical Tips

If you wish to adopt the Van Geet, remember:

1. Have a clear answer ready for 1…d5 and 1…e5; these two cover 70 % of responses.
2. Study the reversed ideas of the Nimzowitsch Defense to appreciate thematic pawn breaks (…f5, …d5) but with colors flipped.
3. Keep an eye on the c-pawn: c2-c4 can undermine Black’s center or become a weakness if delayed too long.

Conclusion

The Van Geet Opening: Reversed Nimzowitsch offers a rich, flexible battleground for creative players who enjoy sidestepping deep theory without sacrificing central influence. Though rarely seen in classical top-level events, it is fully sound and can serve as a surprise weapon in any time control.