Nimzo-Larsen Attack

The Nimzo-Larsen Attack (1.b3), also called Larsen's Opening or the Queen's Fianchetto Opening, is a hypermodern first move. White prepares Bb2, where the bishop controls the central squares from a distance and presses along the long diagonal towards Black's kingside.

Origins

The English amateur John Owen experimented with this approach in the 1870s. Aron Nimzowitsch tried 1.b3 in the 1920s and 1930s, though he preferred the move order 1.Nf3 d5 2.b3. The Danish grandmaster Bent Larsen played 1.b3 frequently between 1968 and 1972. The opening suffered a setback at the 1970 USSR vs Rest of the World match in Belgrade, where he lost to world champion Boris Spassky in 17 moves. Vladimir Bagirov played about 100 games with it. Modern specialists include Pavel Blatny, Artashes Minasian and Adhiban Baskaran, and Magnus Carlsen and Hikaru Nakamura have used it in online blitz.

The idea

The b2-bishop is the key piece: it helps control the central squares and puts pressure on Black's kingside. White usually follows with e3 and Nf3, or contests d5 with c4, and keeps the centre flexible. Instead of occupying the centre early, White waits to undermine whatever Black builds there.

Main lines

• Modern Variation 1...e5: Black takes the centre, and White tries to undermine it, often with Bb2, e3 and later f4 or c4.
• Classical Variation 1...d5: often leading to positions like a reversed Nimzo-Indian.
• Indian Variation 1...Nf6, the English Variation 1...c5 and 1...e6: flexible replies that usually transpose to the structures after 1...e5 or 1...d5.

Strengths and weaknesses

Strengths

• Unfamiliar positions for many opponents, which is valuable in fast games.
• Flexible: White adapts the setup to Black's choice.
• Clear pressure along the long diagonal.

Weaknesses

• Many lines are rated as equal by theory, so White gives up some of the first-move advantage.
• If Black builds a strong centre and White reacts slowly, White can be pushed back.
• Larsen's 17-move loss to Spassky shows the risks of playing it too casually.

Who should play it

1.b3 suits creative players who like hypermodern ideas, long diagonals and unusual positions, especially in rapid and blitz. It is effective against opponents who rely on memorised theory against 1.e4 and 1.d4. It is less suitable for players who want to keep the full first-move advantage in classical games.

The numbers

On Lichess 1.b3 is balanced: White wins 49–49.5% and Black 45.6–46.6% below 2200, and 48.7% against 44% above it. In master games over the board, White wins 33%, Black 29% and 38% are drawn.