A01

Nimzo-Larsen Attack: Dutch Variation

Chess diagram: Nimzo-Larsen Attack: Dutch Variation after 1…f5

Type a move and press Enter: e4, Nf3, O-O, or from and to squares like g1f3 (e7e8q to promote). The board is also played with the mouse.

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Statistics from Lichess

299,617 games: White 49.2% / Draw 4.7% / Black 46.1%

The moves played next. Pick one to see it on the board.
Next moveGamesWhite / Draw / BlackW / D / B
279,593280K
6,1296,129
3,2253,225
2,0402,040
1,9201,920
1,1371,137
1,1001,100
862862

Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 27, 2026

Engine evaluation

+0.43 White is slightly better

Best play: 2. Bb2 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. g3 c6 5. Bg2 d6 6. d4 d5

Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.

By rating

Rating changes little here: Black scores 46% under 1400, 45% at 2200 and up (wins plus half the draws).

PlayersGamesWhite / Draw / BlackW / D / B
Under 1400 69K
1400–1799 160K
1800–2199 176K
2200 and up 27K
Masters, over the board 85

Master games

Rated blitz, rapid and classical Lichess games by rating band, and over-the-board games of players rated 2200+ from the Lichess masters database, updated Sep 27, 2026

Overview

Nimzo-Larsen Attack: Dutch Variation (ECO A01, Flank Openings) is a variation of the Nimzo-Larsen Attack, reached after 1. b3 f5 (1 move).

In 299,617 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 49.2%, Black 46.1% and 4.7% were drawn. White's most played move here is 2. Bb2, in 93% of those games.

It continues into one named variation, Nimzo-Larsen Attack: Ringelbach Gambit.

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Popularity by year

The Nimzo-Larsen Attack: Dutch Variation has gained ground since 2016: 0.013% of Lichess games in 2025, up from 0.0082%.

Numbers by year
YearShare of gamesGames
20160.0082%2,943
20170.01%5,560
20180.01%7,921
20190.011%14,098
20200.01%30,738
20210.011%41,318
20220.011%43,101
20230.012%45,859
20240.012%43,781
20250.013%44,636
2026 (Jan–Apr)0.014%14,855

Share of rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500 (blitz, rapid and classical) that reach this position, by year; 2026: January to April. Which openings are rising and falling

Variations (1)

Cite this page

Caissa Codex. “Nimzo-Larsen Attack: Dutch Variation (A01)”. Lichess data as of 27 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/nimzo-larsen-attack-dutch-variation