Nimzowitsch Defense: El Columpio Defense, Exchange Variation
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Statistics from Lichess
2,696 games: White 51.8% / Draw 4.7% / Black 43.5%
| Next move | Games | White / Draw / BlackW / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| 1,8221,822 | ||
| 561561 | ||
| 307307 | ||
| 22 | ||
| 22 | ||
| 11 | ||
| 11 |
Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 23, 2026
Engine evaluation
+1.47 White is better
Best play: 6... exd6 7. Nc3 Nf5 8. Bc4 Be7 9. O-O O-O 10. Nd5 Be6 11. Re1
Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.
Overview
Nimzowitsch Defense: El Columpio Defense, Exchange Variation (ECO B00, Semi-Open Games) is a variation of the Nimzowitsch Defense: El Columpio Defense, reached after 1. e4 Nc6 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. e5 Ng4 4. d4 d6 5. h3 Nh6 6. exd6 (6 moves).
In 2,696 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 51.8%, Black 43.5% and 4.7% were drawn. Black's most played move here is 6…Qxd6, in 68% of those games.
Written from the Lichess opening list and explorer. Know this line well? Write about it.
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How to play against the Nimzowitsch Defense: El Columpio Defense, Exchange Variation
The most played answer, 6…Qxd6, also scores best for Black: 46.6%, with Black winning 44.1% and White 50.9% of 1,822 games. Of the main answers, 6…exd6 scores lowest: 42.2%. Stockfish's first choice is 6…exd6.
Main answers: those played in at least 5% of these games. Score: Black's wins plus half the draws, in rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500. How to play against other popular openings
Cite this page
Caissa Codex. “Nimzowitsch Defense: El Columpio Defense, Exchange Variation (B00)”. Lichess data as of 23 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/nimzowitsch-defense-el-columpio-defense-exchange-variation