Caissa Codex
B00

Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian Variation, Bogoljubow Variation, Heinola-Deppe Gambit

Chess diagram: Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian Variation, Bogoljubow Variation, Heinola-Deppe Gambit after 3…e5

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Statistics from Lichess

23,166 games: White 51.0% / Draw 5.1% / Black 43.9%

The moves played next. Pick one to see it on the board.
Next moveGamesWhite / Draw / BlackW / D / B
12,08712K
6,0016,001
1,9231,923
1,7531,753
843843
255255
140140
6161

Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 29, 2026

Engine evaluation

+0.58 White is slightly better

Best play: 4. dxe5 d4 5. Nd5 Nge7 6. Bg5 Be6 7. Nf4 Qd7 8. Nxe6 Qxe6

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

Overview

Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian Variation, Bogoljubow Variation, Heinola-Deppe Gambit (ECO B00, Semi-Open Games) is a gambit in the Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian Variation, Bogoljubow Variation, reached after 1. e4 Nc6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 e5 (3 moves).

In 23,166 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 51.0%, Black 43.9% and 5.1% were drawn. White's most played move here is 4. exd5, in 52% of those games.

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How to play against the Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian Variation, Bogoljubow Variation, Heinola-Deppe Gambit

4. dxe5 scores best for White: 55.7%, with White winning 53.2% and Black 41.8% of 6,001 games. The most played answer, 4. exd5, scores lowest: 52.8% in 12K games. Stockfish's first choice is also 4. dxe5.

Main answers: those played in at least 5% of these games. Score: White's wins plus half the draws, in rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500. How to play against other popular openings

Other lines from the same position

Instead of 3…e5, the position after Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian Variation, Bogoljubow Variation also goes on to:

Transpositions

This position is also reached from these lines, by another move order:

Cite this page

Caissa Codex. “Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian Variation, Bogoljubow Variation, Heinola-Deppe Gambit (B00)”. Lichess data as of 29 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/nimzowitsch-defense-scandinavian-variation-bogoljubow-variation-heinola-deppe-gambit

https://chesscodex.org/openings/nimzowitsch-defense-scandinavian-variation-bogoljubow-variation-heinola-deppe-gambit