Caissa Codex
B00

Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian Variation, Bogoljubow Variation, Nimzowitsch Gambit

Chess diagram: Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian Variation, Bogoljubow Variation, Nimzowitsch Gambit after 4…Ne5

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Statistics from Lichess

106,639 games: White 53.0% / Draw 4.6% / Black 42.4%

The moves played next. Pick one to see it on the board.
Next moveGamesWhite / Draw / BlackW / D / B
43,93544K
25,45525K
23,45723K
8,2908,290
3,2373,237
1,2511,251
287287
202202

Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 30, 2026

Engine evaluation

+0.24 The position is about equal

Best play: 5. Bf4 Ng6 6. Bg3 a6 7. h4 e5 8. dxe6 Bxe6 9. h5 N6e7

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, Nimzowitsch Gambit (ECO B00, Semi-Open Games) is a gambit in the Van Geet Opening: Berlin Gambit, reached after 1. e4 Nc6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. d5 Ne5 (4 moves).

In 106,639 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 53.0%, Black 42.4% and 4.6% were drawn. White's most played move here is 5. Nxe4, in 41% of those games.

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

5. Qd4 scores best for White: 60.6%, with White winning 58.2% and Black 37.1% of 25K games. The most played answer, 5. Nxe4, scores lowest: 50.0% in 44K games. Stockfish's first choice is 5. Bf4.

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 4…Ne5, the position after Van Geet Opening: Berlin Gambit also goes on to:

Cite this page

Caissa Codex. “Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian Variation, Bogoljubow Variation, Nimzowitsch Gambit (B00)”. Lichess data as of 30 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/nimzowitsch-defense-scandinavian-variation-bogoljubow-variation-nimzowitsch-gambit

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