Caissa Codex
B00

Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian Variation, Bogoljubow Variation, Vehre Variation

Chess diagram: Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian Variation, Bogoljubow Variation, Vehre Variation after 3…Nf6

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

136,849 games: White 51.0% / Draw 4.4% / Black 44.6%

The moves played next. Pick one to see it on the board.
Next moveGamesWhite / Draw / BlackW / D / B
107,939108K
13,16113K
3,9263,926
3,5263,526
2,5362,536
2,3912,391
993993
855855

Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 31, 2026

Engine evaluation

+1.18 White is better

Best play: 4. e5 Ng8 5. Bb5 e6 6. Nf3 Bd7 7. a3 Nb8 8. Bd3 c5

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, Vehre Variation (ECO B00, Semi-Open Games) is a variation of the Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian Variation, Bogoljubow Variation, reached after 1. e4 Nc6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 (3 moves).

In 136,849 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 51.0%, Black 44.6% and 4.4% were drawn. White's most played move here is 4. e5, in 79% of those games.

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

The most played answer, 4. e5, also scores best for White: 54.3%, with White winning 52.2% and Black 43.6% of 108K games. Of the main answers, 4. exd5 scores lowest: 49.4%. Stockfish's first choice is also 4. e5.

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…Nf6, 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, Vehre Variation (B00)”. Lichess data as of 31 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/nimzowitsch-defense-scandinavian-variation-bogoljubow-variation-vehre-variation

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