Caissa Codex
B00

Nimzowitsch Defense: Wheeler Gambit

Chess diagram: Nimzowitsch Defense: Wheeler Gambit after 2. b4

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

7,289 games: White 49.3% / Draw 3.6% / Black 47.1%

The moves played next. Pick one to see it on the board.
Next moveGamesWhite / Draw / BlackW / D / B
3,5693,569
1,8291,829
605605
552552
165165
165165
145145
6060

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

Engine evaluation

−0.59 Black is slightly better

Best play: 2... Nxb4 3. d4 d6 4. c3 Nc6 5. Nd2 Nf6 6. Rb1 e5 7. Ngf3

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

Overview

Nimzowitsch Defense: Wheeler Gambit (ECO B00, Semi-Open Games) is a gambit in the Nimzowitsch Defense, reached after 1. e4 Nc6 2. b4 (2 moves).

In 7,289 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 49.3%, Black 47.1% and 3.6% were drawn. Black's most played move here is 2…Nxb4, in 49% of those games.

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How to play against the Nimzowitsch Defense: Wheeler Gambit

The most played answer, 2…Nxb4, also scores best for Black: 52.9%, with Black winning 50.9% and White 45.0% of 3,569 games. Of the main answers, 2…d5 scores lowest: 42.8%. Stockfish's first choice is also 2…Nxb4.

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

Other lines from the same position

Instead of 2. b4, the position after Nimzowitsch Defense also goes on to:

Transpositions

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

Cite this page

Caissa Codex. “Nimzowitsch Defense: Wheeler Gambit (B00)”. Lichess data as of 31 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/nimzowitsch-defense-wheeler-gambit

https://chesscodex.org/openings/nimzowitsch-defense-wheeler-gambit