8a7b6c5d4e3f2g1h

1. b3

Shown from White's side. ECO A01.

Opening guide · an opening for White

Nimzo-Larsen Attack

The Nimzo-Larsen Attack starts 1. b3. White prepares to put the bishop on b2, where it aims along the long diagonal at the e5 and g7 squares. White gives Black the centre for now and plans to attack it later with pieces and pawn breaks. It is uncommon, so opponents are often unprepared.

Games in our sample
32,601
White wins
50.1%
Draws
4.5%
Black wins
45.3%
Open this position on the analysis boardResults by rating

How the Nimzo-Larsen Attack scores at each rating

Each row is one rating band. The share is how much of all the games in that band started with this opening.

RatingGamesShareWhite winsDrawsBlack wins
under 10001,3440.6%49.5%4.8%45.8%
1000 to 11992,2540.7%50.3%3.1%46.7%
1200 to 13994,3470.9%50.8%3.7%45.5%
1400 to 15996,4591.1%50.2%3.7%46.2%
1600 to 17997,0851.1%49.9%4.7%45.4%
1800 to 19995,8611.1%50.9%4.6%44.5%
2000 to 21993,3811.3%49.7%5.8%44.5%
2200 and over1,8701.7%48.3%7.8%43.9%
All ratings32,6011.0%50.1%4.5%45.3%

Counted from 3,156,949 rated blitz, rapid and classical games played on Lichess from 2026-10-01 to 2026-10-02 (the first 5,000,000 games of the month's public file; bullet and unrated games left out). The rating is the average of the two players' Lichess ratings. Source: the Lichess open database (public domain).

Main lines

The named lines of the Nimzo-Larsen Attack that were played most in our sample, each with the position it reaches.

  • 8a7b6c5d4e3f2g1h

    Modern Variation

    1. b3 e5

    11,156 games · White 49.4% · draws 4.2% · Black 46.4%

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  • 8a7b6c5d4e3f2g1h

    Classical Variation

    1. b3 d5

    9,133 games · White 50.6% · draws 4.5% · Black 44.9%

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  • 8a7b6c5d4e3f2g1h

    Indian Variation

    1. b3 Nf6

    3,053 games · White 48.8% · draws 5.2% · Black 46.0%

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  • 8a7b6c5d4e3f2g1h

    English Variation

    1. b3 c5

    1,539 games · White 49.6% · draws 4.7% · Black 45.7%

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  • 8a7b6c5d4e3f2g1h

    Symmetrical Variation

    1. b3 b6

    860 games · White 49.4% · draws 4.5% · Black 46.0%

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  • 8a7b6c5d4e3f2g1h

    Dutch Variation

    1. b3 f5

    311 games · White 51.8% · draws 2.9% · Black 45.3%

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Ideas for White

  • Bb2 and e3, then Nf3 or f4, with pressure on e5.

Ideas for Black

  • 1...e5 followed by ...Nc6 and ...d5 takes the centre. Defend e5 well, because the bishop on b2 is aimed at it.

Questions

What are the moves of the Nimzo-Larsen Attack?
1. b3. In the ECO classification it is filed under A01.
How does the Nimzo-Larsen Attack score?
In 32,601 games with it in our sample, White won 50.1%, 4.5% were drawn and Black won 45.3%.
At which ratings is the Nimzo-Larsen Attack played most?
Among players rated 2200 and over it is 1.7% of all games in our sample, its highest share. Its lowest share, 0.6%, is among players rated under 1000.
Which line of the Nimzo-Larsen Attack is played most?
Nimzo-Larsen Attack: Modern Variation (1. b3 e5), with 11,156 games in our sample.

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