Openings Other answers to 1.e4

Nimzowitsch Defense (1...Nc6): Lines and Stats by Rating

1...Nc6 develops a knight and dares White to take the center. Black can answer with ...d5 (hitting e4), ...e5 (hitting d4) or a slow ...d6 and ...Nf6, and many games turn into ordinary 1...e5 openings after 2.Nf3 e5.

For Black1.e4 Nc6Seen in 0.9% of rated games

Lichess rating

B00Nimzowitsch Defense

Games from this position (1600–1999): 52k

Played	Games	White · Draw · Black
38%	20k	50%46%
35%	19k	49%47%
7%	3,921	51%45%
7%	3,552	48%48%
6%	2,913	49%48%
2%	1,013	47%48%
2%	934	48%47%
1%	599	48%48%
0.3%	146	47%49%
<0.1%	27	30%70%

Practice as White Practice as Black

Plans for both sides

White

2.d4 grabs the center. After 2...d5 choose 3.e5 for space or 3.Nc3 to keep the tension.
2.Nf3 is simplest: after 2...e5 you are in a normal open game, and after 2...d6 play 3.d4 Nf6 4.Nc3.
Against 2.d4 e5, 3.d5 Nce7 gains space and kicks the knight back.

Black

After 2.d4 d5 3.e5, play 3...Bf5 to develop the bishop before ...e6, as in the Caro-Kann Advance.
2...e5 is the Kennedy: after 3.d5 the knight goes to e7, after 3.dxe5 take back with 3...Nxe5.
If you just want a normal game, answer 2.Nf3 with 2...e5.

Nimzowitsch Defense at each rating

How often the position after 1.e4 Nc6 comes up in rated Lichess games, how it scores and what players answer next.

Rating	Games (Share of games)	White · Draw · Black	Top next move
<1200	36k1.2%	52%43%	2.Nf339%
1200–1599	53k0.9%	51%45%	2.Nf343%
1600–1999	52k0.8%	49%47%	2.Nf338%
2000+	19k1.0%	46%47%	2.d446%
All	161k0.9%	50%45%	2.Nf340%

What usually comes next

The most played moves from here, all ratings together. Thicker line = played more often.

Main variations

Like a Caro-Kann Advance with the knight on c6: Black plays ...Bf5, ...e6 and later ...f6 to hit the chain.
2,530 games from this position (all ratings, any move order). White won 49%, 4% were drawn, Black won 47%.
Show on the board: 1.e4 Nc6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.Nf3 e6
White keeps the tension; after 3...dxe4 4.d5 the knight goes to e5 and both sides play fast.
312 games from this position (all ratings, any move order). White won 56%, 6% were drawn, Black won 38%.
Show on the board: 1.e4 Nc6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.d5 Ne5
White gains space with tempo. Black reroutes with ...Ng6 and plays ...Bc5 or ...d6.
22k games from this position (all ratings, any move order). White won 46%, 4% were drawn, Black won 51%.
Show on the board: 1.e4 Nc6 2.d4 e5 3.d5 Nce7
Black plays ...Nf6 and ...Bg4 in a Pirc-like position; White keeps a pleasant center.
384 games from this position (all ratings, any move order). White won 52%, 5% were drawn, Black won 43%.
Show on the board: 1.e4 Nc6 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 Nf6 4.Nc3 Bg4
A normal open game: 3.Bb5, 3.Bc4 or 3.d4 lead to the Ruy Lopez, Italian or Scotch.
1.9M games from this position (all ratings, any move order). White won 50%, 4% were drawn, Black won 45%.
Show on the board: 1.e4 Nc6 2.Nf3 e5

At club level

Below 1200 White scores about 54% after 1...Nc6, but at 2000+ only about 50%, so it holds up well at higher ratings. At 2000+ almost half answer 2.d4, and after 2.d4 d5 3.e5 three in four strong players reply 3...Bf5.

Practice it

The trainer answers with the replies people at your rating choose, in the same proportions, and brings back your mistakes on a schedule.

Practice as Black Practice as White

Related openings

Scandinavian Defense
1.e4 d5
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Caro-Kann Defense
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5
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French Defense
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Owen Defense
1.e4 b6
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Alekhine Defense
1.e4 Nf6
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Modern Defense
1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7
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