Nimzovich Defense: Franco-Nimzovich Defense Variation

Tell me your opinions about this defense: 1. e4 Nc6 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 Nf6 

Tell me what you guys think; if there are any master games with this defense, I'd appreciate it being listed here.

I think 2.d4 is stronger than 2. Nf3

Yes, but that has two acceptable responses: 2. ... d5 (Scandinavian Variation); 2. ... e5 (Kennedy Variation). If white is looking to avoid these lines on move two, he will probably opt for what I have here (2. Nf3) because it develops the kingside and grabs two center squares. The point wasn't whether or not white should play 2. d4 or 2. Nf3. The point is whether or not black's defensive set-up is sound.

After move 3 there are 61 games listed in ChessBase's 2008 Big database. Most games played are with players with no FIDE rating, although one player was rated 2300. White scores very well with 4. e5, 4. Nc3, 4. Bg5, or 4. Bd3. The games won by Black seem to be where Black out rates the lower player significantly. In other words the better player won. After your 6th move, there is only one game listed, won by White. Despite the statistics, the position after move 6 seems playable, if you like cramped positions. The only problem is getting there.

Thank you mnag. I tried this out against the board 1 at my local high school (I am currently tied between boards 2 and 3). He liked it, and we practiced it about 5 or so times. At first we thought it was a solid defense; it had no immediate pawn structure problems like isolated pawns or hanging pawns and we always made it to the end game. However, I always lost the endgame despite equal material. This could have been because he is a stronger player than me, but one of the major problems was this: black's pawns usually were not as advanced as white's by the endgame.