I'd just play e5 and go into a normal King Pawn game
NIMZOVITCH DEFENSE
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The Lean Variation: is hardly a refutation. My moves were 1. e4 1.Nc6 2.d4 the normal move with White. If 2. Nf3 2. e5 - My point is Play Chess, don't spend your lives analyzing openings. Capablanca didn't know too many and he was one of the greatest world champions of all. He said he got bored with chess, the competition was so easy for him. People that want to study this variation, or play it for Black will. The thing about the Nimzovitch is that one can start out with 1.d4 1.Nc6 and hope for 2. e4 to get into the Kennedy variation from the Qeen's pawn. The Nimzovitch transposes to other games (including the French). Why worry? If I don't feel like analyzing 2. f5 it doesn't matter. We get too involved with openings and forget to play chess. I'll take the black side of the Ruy Lopez or the Two Knights' Defence, or the Rubenstein variation of the Four Knights'. I'll survive the Scotch. No problem. In openings (with Black) we can't always force White to play our game. No opening, whatever it is will win the game (unless the opponent falls badly into a trap). I have analysis on the Lean variation, but don't use it. If I get into The Marshall Attack (Marshall's original line) from there I'd be happy. There is no magic bullet.
Simple. This is what I would teach beginners or recommend to intermediate players for friendlys, club play or pick up games. I'd rather get into the Kenndey first and the KP second. I agreed with you about choosing 2. e5
I would recommend to people who like Lean style play to use 1. e4 1. e5 2.Nf3 2. f5 and get THE LATVIAN GAMBIT LIVES, by Tony Kosten (2nd ed.). Play it that way. Capablanca used to play the Siesta Variation of the Ruy Lopez, which has since been refuted. If he could get away with it, then The Latvian Gambit will work for people who like exciting chess and are willing to book up. Whatever the refutation is to the Latvian (as Nunn has said) not everyone is going to know it. So... we could then go with that right away too. If your opponent says he can refute the Latvian, give him the Jack Palance gunfighter line from the movie SHANE..."Prove it."
Also played is 1. e4 Nc6 2. Nf3 d6 which is not great, White has many choices and Black must be ready for transpositions.
To avoid the Vienna, the Bishops Opening, and the King's Gambit.
The reason I don't mind the Nimzovitch is because I started playing both knights out with White before making any pawn moves - openings played by Van Geet and Napolean (and the Mexican Attack). That tends to get Black out of the books. So I am comfortable with the position - the overall system. You could call it the Nimzovitch Denfense "with a move in hand". There is a check mating trap for Black in the Caro Kann Two Knights' which is exactly the same for White in the Van Geet - if my opponent (again) "makes the right moves". I don't play the Nimzovitch to get people "off the book" necessarily. It's relaxing. How much trouble can you get into? Bottvinik played the French Defense for years, and must not have minded cramped positions. I don't know if one needs to "avoid" the Vienna or the Bishop's Opening, but one needs a good Black Defense against the King's Gambit. My choice there is the Cunningham Counter Gambit. There is a Scottish name for you! It might not be evryone's choice. As far as the Vienna Gambit, it can transpose to a King's Gambit basically, and in the Vienna Game I look at what grandmasters have preferred to play (especially Tal). Which knight out first? It is nothing to be afraid of if White does not coose the Vienna Gambit Variation.
MNAG
San Diego,
Yes, 1. e4 1.Nc6 2.Nf3 2.d6 is another line.
As for the transpositions I can stear for a Nimzovitch with 1.d4 1.Nc6
If it doesn't happen one could end up in the QGA or Chigoren Defense or God knows what. By that time even the White player may not know where it is going. The other QP option is the Mexican Defense with 1.d4 1.Nf6 2.c4 2.Nc6. Call this the theory of getting your knights in play first.
Linksspringer,
Just in case you use the Latvian Gambit the usual is:
1.e4 1.e5 2.Nf3 2.f5 3.Nxe5 3.Qf6 4.d4 4.d6 scaring away the horse
5.Nc4 5.fxe4 6.Nc3 6.Qg6 This is the main line. The Queen guards the e- pawn and her husband the King at the same time. This move also allows the KN access to the f6 square. This is the safest for Black.
White can play other lines such as 3.exf5 or 3.d4 or 3.Nc3 or 3.Bc4 You work it out. The Latvian is usually a suprise for most players, but not all.
The diagramed Lean position (or Colorado) here is very reminicent of the Latvian Gambit when Black avoids the main line with 3.Nc6.
1.e4 1.e5
2.Nf3 2.f5
3.Nxe5 3.Nc6
4.Qh5+
....and as bad as this looks for Black, Nunn (NCO) recommends 4.d4 avoiding all the up coming complications in this dog fight.
When I played competitive tournament chess in the early 1970's the Nimzovitch Defense was played by almost no one at any level. I saw one tournament game between experts published in Illinois. The author seemed surprised the winner (with Black) had even played it. He seemed to have been of the opinion that the Nimzovitch was a loss for Black, or somehow had been refuted.
Billyidle, I agree with you. I don't think the Nimzovitch Defense was refuted, rather as Larry Evans and Korn said in MCO 10 "... the defence is too cramped and requires patient handling." Evans in fact called it "bizarre". When I began playing "the book" on the Nimzovitch Defense was Hugh Myers', The Nimzovich Defense published in 1973 by Chessco. Lately there was a CD published. I have both laying around somewhere.
In the beginning of this piece I said that it is the Kennedy Variation of the Nimzovitch Defense that "plays itself". Not to be sidetracked...
1.e4 1.Nc6
2.d4 2.e5
2.e5 is the Kennedy variation. This reply, I would say, is better than the reply ....2.d5 This really should have been the dicussion. Obviously, White must play 2.d4 to continue here.
We have begun a group for people who like to play 1. Nc3 and 1...Nc6, or who want to learn more about it - check out the link below.
http://www.chess.com/groups/home/quotder-linksspringer-1nc3-1nc6quot-fans
It is a private group, but if you are truly interested, you will be admitted. One big rule - no insulting other players - one warning and then you are out. This group is to help people improve. We will be having vote chess games, as well as tournaments, revolving around 1. Nc3 and 1. e4 Nc6, and maybe even 1. d4 Nc6, but we'll see what people think about that idea!
I did not know Tony Miles played the Nimzovitch Defense.
I rely on his games (above all other GMs) in the Sicilian Dragon. No one played it better.
Jun 13, 2016
0
#16
An option no one has mentioned but I've played many times is:
1.e4, Nc6
if 2. Nf3, then Nf6. if 3.e5, then Nd4 with an Alekhine Def type position where black has already dev his QN.
if 2. Nc3, then 2...d5! striking straight away at White's center.
if 2.d4, d5 fighting for center.
if then 3.Nc6, a6! a (temporary) gambit because:
if 4.Nxd5, then e6! regains pawn and smashes White's center.
if instead 4.exd, then 4...N-b5 regains pawn no matter what White does.
I have no books on any of this and have not been able to find any real analysis, but this form of the Nimzovitch defense to e4 is rarely played and great for blitz games. Try it!
This chess opening is a very good one for beginners or intermediate players. One source of analysis is UNORTHODOX CHESS OPENNINGS, by Eric Shiller. That just happens to be what I use to back up the opening. However, the whole point of 1.e4 1.Nc6 2.d4 2.e5 (the Kennedy Variation) is that the opening plays itself, and one does not need to worry about analysis. Just concentrate on the combinations and middle game. JUST PLAY CHESS.
Both of Black's knights may end up being in front of the king. They should. This is good, unlike Alekine's Defense where both knights end up on the queenside, where they can't defend the king. In the Nimzovitch Defense, Black can defend the kingside or start his own kingside attack against White.
It is simply a "no worries" approach to playing club or pickup games or friends. You make two moves and forget the opening. Worry about the rest of the game. Most White players are "on their own" against the Nimzovitch anyway. They don't see it that often. If you are tired of studying this opening and the next one - just play the Nimzovitch and forget about it. You really don't need the book on this one. Dream up some kingside attacks with the Black Pieces, while your kingside castled position is solid.