Petrov Defense Nimzowitsch Attack (Nc3)

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The Nimzowitsch Attack is the most aggressive way to fight the Petrov Defense. It results in an imbalanced middlegame and deprives black the option of a peaceful game!

The Petrov Defense has a notorious reputation for being annoyingly equal and drawing. This makes it a great weapon for players with white who wish to avoid sharp openings and look forward to a peaceful game likely ending in a peaceful result. But here the Nimzowitsch Attack comes in!

As opposed to almost all other variations white can choose from, this aggressive attacking idea is very straightforward and it wastes no time in attempting to create attacking chances. White immediately goes for queenside castling (even accepting a structural defect – doubled c pawns). The plan is simple: Be3, Qd2, 0-0-0. This is very different to setups where white castles short. Diagonals are wide open, and the center is great for bishops (and all four are on the board). The e file is a battleground and both sides have chances!

Black can now (unfortunately) choose between two approaches. Castling short, leading to an imbalanced game, or castling long same as white, which makes the position equalish again. Regardless of what he chooses, though, the resulting middlegames are going to be much more interesting to the attacking player than those coming from the Classical Petrov.

This is why the Nimzowitsch Attack is the weapon of choice for all those who wish not to allow black an easy draw!

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