Expert: Len Molden - 3/17/2009

Question
Can you show me great ideas and positions about the Nimzowitch Larsen Attack, 1.b3

Answer
Hi George,

The Nimzowitsch/Larsen Attack (also called the Nimzo-Larsen) has been played since the time of the great Aron Nimzowitsch ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aron_Nimzowitsch ) in the 1920s and 1930s.  In modern times, GM Bent Larsen ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bent_Larsen ) has refined this system, especially during the 1970's.  

The development scheme White arrives at is one in which the Bishop at b2 combined with the Knight at f3 (sometimes a pawn on f4), take control of the squares d4 and e5.  One main advantage of this opening is that it doesn't require a wide scope of opening knowledge as it has a few relatively important positions to know and which will be reached most of the time.  

These are:

1. b3 e5 2. Bb2 Nc6 3. e3 d5 4. Bb5 Bd6 5. f4

1. b3 e5 2. Bb2 d6 3. e3 Nf6 4. c4 g6 5. Nc3 Bg7 6. g3 O-O 7. Bg2 c6 8. d3 Re8
9. Nf3 Bf5 10. O-O

1. b3 e5 2. Bb2 Nc6 3. e3 Nf6 4. Bb5 d6 5. Ne2 a6 6. Bxc6+ bxc6 7. c4 Be7 8.
d4 exd4 9. Nxd4 Qd7 10. Qf3 d5 11. O-O

1. b3 c5 2. Bb2 e6 3. f4 d5 4. e3 Nf6 5. Bb5+ Bd7 6. a4 Bd6 7. Nf3 O-O 8. O-O

1. b3 Nf6 2. Bb2 g6 3. Nf3 Bg7 4. g3 O-O 5. Bg2 d6 6. d4 e5 7. dxe5 Ng4 8. O-O
Nxe5 9. Nxe5 dxe5 10. Nc3 Nd7 11. Qd2

Two recent books which I can highly recommend are:

http://www.chessmastery.com/nimzo-larsen-attack.html