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Nimzo–Larsen Attack Chess Opening: Tactics and Strategy
Rating: 4.7 out of 5(66 ratings)
507 students

Nimzo–Larsen Attack Chess Opening: Tactics and Strategy

Learn the Nimzo-Larsen Attack: Exploring 1.b3 Tactics, Hypermodern Positional Strategies and Plans against any replies
Created byTryfon Gavriel
Last updated 8/2024
English
English [Auto],

What you'll learn

  • Ability to have a full repertoire with White based on 1.b3
  • Ability to create unusual problems for opponents in the Opening phase
  • Ability to understand key example games from key exponents including Larsen and Nimzovich
  • Ability to win more easily with the White pieces
  • Ability to have a surprise weapon to switch to when frustrated with more mainline openings
  • Ability to get opponent's improvising and losing time on the clock which is especially dangerous at faster time controls
  • Ability to take seriously an unusual system many opponent's have not taken seriously and not researched and therefore often improvise badly
  • Ability to have a cute little Star-Wars fan "R2-D2" robot in the form of the b2 bishop on your chessboard "spaceship" with the ability to strike things :)
  • Ability to have a fantastic weapon especially for faster time controls such as blitz because opponent's often forced to improvise on their own resources
  • Ability to set up opposite side castling scenarios with great examples from Bent Larsen and other key exponents
  • Ability to see as of time of course a weapon of super GM Richard Rapport - Rank #11 in the world - scores over 35% with 1.b3
  • Ability to see as of time of course a weapon of super GM Hikaru Nakamura - Rank #1 on FIDE Blitz Chess rankings scoring overall over 58% with White
  • Ability to research something he opponent cannot avoid. No wasted research time on something that might not turn up on the board
  • Ability to have a secret weapon with informational advantage that can get much bigger advantages often than "main lines"
  • Ability to set up a "goal hanging" resouces analogous to "Thorn pawn" which lurks around opponent's King if they castle Kingside
  • Ability to have very fast zaps in faster time controls based on the "Goal hanging" Bb2 resource
  • Ability to absorb positional patterns and themes from the example variations within games as well as the example games themselves
  • Ability to see how Magnus Carlsen - the current world chess champion has used 1.b3 crushingly against super grandmasters such as Wesley So
  • Ability to easily research often opposite side castling scenarios which can be huge fun to play from
  • Ability to learn a great day from classic Nimzovich games who used the 1. Nf3 then b3 move order in many games - one of the strongest players in the world
  • Ability to appreciate more the hard reality of pawns not being able to go backwards, and Nimzovich tickling pawns with knight moves based on this
  • Ability to appreciate a "Hypermodern" opening and its influence over the center through control rather than occupation
  • Ability to be inspired by many beautiful game examples especially on how the b2 bishop can be liberated, magnified, exploited & when departed give advantage
  • Ability to spice up or transpose into the English opening with the inclusion of b3
  • Ability to see how multiple world champions have made use of b3 - directly or indirectly to create wonderful possibilities and game victories
  • Ability to spice up or transpose into the Reti Opening 1. Nf3 with 1. b3 later - the Classical variation - avoiding 1.b3 e5 variations
  • Ability to spice up or transpose into the Bird's Opening with 1. b3 later - and contribute more to dark square grip strategy
  • Ability to spice up or transpose into the King's Indian Attack with Queenside bishop fianchetto later - double fianchetto helps control central squares
  • Ability to spice up or transpose into 1.g3 - Benko's opening with Queenside bishop fianchetto later - double fianchetto situation helps control central squares

Course content

25 sections181 lectures22h 27m total length
  • Introduction - Why 1.b3 or 1.Nf3 followed by 2.b3 ?12:11

    Explore why 1.b3 or 1.Nf3 followed by 2.b3 creates an informational advantage, forces opponents to improvise, and unleashes attacking ideas via hypermodern principles and reverse Nimzo–Larsen themes.

  • Wonderful privilege of having so many exponents to learn from and be inspired by10:04

    Learn from world champions and top exponents through model games and recurring themes to sharpen your Nimzo–Larsen attack tactics and overall play.

  • Inspiration, Themes, Key Resources and Patterns to look out for8:00

    Explore inspiration, themes, key resources, and patterns in the Nimzo–Larsen attack. Emphasize pattern recognition, bishop amplification on dark squares, and transposition ideas over memorization.

  • Inspirational Queens Fianchetto featured game - Emanuel Lasker vs Hermann Bauer20:10

    Explore the Nimzo–Larsen attack's queen's bishop fianchetto and its tactical themes through Emanuel Lasker vs Hermann Bauer, including a dramatic double bishop sacrifice and king attack ideas.

  • Kingscrusher game : A great points scorer for online bullet and blitz chess4:24

    Explore practical tactics in the Nimzo–Larsen attack for online bullet and blitz chess. Learn quick motifs like queen takes h5 and bishop h7 mating ideas to score points.

  • The "Hypermodern mindset" and why 1.b3 is a Hypermodern opening18:51

    The hypermodern mindset reframes center control by influencing key squares from a distance with 1.b3 and related ideas, rather than physically occupying the center.

  • Understanding and good calculation often trumps memorisation12:26

    Develop a philosophy of chess where understanding and calculation trump memorization, using prophylaxis, blockades, and strong middle- and endgames to gain an informational advantage in the Nimzo–Larsen framework.

  • Transpositional powerhouses11:11

    Explore transpositional powerhouses within the Nimzo-Larsen framework as flexible move orders create unfamiliar destinations, build informational advantages, and leverage key pawn structures, systems, and gambits.

  • The huge influence of Aron Nimzowitsch generally11:32

    Explore Aron Nimzowitsch's influence through his book my system, detailing prophylaxis, blockade, central control, and the art of exploiting positional weaknesses in hypermodern openings.

  • A few points about the Course Structure4:42

    Discover the course structure for the Nimzo–Larsen attack, with move-order themes, classical and modern variations, and game-based substructures that link themes to specific examples.

  • Intro notes top right as PDF document downloads0:03

Requirements

  • Know how the chess pieces move

Description

Discover the strategic depth of the Nimzo-Larsen Attack in our course 'Nimzo–Larsen Attack Chess Opening with FIDE CM Kingscrusher'. This potent chess opening, characterized by the initial move 1.b3, is as versatile as it is intriguing, capable of delivering wins against any countermove by your opponent. This course presents the tools you need to master this opening, imparting knowledge directly from FIDE CM Kingscrusher.

The Nimzo-Larsen Attack is a novel, flank opening move which prepares to fianchetto the Queen's bishop, adding intriguing layers to the game. Not only does it position the player to exert control over the dark squares, it also facilitates attacks if the opponent decides to castle on the Kingside.

This opening carries the name of two chess legends: Aron Nimzowitsch, the groundbreaking 'Hypermodern' thinker who authored 'My System', an iconic book that continues to influence generations of players, and Bent Larsen, the esteemed Danish grandmaster who was a contemporary of Bobby Fischer. The course takes an in-depth look at their legacies, giving students historical context to the opening.

Kingscrusher's fascination with the Nimzo-Larsen Attack grew after witnessing its successful deployment by Super-Grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura during the ICC Blitz Chess Open in 2011. Despite its underdog status in some circles, the Nimzo-Larsen Attack has proven its worth repeatedly, even in high-level games. Bobby Fischer himself used it to spectacular effect in 1970, winning all five games where he utilized it.

Today, the opening finds proponents among Grandmasters such as Vladimir Bagirov, Baadur Jobava, Hikaru Nakamura, Richard Rapport, and Adhiban Baskaran. Its potency as a surprise weapon in opening repertoires and its usefulness in faster time controls makes it a compelling choice for both International Masters and Grandmasters.

This course will guide you in exploring the unique potential of the Nimzo-Larsen Attack, enabling you to gain tangible advantages right from the opening. Its distinctive classification in online databases allows you to study games from modern exponents, further enriching your understanding of this creative and effective opening.

Who this course is for:

  • Beginner to Intermediate players