Nimzo-Larsen Attack: Modern Variation
Chess opening · ECO A01 · 2 half-moves
1. b3 e5
The Nimzo-Larsen Attack: Modern Variation is reached after 1. b3 e5. It is White's move in the position shown.
It branches from the Nimzo-Larsen Attack with 1… e5.
How often it is played
The Nimzo-Larsen Attack: Modern Variation and its variations appeared in 0.44% of games — 13,248 of 3,000,000 rated games sampled from Lichess in September 2026. That makes it number 100 of the openings listed here.
Results
White won 51%, 3.5% were drawn and Black won 46%. These are games between players of every strength and time control, so they say how the opening does in practice rather than how sound it is.
What the engine thinks
Stockfish, at depth 18, evaluates the position at -0.19 — which is level. Positive numbers favour White; see reading the evaluation bar.
Similar openings
The most-played alternatives — what else could have been chosen around the move where this opening begins.
| Opening | Moves | Share of games |
|---|---|---|
| Nimzo-Larsen Attack: Classical Variation | 1. b3 d5 | 0.44% |
| Nimzo-Larsen Attack: Indian Variation | 1. b3 Nf6 | 0.18% |
| King's Pawn Game | 1. e4 | 59% |
Main continuations
| Variation | Moves | Share of games |
|---|---|---|
| Nimzo-Larsen Attack: Pachman Gambit | 1. b3 e5 2. Bb2 Nc6 3. f4 | 0.00% |
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