- ECO code
- A01
- Moves
- 1.b3 e5 2.Bb2 Nc6 3.e3
- Family
- Nimzo-Larsen Attack
- To move
- Black
- Master games
- 308
- Average game length
- 46 moves
- Years covered
- 1859–2026
Nimzo-Larsen Attack: Modern Variation is the opening filed under ECO code A01, reached after 1.b3 e5 2.Bb2 Nc6 3.e3. It belongs to the Nimzo-Larsen Attack family and is known as the Modern Variation; in the resulting position it is Black to move.
Katuranga's collection of 138,070 master games contains 308 games on this line — the 302nd most played opening in the collection. The oldest game on this line is from 1859 and the most recent from 2026. The busiest decade in this collection is the 2020s, with 199 games. An average game here lasts 46 moves.
White wins 58% of those games, 16% end in a draw, and Black wins 26%. That is close to the collection average (White 37%, draws 35%, Black 28%). Draws are less common here than usual, by 19 points.
From this position the most popular move is 3...Nf6, played in 172 games, followed by 3...d5 (64) and 3...g6 (42). After 3...Nf6 White scores 58% and Black 27%.
The name that appears most often on the White side of this line is Nakamura,Hi (91 games); on the Black side, Hou Yifan (11).
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Results in master games
- White 58% (178)
- Draws 16% (50)
- Black 26% (80)
Most played continuations
| Move | Games | White / draws / Black | Leads into |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3...Nf6 | 172 | 58/15/27 | — |
| 3...d5 | 64 | 64/17/19 | — |
| 3...g6 | 42 | 48/21/31 | — |
| 3...a6 | 10 | 70/0/30 | — |
| 3...d6 | 9 | 67/11/22 | — |
| 3...Nge7 | 8 | 50/25/25 | — |
| 3...Bd6 | 1 | 0/0/100 | — |
| 3...e4 | 1 | 0/100/0 | — |
How the position is reached
- Nimzo-Larsen Attack · 1.b3 · 1,532 games
- Nimzo-Larsen Attack: Modern Variation · 1.b3 e5 · 466 games
- Nimzo-Larsen Attack: Modern Variation · 1.b3 e5 2.Bb2 Nc6 · 416 games
Played most often by
As White
- Nakamura,Hi 91
- Erigaisi,Arjun 28
- So,W 26
As Black
- Hou Yifan 11
- Karjakin,Sergey 10
- So,W 10
Games per decade
- 1850s 1
- 1970s 8
- 1980s 1
- 1990s 1
- 2000s 5
- 2010s 93
- 2020s 199
Master games on this line
| White | Black | Result | Year | Events |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vachier Lagrave,M | Aradhya,Garg | 1/2-1/2 | 2026 | Titled Tue 13th Jan 2026 |
| Duda,J | Gukesh,D | 0-1 | 2026 | GCT Super Blitz Poland |
| Erigaisi,Arjun | Murzin,Volodar | 1-0 | 2026 | 1st 3-0 Thu 2nd Jul 2026 |
| So,W | Ambartsumova,K | 1-0 | 2026 | Titled Tue 10th Feb 2026 |
| So,W | Sheehan,Ethan | 1/2-1/2 | 2026 | Titled Tue 30th Jun 2026 |
| Livaic,Leon | Mamedyarov,S | 0-1 | 2026 | Bundesliga 2025-26 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the Nimzo-Larsen Attack: Modern Variation?
It is the opening with ECO code A01, reached after 1.b3 e5 2.Bb2 Nc6 3.e3. It belongs to the Nimzo-Larsen Attack family.
Is the Nimzo-Larsen Attack: Modern Variation good for White or for Black?
In 308 master games on this line White wins 58%, 16% are drawn and Black wins 26%. The collection average is White 37%, draws 35%, Black 28% — so this line is no worse than usual for White than the field as a whole.
What is the main continuation of the Nimzo-Larsen Attack: Modern Variation?
3...Nf6 — played in 172 of the master games on this line.
Which grandmasters play the Nimzo-Larsen Attack: Modern Variation?
On the White side Nakamura,Hi (91), Erigaisi,Arjun (28), So,W (26); on the Black side Hou Yifan (11), Karjakin,Sergey (10), So,W (10).
Every number on this page is computed from Katuranga's master game collection; names and ECO codes follow the lichess opening book (CC0).
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