- ECO code
- A05
- Moves
- 1.Nf3 Nf6 2.b3
- Family
- Zukertort Opening
- To move
- Black
- Master games
- 580
- Average game length
- 49 moves
- Years covered
- 1923–2026
Zukertort Opening: Nimzo-Larsen Variation is the opening filed under ECO code A05, reached after 1.Nf3 Nf6 2.b3. It belongs to the Zukertort Opening family and is known as the Nimzo-Larsen Variation; in the resulting position it is Black to move.
Katuranga's collection of 138,070 master games contains 580 games on this line — the 190th most played opening in the collection. The oldest game on this line is from 1923 and the most recent from 2026. The busiest decade in this collection is the 2020s, with 466 games. An average game here lasts 49 moves.
White wins 61% of those games, 19% end in a draw, and Black wins 20%. Compared with the collection average (White 37%, draws 35%, Black 28%), Black scores worse here by 8 percentage points. Draws are less common here than usual, by 16 points.
From this position the most popular move is 2...g6, played in 283 games, followed by 2...d5 (139) and 2...b6 (47). After 2...g6 White scores 62% and Black 20%.
The name that appears most often on the White side of this line is Nakamura,Hi (313 games); on the Black side, Erigaisi,Arjun (14).
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Results in master games
- White 61% (352)
- Draws 19% (112)
- Black 20% (116)
Most played continuations
| Move | Games | White / draws / Black | Leads into |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2...g6 | 283 | 62/18/20 | — |
| 2...d5 | 139 | 58/23/19 | — |
| 2...b6 | 47 | 55/28/17 | — |
| 2...c5 | 40 | 62/18/20 | — |
| 2...e6 | 35 | 83/6/11 | — |
| 2...d6 | 29 | 42/17/41 | — |
| 2...b5 | 4 | 75/25/0 | — |
| 2...a5 | 2 | 100/0/0 | — |
How the position is reached
- Zukertort Opening · 1.Nf3 · 14,933 games
- Zukertort Opening · 1.Nf3 Nf6 · 6,439 games
Played most often by
As White
- Nakamura,Hi 313
- Praggnanandhaa,R 29
- Nihal,Sarin 19
As Black
- Erigaisi,Arjun 14
- Caruana,F 13
- Praggnanandhaa,R 13
Games per decade
- 1920s 13
- 1930s 9
- 1940s 3
- 1950s 5
- 1960s 1
- 1970s 8
- 1980s 4
- 1990s 2
- 2000s 10
- 2010s 59
- 2020s 466
Master games on this line
| White | Black | Result | Year | Events |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Firouzja,Alireza | Niemann,Hans Moke | 1-0 | 2026 | GCT Super Blitz Poland |
| Tasdogen,Dincer | Grischuk,A | 1-0 | 2026 | 3rd 3-0 Thu 11th Jun 2026 |
| Nihal,Sarin | Caruana,F | 1-0 | 2026 | FIDE World Bl Team 5-8th |
| Vidit,S | Praggnanandhaa,R | 1-0 | 2026 | Tata Steel India Blitz |
| Praggnanandhaa,R | Abdusattorov,Nodirbek | 1/2-1/2 | 2026 | GCT Super Blitz Croatia |
| Gukesh,D | So,W | 1-0 | 2026 | GCT Super Blitz Poland |
Frequently asked questions
What is the Zukertort Opening: Nimzo-Larsen Variation?
It is the opening with ECO code A05, reached after 1.Nf3 Nf6 2.b3. It belongs to the Zukertort Opening family.
Is the Zukertort Opening: Nimzo-Larsen Variation good for White or for Black?
In 580 master games on this line White wins 61%, 19% are drawn and Black wins 20%. 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 Zukertort Opening: Nimzo-Larsen Variation?
2...g6 — played in 283 of the master games on this line.
Which grandmasters play the Zukertort Opening: Nimzo-Larsen Variation?
On the White side Nakamura,Hi (313), Praggnanandhaa,R (29), Nihal,Sarin (19); on the Black side Erigaisi,Arjun (14), Caruana,F (13), Praggnanandhaa,R (13).
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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