Chess Opening Theory/1. b3/1...c5

__NOTOC__ Nimzowitsch-Larsen, English variation rd nd bd qd kd bd nd rd pd pd pd pd pd pd pd pd pl pl pl pl pl pl pl pl rl nl bl ql kl bl nl rl 1. b3 c5 A01 Nimzowitsch-Larsen Attack 1...c5 · English variation 1...c5 is a sideline pursued by Black when they assume White will be more booked up with the theory following 1...e5 or 1...d5. Having committed to b3 already, White's continuation is invariably 2. Bb2, but, since 1...c5 does not control e4 or c4, Black invites White to later play e4 themselves, transposing into a b3 Sicillian, or c4, transposing into a Symmetrical English, which Black hopes to be more comfortable playing. Most commonly, White declines this invitation and keeps things in Nimzo-Larsen territory with 3. e3. Then, Black can choose to play e5 or d5 with the additional central control afforded by having already played c5. Theory table 1.b3 c5 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Nimzowitsch-Larsen Attack, English Variation Bb2Nc6 e3Nf6 Nf3g6 Be2Bg7 0-0b6 d3Bb7 Nbd2e6 a3Qe7=Kasparov Gary Keene Raymond 1986 First published 1982 Batsford Chess Openings London B.T.Batsford Ltd. 0 7134 2114 2 4th ...... ...e5 = ...... ...d5 = b3 Sicilian ...... e4 = Symmetrical English ...... c4 = References External links A01: Nimzovich-Larsen attack, English variation Nimzovich-Larsen Attack