Nimzovich-Larsen attack - Modern variation

The Nimzovich-Larsen Attack Modern Variation is a chess opening that begins with the moves:

1. b3 (This is the Nimzo-Larsen Attack)

The Modern Variation specifically refers to the line where Black responds with:

1... e5

The Nimzovich-Larsen Attack is named after two famous chess players, Aron Nimzovich and Bent Larsen. It's a relatively uncommon opening at the highest levels of play, but it can be quite effective at club and amateur levels.

Reasons to play the Nimzovich-Larsen Attack Modern Variation:

1. It's a flexible opening: White's first move does not immediately commit to a specific pawn structure or piece development plan. This can make it harder for Black to predict White's intentions and prepare a counter-strategy.

2. It focuses on controlling the center with pieces rather than pawns: This is a key principle of hypermodern chess theory, which emphasizes controlling the center from a distance rather than occupying it directly.

3. It can lead to unique positions: The Nimzovich-Larsen Attack often leads to positions that are not typically seen in other openings. This can be an advantage if your opponent is not familiar with these types of positions.

4. It can be used to avoid extensive opening theory: Many popular chess openings have been analyzed extensively, and some players spend a lot of time studying and memorizing these lines. The Nimzovich-Larsen Attack is less common, so playing it can help you avoid long theoretical lines.

Reasons not to play the Nimzovich-Larsen Attack Modern Variation:

1. It's not as aggressive as some other openings: While the Nimzovich-Larsen Attack can lead to sharp positions, it's not as aggressive as some other openings like the King's Gambit or the Sicilian Defence. If you prefer a more aggressive, tactical style of play, you might find the Nimzovich-Larsen Attack too slow.

2. It requires a good understanding of positional chess: Because the Nimzovich-Larsen Attack often leads to complex positions with unbalanced pawn structures, it's important to have a good understanding of positional chess principles. If you're a beginner or prefer a more straightforward, tactical approach, you might find the Nimzovich-Larsen Attack challenging.

3. It's less common at high levels of play: While this can be an advantage in terms of avoiding opening theory, it also means that there are fewer high-level games to study and learn from.

4. Black has solid responses: While the Nimzovich-Larsen Attack can lead to unique positions, Black has several solid responses that can neutralize White's early initiative if White is not careful.

In conclusion, the Nimzovich-Larsen Attack Modern Variation can be a good choice if you're looking for a flexible, less theoretical opening that focuses on controlling the center with pieces. However, it requires a good understanding of positional chess and may not be the best choice if you prefer a more aggressive, tactical style of play.