Opening courses
Black repertoireImproving to club

The Sicilian Ninja Nimzowitsch Sicilian course against 1.e4

An active ...Nf6 Sicilian repertoire with complete answers to White's main deviations.

We meet 1.e4 with the Sicilian and develop the kingside knight early, inviting White to build a centre that we can challenge. The repertoire combines central pawn breaks with active minor-piece play, covering the advance, Three Knights, closed systems and early sidelines. White can gain space and force the knight to move repeatedly, so understanding the resulting pawn structure matters as much as remembering the move order.

CounterattackClassical
chapters
8
lines
87
moves to know
450
Try the first line free

1. Quickstarter: six central routes

6 lines

These six routes introduce the central positions after White develops Nf3 and we answer with an early knight move to f6. White can advance e5, build a broad pawn centre or develop the second knight first. We respond with active pieces and timely central pawn breaks. Learn which exchanges release our pieces and which pawn formations leave a lasting target before trying to memorise the forcing details.

  1. Line 11.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.e5 Nd5 4.d4 cxd4 5.Qxd4 e6 6.c4 Nc6 7.Qe4 f5 8.exf6 Nxf6 9.Qc2 Bc5FreeLearn
  2. Line 2Premium line, moves hiddenPremium
  3. Line 3Premium line, moves hiddenPremium
  4. Line 4Premium line, moves hiddenPremium
  5. Line 5Premium line, moves hiddenPremium
  6. Line 6Premium line, moves hiddenPremium

2. Advance: challenge White's central space

22 lines

White's e5 advance attacks our knight and claims central space. We answer by placing the knight on d5, then choose between central exchanges and manoeuvres according to White's setup. The queen recaptures can become targets, while knight recaptures often produce structures with useful bishop activity. This chapter also covers the sharper pawn offers: calculate the forcing replies carefully, and distinguish active compensation from positions where White keeps a modest space advantage.

  1. Line 1Premium line, moves hiddenPremium
  2. Line 2Premium line, moves hiddenPremium
  3. Line 3Premium line, moves hiddenPremium
  4. Line 4Premium line, moves hiddenPremium
  5. Line 5Premium line, moves hiddenPremium
  6. Line 6Premium line, moves hiddenPremium
  7. Line 7Premium line, moves hiddenPremium
  8. Line 8Premium line, moves hiddenPremium
  9. Line 9Premium line, moves hiddenPremium
  10. Line 10Premium line, moves hiddenPremium
  11. Line 11Premium line, moves hiddenPremium
  12. Line 12Premium line, moves hiddenPremium
  13. Line 13Premium line, moves hiddenPremium
  14. Line 14Premium line, moves hiddenPremium
  15. Line 15Premium line, moves hiddenPremium
  16. Line 16Premium line, moves hiddenPremium
  17. Line 17Premium line, moves hiddenPremium
  18. Line 18Premium line, moves hiddenPremium
  19. Line 19Premium line, moves hiddenPremium
  20. Line 20Premium line, moves hiddenPremium
  21. Line 21Premium line, moves hiddenPremium
  22. Line 22Premium line, moves hiddenPremium

3. Three Knights: strike with the d-pawn

19 lines

After White develops both knights, our d-pawn challenges the centre immediately. White may advance e5, exchange on d5 or introduce a bishop check, and each choice changes the development priorities. We often accept temporary awkwardness in return for central activity, but the king must still reach safety. Pay particular attention to the bishop exchanges and queen placements: they determine whether our next task is a pawn break, a knight retreat or simple development.

  1. Line 1Premium line, moves hiddenPremium
  2. Line 2Premium line, moves hiddenPremium
  3. Line 3Premium line, moves hiddenPremium
  4. Line 4Premium line, moves hiddenPremium
  5. Line 5Premium line, moves hiddenPremium
  6. Line 6Premium line, moves hiddenPremium
  7. Line 7Premium line, moves hiddenPremium
  8. Line 8Premium line, moves hiddenPremium
  9. Line 9Premium line, moves hiddenPremium
  10. Line 10Premium line, moves hiddenPremium
  11. Line 11Premium line, moves hiddenPremium
  12. Line 12Premium line, moves hiddenPremium
  13. Line 13Premium line, moves hiddenPremium
  14. Line 14Premium line, moves hiddenPremium
  15. Line 15Premium line, moves hiddenPremium
  16. Line 16Premium line, moves hiddenPremium
  17. Line 17Premium line, moves hiddenPremium
  18. Line 18Premium line, moves hiddenPremium
  19. Line 19Premium line, moves hiddenPremium

4. Second move 2.Nc3: build central counterplay

13 lines

White develops Nc3 before the kingside knight and keeps several central plans available. We answer with Nc6, then adapt to the fianchetto, the f4 advance, an early bishop move or a later Nf3. The common thread is central counterplay: our d-pawn challenges White’s space while the knights seek active squares. Remember that this move order requires its own response rather than blindly repeating the early Nf6 setup.

  1. Line 1Premium line, moves hiddenPremium
  2. Line 2Premium line, moves hiddenPremium
  3. Line 3Premium line, moves hiddenPremium
  4. Line 4Premium line, moves hiddenPremium
  5. Line 5Premium line, moves hiddenPremium
  6. Line 6Premium line, moves hiddenPremium
  7. Line 7Premium line, moves hiddenPremium
  8. Line 8Premium line, moves hiddenPremium
  9. Line 9Premium line, moves hiddenPremium
  10. Line 10Premium line, moves hiddenPremium
  11. Line 11Premium line, moves hiddenPremium
  12. Line 12Premium line, moves hiddenPremium
  13. Line 13Premium line, moves hiddenPremium

5. Second move 2.c3: challenge the Alapin centre

11 lines

White prepares d4 with c3, creating the Alapin centre without developing the b1 knight. We answer with Nf6 and meet e5 by placing the knight on d5. The resulting exchanges can leave active pieces and open files, but each recapture changes the central targets. The plan to remember is to challenge White’s pawn chain while completing development, keeping the knight’s route connected to the next central break.

  1. Line 1Premium line, moves hiddenPremium
  2. Line 2Premium line, moves hiddenPremium
  3. Line 3Premium line, moves hiddenPremium
  4. Line 4Premium line, moves hiddenPremium
  5. Line 5Premium line, moves hiddenPremium
  6. Line 6Premium line, moves hiddenPremium
  7. Line 7Premium line, moves hiddenPremium
  8. Line 8Premium line, moves hiddenPremium
  9. Line 9Premium line, moves hiddenPremium
  10. Line 10Premium line, moves hiddenPremium
  11. Line 11Premium line, moves hiddenPremium

6. Morra Gambit: decline with active development

3 lines

White offers the c-pawn after exchanging on d4, aiming to gain rapid development and open files. We decline the immediate pawn collection and develop the knight to f6, inviting central play rather than defending a lead in material. The resulting positions share ideas with the Alapin structure, but the exact move order matters. Remember to challenge White’s centre and complete development before seeking additional pawn gains.

  1. Line 1Premium line, moves hiddenPremium
  2. Line 2Premium line, moves hiddenPremium
  3. Line 3Premium line, moves hiddenPremium

7. Second move 2.Bc4: challenge the early bishop

2 lines

White develops the bishop to c4 immediately, aiming toward f7 before committing either knight. We answer with Nf6 and use the central d-pawn to challenge the bishop’s diagonal or the advanced e-pawn. The bishop can become a target when the centre opens, so useful development often comes with tempo. Remember to calculate the central exchanges first: direct pressure against f7 does not replace control of the centre.

  1. Line 1Premium line, moves hiddenPremium
  2. Line 2Premium line, moves hiddenPremium

8. White sidelines: develop with purpose

11 lines

White can avoid the usual central battle with an early bishop move, a flank pawn advance or a kingside fianchetto. We keep the same priorities: develop efficiently, challenge the centre and identify the concrete point of White's move. The wing gambit and early f-pawn advance can create sharp play, while slower setups allow straightforward development. Treat each deviation on its own board, rather than applying a standard central plan without checking the tactics.

  1. Line 1Premium line, moves hiddenPremium
  2. Line 2Premium line, moves hiddenPremium
  3. Line 3Premium line, moves hiddenPremium
  4. Line 4Premium line, moves hiddenPremium
  5. Line 5Premium line, moves hiddenPremium
  6. Line 6Premium line, moves hiddenPremium
  7. Line 7Premium line, moves hiddenPremium
  8. Line 8Premium line, moves hiddenPremium
  9. Line 9Premium line, moves hiddenPremium
  10. Line 10Premium line, moves hiddenPremium
  11. Line 11Premium line, moves hiddenPremium

About the Nimzowitsch Sicilian

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nf6

In the Nimzowitsch Sicilian Black plays 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nf6, inviting 3.e5. The knight goes to d5 and Black attacks the advanced pawn, so White ends up in positions with far less established theory than the Open Sicilian.

Because the Sicilian has so many White deviations, the course also covers 2.Nc3, the Alapin 2.c3, the Morra Gambit, 2.Bc4 and the other sidelines, so it works as a complete answer to 1.e4.

Questions

What happens after 3.e5 in the Nimzowitsch Sicilian?
The knight goes to d5 and Black challenges the e5 pawn with pieces and pawn breaks. White has space but must look after the advanced pawn, and the positions are unbalanced and lively.
Does this course cover the Open Sicilian?
It is built around 2...Nf6, so White's most natural replies lead into its own lines. It also gives answers to the second-move deviations such as 2.c3, 2.Nc3, 2.Bc4 and the Morra Gambit.
Is the Nimzowitsch Sicilian course free?
The first line is free to learn and review, with or without an account. The other 86 lines are part of ChessDesk Premium.

See how it compares with the other repertoires in Chess openings for Black.