Nimzo-Larsen Attack: what should White play?

In the Nimzo-Larsen Attack, White faces an asymmetrical setup following Black's early flank expansion. The overwhelmingly standard and theoretically sound continuation is Bb2, which develops the queen's bishop onto the long diagonal to exert immediate pressure against Black's kingside. Opting for this fianchetto directly accomplishes White's core strategic ambition in the opening while retaining a slight engine edge of +0.07.

Theoretical Dominance of Bb2

The database demonstrates near-total consensus on this continuation: Bb2 accounts for 98.0% of recorded games (5.00M recorded) from this position, yielding a White scoring percentage of 55.3%. By immediately staking a claim on the a1-h8 diagonal, White takes aim at central squares and prepares to counter Black's intended kingside fianchetto. An illustrative continuation demonstrating standard piece harmonisation runs Bb2 Nf6 Nf3 d6 d4 Bg7, where both sides complete natural minor piece development and dispute central control.

Minor Alternatives and Deviations

Other candidate moves represent less than two percent of total master and amateur database selections combined. White can opt for a standard central transposition via Nf3, which appears in 0.2% of games (12K recorded) and scores 49.7%, or d4, seen in 0.2% of games (9.6K recorded) with a 46.2% score. While playable, the engine rates both moves, along with the modest e3 (37K recorded, 47.9% score), slightly negatively at -0.21. These paths generally concede the direct diagonal pressure offered by the immediate bishop placement.

The Unusual Ba3 Sideline

An alternate concept appears in the eccentric Ba3, seen in 0.9% of encounters (44K recorded) with a 48.0% score and an engine evaluation of -0.24. This flank development immediately targets the dark squares and Black's kingside bishop diagonal, as reflected in the line Ba3 e5 Bxf8 Kxf8 d4 e4. While this draws Black's king off its starting square, the mainstream Bb2 remains the standard recommendation.