Nimzo-Larsen Attack: Modern Variation: what to play after e5?

In the Modern Variation of the Nimzo-Larsen Attack, White's most popular continuation is Bb2, which develops the bishop along the long diagonal and directly pressures the e5 pawn. An equally sound alternative is the solid d3, which controls central squares and prevents immediate advances. While computer analysis assesses the position slightly in Black's favor at roughly -0.37 to -0.39, both moves provide White with flexible setups and positive scoring rates.

The Main Approach with Bb2

By far the most common choice is Bb2, occurring in 78.1% of recorded games (308K recorded) and yielding a 53.3% score for White. This move fits the core philosophy of the Nimzo-Larsen Attack, targeting the central dark squares from the flank. In an illustrative engine continuation, play sharpens quickly after Bb2 e4 Nd4 Nxd4 Bxd4 d5, where Black advances in the center and pieces are traded on the d4 square.

Flexible Restraint with d3

Selected in 9.1% of recorded games (36K recorded), d3 carries an engine evaluation of -0.39 and produces a 52.4% score for White. Rather than allowing Black to push forward, this modest pawn move blunts potential central thrusts and keeps the position calm. The engine illustrates this idea through the continuation d3 d5 Bb2 Bd6 Nbd2 Nf6, where White steadily prepares further development while Black establishes a classical pawn presence on d5 and e5.

Central Alternatives

Other continuations are less frequent. White plays e4 in 8.4% of games (33K recorded), which scores 47.7% and leads to an immediate clash after e4 f5 d4 exd4 exf5 Bb4+. Minor options include e3 (3.0% of games, scoring 50.4%) and d4 (1.4% of games, scoring 48.9%), both evaluated at -0.66 by the engine. These setups invite Black to challenge the knight immediately with e4, as demonstrated in the lines e3 e4 Nd4 Nxd4 exd4 d5 and d4 e4 Nfd2 d5 e3 Nf6.