Nimzo-Larsen Attack: Modern Variation: what should White play?

In the Modern Variation of the Nimzo-Larsen Attack, White achieves the most practical success with Bb2, completing the primary fianchetto to exert pressure down the long diagonal against Black's central pawns. Although the engine narrowly prefers Nc3 (evaluated at +0.16) and d4 (+0.13), Bb2 is the overwhelming choice in recorded games, appearing 83.5% of the time (129K recorded) and scoring 53.5% for White.

The Main Practical Path: 3. Bb2

Deploying the bishop with Bb2 directly fulfills White's strategic premise in this setup. By placing the b2 on the long diagonal, White targets the e5 outpost and prepares harmonious development behind the central pawns. An illustrative engine continuation demonstrates this gradual build-up via Bb2 Nf6 e3 g6 d4 exd4, where White eventually strikes at the center once the flank development is underway.

Central Alternatives: 3. Nc3 and 3. d4

Players seeking immediate central involvement often turn to the engine's highest-evaluated candidates. Developing the knight with Nc3 is chosen in 7.8% of games (12K recorded) with a 50.1% score, leading into lines such as Nc3 Nf6 d4 Na6 dxe5 dxe5. Alternatively, White can strike immediately in the center with d4, seen in 1.3% of games (2.0K recorded), where White scores 45.5% following d4 Nf6 Nc3 c6 Bb2 Nbd7.

Flexible Setups: 3. e3 and 3. d3

White can also defer central confrontation in favor of modest pawn advances. The move e3 appears in 5.2% of games (8.0K recorded) with an evaluation of -0.02 and a healthy 53.1% score, illustrated by e3 g6 Bb2 Bg7 d4 exd4. A quieter approach is d3, selected in 2.2% of games (3.4K recorded) with an evaluation of -0.06 and a 44.4% score, continuing with d3 c6 Bb2 g6 g3 Bg7.