The Nimzowitsch Variation (1. e4 c5 2. ♘f3 ♞f6) is an offbeat choice within the vast Sicilian Defense repertoire. By immediately deploying the knight to f6, Black aims to challenge White’s central control while deferring the development of other pieces. Nimzowitsch believed in the power of undermining traditional concepts and focusing on positional principles.
However, players who choose the Nimzowitsch Variation must exercise caution to avoid falling into strategies that have been refuted over time. Let us examine a specific example to illustrate this point: