The El Columpio Defense, El Columpio Gambit is a variation of the Nimzowitsch Defense, catalogued as ECO B00. The line runs 1. e4 Nc6 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. e5 Ng4 4. d4 d6 5. h3 Nh6 6. e6, reaching the position shown below after 11 half-moves.
White holds the centre with pawns on d4, and one pawn capture is available, so the structure has not settled yet. Development is level at one minor pieces each. It is Black to move after six moves.
On the Nimzowitsch Defense generally: An unusual defense (1.e4 Nc6) that can transpose into many other openings.
You can play through this variation move by move in your browser — Learn mode walks the line with an explanation at each step, and Drill mode replays it from memory so you find out whether you actually know it. No account is required.
See all 4 Nimzowitsch Defense variations →
The El Columpio Defense, El Columpio Gambit goes 1. e4 Nc6 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. e5 Ng4 4. d4 d6 5. h3 Nh6 6. e6. It is a variation of the Nimzowitsch Defense and is catalogued as ECO B00.
The El Columpio Defense, El Columpio Gambit is ECO B00. ECO codes group openings by their move order, so nearby codes cover closely related lines of the Nimzowitsch Defense.
Stockfish evaluates the position after 1. e4 Nc6 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. e5 Ng4 4. d4 d6 5. h3 Nh6 6. e6 at +0.70 at depth 18, which is a small but real edge for White. Engine evaluation is only a starting point — at club level the practical value of a line is mostly about whether you know its plans better than your opponent does.
White holds the centre with pawns on d4, and one pawn capture is available, so the structure has not settled yet. Development is level at one minor pieces each. It is Black to move.