Larsen Opening

The opening move 1. b3 is known as “Larsen Opening”, the “Nimzowitsch-Larsen Attack” or the “English Opening,” Reversed.” It is an uncommon but flexible opening choice for White. The Nimzowitsch-Larsen Attack is named after the prominent chess players Aron Nimzowitsch and Bent Larsen, who occasionally employed this opening in their games.

The idea behind 1. b3 is to fianchetto the bishop (developing it to b2) and create a solid pawn structure on the queenside. This opening allows for a flexible setup and can transpose into various lines depending on Black’s responses.

Common move sequences after 1. b3 include 1…e5, 1…d5, and 1…c5, among others. The opening often leads to positions with unique pawn structures and piece configurations.

While the Nimzowitsch-Larsen Attack is not as popular or mainstream as some other openings, it can be a surprise weapon, and players who enjoy unconventional and flexible positions might find it interesting. Like any opening, success with it often depends on understanding the resulting positions and having a well-thought-out plan for the middle game.