If Santasiere’s Folly (1.Nf3 followed by b4) has earned its place in chess folklore, then Nakamura’s Folly (1.Nf3 followed by e3 and possibly b3) surely deserves the same respect. In this 60-minute course, IM Andrew Martin introduces you to a flexible and refreshingly simple opening setup - that Grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura has used to rack up numerous impressive wins.
With 1.Nf3—a subtle first move that quietly rules out 1...e5—followed by e3 (and sometimes b3), White avoids heavy theoretical battles and aims instead to keep the tension alive. The strategy? Steer the game toward a rich middlegame full of possibilities, while sidestepping the deep waters of mainstream opening theory. This is an ideal system for practical players: low-maintenance, easy to learn, and packed with strategic bite. With just a basic understanding of the key ideas and structures, you can consistently reach solid and dynamic positions—with real chances to outplay your opponent. Nakamura’s Folly: no theory, no nonsense, just good chess.
Contents:
- Nakamura's Folly
- Intro and Game 1: 1.Nf3 d5 2.e3 Nf6 3.b3 Bf5 4.Be2 h6 5.Ba3 Nbd7 - Ding Liren vs Gukesh
- 2...g6
- 1.Nf3 Nf6 2.e3 g6 3.b3 Bg7 4.Bb2 0-0 5.d4 d6 6.Be2 c5 7.0-0 cxd4: Nakamura vs O'Gorman
- 1.Nf3 Nf6 2.e3 g6 3.b3 Bg7 4.d4 0-0 5.Bb2 d6 6.Be2 Nbd7 7.0-0 b6: Nakamura vs Rakhmatullaev
- 1.Nf3 Nf6 2.e3 g6 3.b3 Bg7 4.Bb2 0-0 5.d4 d6 6.Be2 Nc6 7.0-0 e5: Nakamura vs Praggnanandhaa
- 1...d5
- 1.Nf3 d5 2.e3 Nf6 3.c4 c6 4.Nc3 a6 5.Qc2 g6 6.b3 Bg7 7.Bb2 0-0: Nakamura vs Niemann
- 1.Nf3 d5 2.e3 Nf6 3.c4 e6 4.b3 Bd6 5.Bb2 0-0 6.g3 b6 7.Bg2 Bb7: Nakamura vs Niemann
- 2...e6
- 1.Nf3 Nf6 2.e3 e6 3.b3 b6 4.Bb2 Bb7 5.g3 Be7 6.Bg2 0-0 7.0-0 c5: Nakamura vs Kazakouski
- 1.Nf3 Nf6 2.e3 e6 3.d4 d5 4.c4 Be7 5.Nc3 0-0 6.Bd3 a6 7.0-0 dxc4: Nakamura vs Firouzja
- 1.Nf3 Nf6 2.e3 e6 3.b3 b6 4.Bb2 Bb7 5.d4 d5 6.Nbd2 Nbd7 7.c4 Bd6: Nakamura vs Khanin
- Other Follies
- 1.Nf3 c5 2.e3 Nf6 3.d4 d5 4.c4 dxc4 5.Nxd4 e5 6.Nf3 Nc6 7.cxd5 Qxd5: Nakamura vs So
- 1.Nf3 c5 2.e3 Nc6 3.d4 d5 4.dxc5 e6 5.a3 Bxc5 6.b4 Be7 7.c4 dxc4: Nakamura vs Maghsoodloo
- Outro
System requirements:
Windows 10 or higher, Mac OS X (only download)
Windows 10 or higher: Minimum: Dual Core, 2 GB RAM, DirectX11, graphics card with 256 MB RAM, (DVD-ROM drive), Windows Media Player 9, ChessBase 14/Fritz 16 or included Reader and internet access for program activation. Recommended: PC Intel i5 (Quadcore), 4 GB RAM, Windows 10, DirectX11, graphics card with 512 MB RAM or more, 100% DirectX10-compatible sound card, Windows Media Player 11, (DVD-ROM drive) and internet access for program activation.
MacOSX:
only available as download! Minimum: MacOS "Yosemite" 10.10
