  We study spin-dependent sum rules for forward virtual Compton
scattering(VVCS) off the nucleon in heavy baryon chiral perturbation theory at
order $O(p^4)$. We show how these sum rules can be evaluated from low energy
expansions (in the virtual photon energy) of the forward VVCS amplitudes. We
study in particular the Burkhardt -Cottingham sum rule in HBChPT and higher
terms in the low energy expansion, which can be related to the generalized
forward spin polarizabilities of the nucleon. The dependence of these
observables on the photon virtuality $Q^2$ can be accessed, at small and
intermediate $Q^2$ values, from existing and forthcoming data at Jefferson Lab.
