Two Pawns Attack, Lasker Variation

The Lasker Variation, also called the Lasker Attack or the Chase Variation, drives the knight from b6 with 4. c5. The result is somewhat paradoxical: the knight returns to the central d5 square, the reply chosen in almost every game. With pawns on c5 and e5 White holds extra space, but no White pawn can contest d5, so the knight settles on a secure post. White's aim is to gain enough room and piece activity that the hole becomes irrelevant, usually by challenging the knight with Bc4 and Nc3. Black reinforces d5 with ...e6 or ...c6 and undermines the advanced pawns with ...d6 and ...b6.

After 4...Nd5 5. Bc4 e6 6. d4 b6 7. cxb6 axb6 the position is regarded as equal, while 5. Bc4 e6 6. Nc3 d6 is the Mikenas Variation. The alternatives 4...d6 and 4...Nc4 are rare, and 4...Nc4 fares badly for Black. Statistics cited by Cox show the line scoring poorly for White. Engines consider the position roughly balanced, and online results are close to even.