Classical Variation, Spassky Variation

The Spassky Variation is the standard continuation of the Classical Variation, filed under ECO B19. Having provoked 6...h6 with 6. h4, White first develops with 7. Nf3 and only after 7...Nd7 advances 8. h5, attacking the bishop on g6 and fixing Black's kingside pawns on light squares. Black almost always retreats 8...Bh7, keeping the bishop on the b1-h7 diagonal. Engines also consider 8...Bf5, but it is practically never played.

The usual sequel is 9. Bd3 Bxd3 10. Qxd3, trading off Black's best minor piece and leaving White with extra space on the kingside and a queen well placed for long castling. In return Black has no structural weaknesses and aims for ...e6, ...Ngf6 and a timely ...c5 against d4. The h5-pawn cramps Black but may become a liability in an endgame. Common setups include the Lobron System with 10...e6 11. Bd2 Ngf6 12. O-O-O Be7 and the Seirawan Variation with 10...Ngf6 11. Bd2 e6 12. O-O-O Bd6. Results in the Lichess database are close to even, and the engine rates the position as roughly balanced.