Gurgenidze System

The Gurgenidze System, also called the Gurgenidze Variation, is named after Bukhuti Gurgenidze, who originated it. Instead of releasing the center with 3...dxe4, Black keeps the pawn on d5 and prepares ...Bg7, where the bishop bears down on d4. It is the only common alternative to 3...dxe4 in this position. Its appearance helped popularize 3. Nd2 during the 1970s, since that move order allows White to answer 3...g6 with 4. c3. A dark-squared pawn chain then leaves the fianchettoed bishop with little to do.

The most frequent reply, 4. e5, closes the center and gains kingside space. A typical continuation is 4...Bg7 5. f4 h5, after which Black usually tries to exchange the light-squared bishop and post a knight on f5. After 4. Nf3 Bg7, White usually plays 5. h3 to stop the ...Bg4 pin, and the center tends to open. The exchange 4. exd5 is less common and has scored better for Black in online games. Engines give White a slight edge, but results in the database are close to even.