Charousek Variation
- 1.e4e5
- 2.d4exd4
- 3.Qxd4Nc6
- 4.Qe3Bb4+
- 5.c3Be7
106 games
A rare Center Game line in which Black checks with 4...Bb4+ and, after 5. c3, retreats to e7, leaving White's knight without its usual c3 square.
Train it in TheoriaAbout the Charousek Variation
The Charousek Variation is a branch of the Paulsen Attack. Black answers 4. Qe3 with 4...Bb4+, provoking 5. c3, and then drops the bishop back with 5...Be7. Black spends a tempo, but the pawn on c3 takes the natural square from White's queen's knight. White usually continues developing with 6. Nf3, 6. Bb5 or 6. Bc4. The line is rarely seen, results are almost even, and the engine rates the position as level.