Staunton Gambit, Lasker Variation

The Lasker Variation of the Staunton Gambit arises when White meets the kingside fianchetto 4...g6 with 5. f3. This move strikes at the e4-pawn to reopen the f-file, instead of the flank thrust 5. h4 of the Alekhine Variation. Black most often answers with 5...d5, holding the extra pawn, or 5...exf3, and the two are played about equally often. The direct 5...Bg7 is less common and scores poorly for Black. The engine assesses the position as roughly balanced.