Symmetrical Variation, Anti-Benoni Variation, Kasparov-Vaganian Gambit

The Kasparov-Vaganian Gambit arises when Black answers the knight's excursion 5. Nb5 with 5...d5. The move strikes at c4 and offers the d-pawn in return for rapid development and a mobile center built around the e5-pawn. White almost always accepts with 6. cxd5, while 6. e3 and 6. N1c3 are rare. The engine gives White a slight edge, but Black scores marginally better in practice. The line is seldom seen.