Symmetrical Variation, Double Fianchetto

Within the mirrored fianchetto English, 7. b3 prepares to develop the queen's bishop on b2, where it opposes Black's g7-bishop on the long diagonal, instead of opening the center at once with d4. The most frequent answer is 7...d6. 7...d5 strikes at the center immediately and scores well for Black. 7...b6 completes a full symmetry of fianchettoes, a setup prone to exchanges and drawish equality. The engine rates the position as roughly balanced.