Symmetrical Variation, Rubinstein Variation

Here Black retreats the d5-knight to c7 at once. This takes it off the long diagonal, out of reach of the g2-bishop and the c3-knight. It also prepares ...Nc6 and ...e5, the reversed Maróczy Bind setup known as the Rubinstein System. White most often answers 6. Nf3, and 6. d3 and 6. e3 are the main alternatives. The engine rates the position as roughly balanced, and Black scores slightly better in practice.