Symmetrical Variation, Three Knights, Fianchetto Variation

With 5. Nf3, White settles on a classical development in the mirrored fianchetto position instead of the Botvinnik scheme with e4 and Nge2. The knight on f3 leaves the e-pawn unmoved and keeps an eventual d4 break available, so White can choose after castling between opening the center and slower queenside play. The engine considers the position roughly balanced, and in practice White scores slightly better.

Black has four main replies. 5...Nf6, the most common, keeps the symmetry and leads to the Full Symmetry Line, where the Mecking Variation 6. O-O O-O 7. d4 is White's direct attempt to break it. 5...e6 is the second choice and prepares to contest d5 with the e-pawn behind it. 5...d6, one of the engine's preferred moves, is the only main option after which Black has outscored White. 5...e5 claims d4 with a pawn and reaches the Botvinnik System Reversed, in which Black takes on the Botvinnik structure and White plays against it with an extra tempo.