Spanish Variation, Symmetrical Variation, Metger Unpin

Johannes Metger first played 8...Qe7, and the line bears his name. Black gives up the dark-squared bishop to double White's c-pawns, then frees the queen's square so the knight can travel via d8 to e6 and challenge the pinning bishop on g5. The main line runs 9. Re1 Nd8 10. d4 Ne6. White's other frequent ninth moves are 9. Bxc6 and 9. d4. Engines rate the position roughly balanced.