Rubinstein Variation, Kasparov Attack

The Kasparov Attack is White's 7. c3 in the Blackburne line of the French Rubinstein, reached after 5. Nf3 Ngf6 6. Nxf6+ Nxf6. Unlike the Capablanca Line's 7. Ne5, it reinforces d4 ahead of ...c5 and keeps a modest space edge. Black most often replies 7...Be7, while 7...c5 strikes at the center at once and 7...Bd6 is rarer. The engine rates the position as roughly balanced, and White scores somewhat better on Lichess.