Averbakh Variation, Flexible Defense

The Flexible Defense, 6...h6, asks the g5-bishop to declare its intentions right away. Black keeps ...g5 available as a later way to shake off the pin, in return for a slight loosening of the kingside pawn cover. In most games White answers with 7. Be3. The alternatives are 7. Bh4, which keeps the pin, and the rarer 7. Bf4. White scores somewhat better than Black here, and engines give White a slight edge.