Averbakh Variation

The Averbakh Variation, named after Yuri Averbakh, delays Nf3 in favor of 5. Be2 and 6. Bg5. The bishop pins the f6-knight and makes the thematic 6...e5 impossible for the moment. After 7. dxe5 dxe5 8. Qxd8 Rxd8 9. Nd5, Black cannot save both the pinned knight and the d8-rook, and White comes out an exchange and a pawn ahead. Leaving the g1-knight undeveloped also lets White choose among Qd2, Nf3, f4 or even h4, although Black has good answers to each of these schemes. The position can also arise from the Averbakh System of the Modern Defense.

The most popular reply is 6...h6, the Flexible Defense. It questions the bishop and keeps ...g5 in reserve, at the cost of a slight weakening. The older main line is 6...c5, the Benoni Defense, which keeps the long diagonal open. After 7. d5 e6, Black challenges the advanced d-pawn in Benoni fashion. 6...Nbd7 is the Geller Defense. 6...Na6, a move associated with Judit Polgár, has given Black good results online. Engines assess the starting position as roughly balanced.