Normal Variation, Standard Development

With 5. Be2 White develops the king's bishop before deciding where the g1-knight belongs. In many games it is simply another route to familiar territory: after 5...O-O 6. Nf3 the position is the Classical Variation, where Black's standard plan is the central strike 6...e5. The bishop move also keeps the Averbakh Variation, 6. Bg5, available, and it differs from the immediate 5. Bg5, the accelerated Averbakh, by first seeing how Black sets up. Because the knight has not yet gone to f3, the f-pawn stays unobstructed, and Black has to commit to a plan without knowing which of these systems White will choose.

Castling with 5...O-O is the overwhelming choice, seen in well over four games in five. The rarer 5...Nbd7 and 5...Nc6 produce results close to those of the main move. Engines also rate 5...Na6 and 5...e5 as reasonable, though none of Black's options changes the overall assessment of a slight White edge. In online play White scores somewhat better than Black, and draws are uncommon.