Bishop Attack

The Bishop Attack, 3. Bc4, develops the light-squared bishop on its most active diagonal before White decides on Nc3, c3 or c4. It points at f7 and prepares quick kingside development. It also gives up the Averbakh and Geller setups that other third moves keep available. Results in practice are nearly level, and engines rate the position as roughly balanced, giving White only a minimal plus.

The most common reply is 3...e6. It shuts the bishop off from f7 and keeps ...d5 in reserve to strike at the bishop and the center, a structure close to the Hippopotamus. 3...d6 is almost as popular and leads to standard Modern setups. 3...c6 prepares ...d5 or queenside expansion with ...b5. Engines also suggest the immediate counterblow 3...c5. The Bücker Gambit, 3...b5, offers a pawn to deflect the bishop and gain space on the queenside. The Monkey's Bum, 1. e4 g6 2. Bc4 Bg7 3. Qf3 e6 4. d4 Bxd4, is a related line in which the queen joins the attack on f7 at once and the d-pawn is given up.