Classical Variation, Original Defense

The Original Defense is Black's most popular answer within the Classical Variation. Black plays ...c6 before ...d5, so a capture on d5 can be met by a pawn recapture and Black keeps a pawn in the center. Grünfeld-style pressure on d4 is traded for stability. The bishop on g7 still bears on the long diagonal. Black also keeps the option of ...dxc4 later, once the queenside pieces are ready to follow up. The position is reached both by a 2. c4 order with 5...c6 and 6...d5 and by the Nf3-first sequence of the parent line.

White has three main replies. The most common is 7. Nc3, which adds a piece to the fight for d5 and keeps the tension. 7. cxd5 resolves that tension at once and steers toward a symmetrical, largely positional game. 7. b3 protects c4 and prepares a queenside fianchetto. Engine analysis also points to 7. Qa4 and rates the position roughly balanced. In online practice White scores somewhat better, and draws are uncommon.