Normal Variation, Ragozin Variation

The Ragozin Variation of the Normal Variation arises when Black meets 5. Nf3 with 5...d5, occupying the center with a pawn in Queen's Gambit Declined fashion while the bishop on b4 keeps its pin on the c3-knight. Black keeps open the options of ...c5 against d4 and ...dxc4 to free the position, and has not yet decided whether to give up the bishop for the knight. White's knight on f3 already covers e5 and d4, so play centers on the d4/d5 tension and on whether White's light-squared bishop can find an active post.

The most common reply, 6. Bd3, reaches the same position as 5. Bd3 d5 6. Nf3, so the game usually transposes into the Classical Defense complex, including the Gligoric System after 6...c5. The Sämisch Deferred, 6. a3, puts the question to the bishop at once and accepts doubled c-pawns after the exchange on c3. 6. Bd2 is a quieter move that the engine rates highly, though Black has scored well against it online. The engine assesses the position as roughly balanced, and White scores slightly better in practice.