Rubinstein System, Rubinstein Variation

The Rubinstein Variation arises when White meets 4...c5 with 5. Ne2, preparing to answer ...Bxc3 by recapturing with the knight, which keeps the pawn structure intact. The most common reply is 5...cxd4, after which 6. exd4 O-O leads to two named branches: 7. a3, the Main Line, which questions the bishop at once, and 7. c5, the Sherbakov Attack, which gains queenside space. 5...O-O and 5...Nc6 are also played. The engine rates the position as roughly balanced.