Spike Variation

The Spike Variation arises from the Indian Variation of the Nimzo-Larsen Attack, 1. b3 Nf6 2. Bb2 g6, when White skips the central 3. e4 in favor of 3. g4. The pawn advance gains kingside space and signals an intention to push further and harass the f6-knight, which would loosen Black's control of the long diagonal where the b2-bishop is already aimed. The price is a weakened kingside and a delay in development. Engines judge the thrust slightly favorable to Black, and White has no safe place to castle yet.

Black nearly always continues 3...Bg7, completing the fianchetto and contesting the diagonal directly. Results after that move closely track the overall figures for the line, with White scoring somewhat better in online play. The engine's top choice is the rarer 3...h6, which prepares to meet the pawn's advance with an exchange on the kingside and scores well for Black in practice. 3...Bh6 is another engine suggestion. 3...Rg8 appears only occasionally. The variation is an offbeat choice, mostly found in fast online games rather than serious play.