El Columpio Defense, Pin Variation
- 1.e4Nc6
- 2.Nf3Nf6
- 3.e5Ng4
- 4.d4d6
- 5.h3Nh6
- 6.Bb5
38 games
A sideline of the El Columpio Defense in which White pins the c6 knight with 6. Bb5 while Black's knight sits on h6; engines clearly favor White.
Train it in TheoriaAbout the Pin Variation
The Pin Variation, 6. Bb5, develops the bishop with a pin on the c6 knight. That knight is the piece Black relies on to pressure e5 and d4, and the other knight remains out of play on h6. The most frequent reply is 6...a6, putting the question to the bishop. 6...Bd7 breaks the pin, while 6...dxe5 is less common and scores poorly for Black. Engines rate White's position as clearly better.