Neo-Orthodox Variation, Main Line

This is the standard position of the Neo-Orthodox Variation, reached here through the Three Knights move order 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 O-O 7. e3. With ...h6 and Bh4 included, Black has luft for the king, and the bishop on h4 can later be challenged, either by ...Ne4, which offers exchanges, or by ...g5. White has committed to e3 but still holds back Bd3, Rc1 and the choice of where to castle, so the tempo struggle over the f1-bishop remains open.

Black has three main paths. The most popular is 7...b6, the Tartakower Defense, which fianchettoes the light-squared bishop to contest e4 and prepares ...c5. In this line Black's results in the database are slightly better than White's. 7...Ne4, the Lasker Defense, trades minor pieces to ease Black's cramped position, and White scores somewhat better against it. 7...Nbd7 keeps a more Orthodox setup. The engine rates the position as level and also lists 7...dxc4, which captures before White has spent a tempo on Bd3.