Traditional Variation

The Traditional Variation comes from the Nimzo-Indian-avoiding move order 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5. White pins the f6-knight at once with 4. Bg5 and leaves Nc3 for later. The pin is the same one found in the traditional 4. Bg5 lines after 3. Nc3 Nf6. In many games play simply returns there: after 4...Be7, by far the most common reply, either 5. Nc3 or 5. e3 O-O 6. Nc3 reaches the familiar classical positions.

Because the queen's knight has not yet come to c3, Black has a few independent choices. 4...Bb4+ gives a check that would not be available in the Nc3 order and leads to the Vienna Variation. 4...h6 questions the bishop straight away and is known as the Capablanca Variation. 4...dxc4, one of the engine's preferred moves, takes the c4-pawn before White has spent a tempo on Bd3, and games with it end in a draw far more often than the other lines. The engine rates the position as balanced, and in practice White scores slightly better than Black.