Fianchetto Variation, Nimzowitsch Variation, Timman's Line

Timman's Line answers the attack on c4 with 5. Qb3, defending the pawn with the queen from b3 instead of using 5. b3 or 5. Qc2. It is rarely played. White scores well in the small sample of games, but the engine rates the position as roughly balanced. The usual reply is 5...Nc6, which bears on d4 and b4. The central strike 5...d5, the engine's first choice, has given Black much better results. A third option, 5...Bb7, returns the bishop to the long diagonal.