Opocensky Variation

The Opocensky Variation is a branch of the Fianchetto Variation. Instead of castling, White plays 6. Nc3, which keeps the e2-e4 and d4-d5 advances in reserve, and answers 6...Ne4 with 7. Bd2. The bishop guards the c3-knight, so an exchange on c3 can be met by Bxc3. That recapture leaves White's queenside pawns intact and puts the bishop on the long dark diagonal. The fight centers on the e4-square, which Black's knight and fianchettoed bishop both target.