Chigorin Variation, Fianchetto Defense

This line reaches the Chigorin Variation structure, with White's knight on c3 in front of the c-pawn, by a fianchetto move order: 1. d4 g6 2. Nf3 Bg7 3. Nc3 d5. Black first commits the bishop to the long diagonal, where it presses on d4, and only then stakes a claim in the center. Because White has no c2-c4 lever, the play differs from a Grünfeld and stays fairly closed. The knight has not yet gone to f6, so e2-e4 is not prevented, and this central advance is one of the moves engines rate most highly.

The most popular continuation is 4. Bf4, developing the bishop London-style; if Black adds ...Nf6, the setup resembles the Barry Attack. 4. e4 strikes at d5 immediately and opens the center, while 4. e3 is a quieter, Colle-like choice. Engines judge the position as roughly balanced with a slight pull for White. On Lichess the results are almost even, and draws are rare.