Veresov Variation

The Veresov Variation meets 3...Bf5 with 4. Bxf6. Gavriil Veresov favored this move, giving up the bishop pair at once to leave Black with doubled f-pawns. Kurt Richter preferred 4. f3 instead. Black recaptures with 4...exf6 in about two-thirds of games, which frees the dark-squared bishop. The alternative 4...gxf6 keeps the e-pawn at home and half-opens the g-file. The engine judges the position roughly balanced, and draws are rare in online play.