Theoria
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Rubinstein Opening

Classical Defense

D05solidpositional

  1. 1.d4Nf6
  2. 2.Nf3e6
  3. 3.e3c5
  4. 4.Bd3d5
  5. 5.b3Nc6
  6. 6.O-OBe7
  7. 7.Bb2O-O
744 games56%39%

Line of the Rubinstein Opening in which Black develops the bishop to e7 and castles, a quiet, balanced setup against White's queenside fianchetto.

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About the Classical Defense

The Classical Defense is the branch of the Rubinstein Opening in which Black meets 6. O-O with 6...Be7 and castles after 7. Bb2. Unlike the Bogoljubow Defense, 6...Bd6, it places the bishop on e7, where it does not control e5 directly. The usual continuation is 8. Nbd2. The main alternatives are 8. a3 and 8. Ne5, and the knight jump scores very well for White in online games. The engine rates the position as balanced.

Popular continuations