Morphy Defense, Neo-Arkhangelsk Variation

The Neo-Arkhangelsk, also known as the Modern Arkhangelsk or Neo-Archangel, differs from the Arkhangelsk Variation (6...Bb7) because Black develops the dark-squared bishop to c5 first, in the manner of the Møller Variation. The light-squared bishop stays flexible. It can still go to b7, often transposing to Arkhangelsk positions, or to g4 to pressure White's center. White usually aims for c3 and d4, which gains space and hits the c5 bishop, or for a4 against the b5 pawn. In the traditional 7. c3 d6 8. d4 Bb6, Black stands well. After 9. dxe5 Nxe5 10. Nxe5 dxe5 11. Qxd8+ Kxd8 12. Bxf7, the pawn White seems to win returns after 12...Rf8 13. Bd5 Nxd5 14. exd5 Bb7, with equality.

Alexei Shirov's advocacy in the 1990s made the line popular. Its modern main line, 7. a4 Rb8 8. c3 d6 9. d4 Bb6, leads to sharp play. Two tries are 10. Na3, after which Black often gives up the b5 pawn, and 10. a5, which takes queenside space. Fabiano Caruana used it at the 2020 Candidates. Online, 7. c3 is the most common reply, ahead of 7. Re1 and 7. d3. Engines give White a slight edge.