Kan Variation, Swiss Cheese Variation

The Swiss Cheese Variation is a rarely played fianchetto line of the Kan. Black meets the Modern Variation, 5. Bd3, with 5...g6, preparing ...Bg7 to aim the bishop down the long diagonal at d4 and b2. With pawns on a6, e6 and g6, squares such as d6 and f6 become tender. 6. O-O is by far the most common reply, ahead of 6. Nc3 and 6. Be3. The engine gives White a slight edge, and White scores somewhat better in practice.