Nimzowitsch Variation, Advance Variation

White answers the Nimzowitsch Variation's 2...Nf6 by advancing 3. e5. This gains space and drives the knight from f6, producing a structure reminiscent of Alekhine's Defense, but with Black's c-pawn already on c5 and White's d-pawn still at home. Black nearly always replies 3...Nd5, centralizing the knight. The alternatives 3...Ng4, which eyes the e5-pawn, and 3...Ng8 are rare and score worse for Black. After 3...Nd5, White's most direct continuation is 4. Nc3, challenging the knight at once. The exchange 4...Nxc3 5. dxc3 hands White open lines and quick development. The main line, 4...e6 5. Nxd5 exd5 6. d4 Nc6 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8. Qxd5 Qb6, sees Black give up the d-pawn for time and pressure on f2, and the play becomes sharp.

The e5-pawn initially lacks the support of a pawn on d4, so Black can aim at it with pieces and with ...d6. White, for his part, uses the extra space and the lead in development. The engine rates the position as a slight edge for White. Online results, however, are close to even.