Nyezhmetdinov-Rossolimo Attack, Fianchetto Variation

The Fianchetto Variation, 3...g6, is the most popular reply to the Rossolimo. Black prepares ...Bg7 and quick kingside castling. The bishop on the long diagonal covers d4 and e5, which makes White's central break harder to arrange. Typical counterplay for Black involves bringing a knight to the d4 outpost and gaining space on the queenside with ...a5.

The most frequent continuation is 4. Bxc6, which concedes the bishop pair at once so that Black is left with doubled c-pawns. 4. O-O is almost as common and keeps the tension. After 4...Bg7 5. c3 White prepares d4, and this branch has several named lines. The Gufeld Gambit, 5...e5 6. d4, and the Lutikov Gambit, 5...Nf6 6. d4, both open the center at once. The Totsky Attack, 5...Nf6 6. Qa4, instead adds the queen to the pressure on the c6-knight. 4. c3 is a less common alternative. White scores slightly better than Black in the Lichess database, and the engine gives White a slight edge.