Key ideas
- This family covers lines where Black plays ...g6, ...Bg7 and ...d5 without White's knight on c3 early on, mostly against g3 and Bg2. The other branch is the Goglidze Attack (3.f3 d5), where White prepares e4 instead.
- In the Exchange lines (cxd5 Nxd5) there is no knight on c3 to trade, so when White plays e4 Black's knight usually retreats to b6. Black then attacks d4 with ...c5, ...Nc6 and the g7 bishop. The Goglidze Attack, 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nb6, leads to similar play.
- In the Ultra-Delayed Exchange Variation Black plays ...c6 before ...d5, and after cxd5 cxd5 the structure is symmetrical. It is solid, and White's play revolves around Nc3, Ne5 and small pressure on d5.
- In the Classical Variation, with both sides castled, Black can take on c4 (the Modern Defense, 6...dxc4) or develop with 6...Nc6 (the Polgar Variation), pressing on d4.
Plans for White
Keep the centre stable with Nf3, O-O and Nc3, and use the g2 bishop against d5 and b7. Taking on d5 and playing e4 gains the centre, as long as d4 can be held against ...c5 and ...Nc6.
Plans for Black
Hit d4 with ...c5 or ...Nc6 and the bishop on g7, and recapture on d5 with a piece when it gains activity. The ...c6 lines are the safer choice for a solid game.