1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.d4
This double move of the d-pawn, already favoured by Wilhelm Steinitz, was popular for a long time and was still considered the best attempt to gain an advantage in the 1970s. Today, however, its importance takes a back seat to 3.Nxe5. One idea of 3.d4 is that 3...exd4 allows the advance of the e-pawn. This leads to 4.e5 Ne4 4.Qxd4 d5 6.exd6 e.p. Nxd6
to a position in which all the centre pawns have already been exchanged after the sixth move, but White has the initiative due to their better development. This is why nowadays the other centre pawn is usually captured with 3...Nxe4. 4.Bd3 immediately attacks the knight, which is fortified with 4...d5 (for 4...Nc6 see the tactics page). After 5.Nxe5
almost the same position is reached as in the described variation with 3.Nxe5 from the previous chapter - only the white knight is magically on e5 instead of f3! Black can immediately interrogate this central knight with 5...Bd6 or 5...Nd7, which leads to quite different variations. After 5...Nd7 the following position arises:
The harsh blow 6.Nxf7 is at best enough for a draw here and 6.Qe2 can counter Black with the pawn sacrifice 6...Nxe5 7.Bxe4 dxe4 8.Qxe4 Be6 9.Qxe5 Qd7. White therefore exchanges knights here with 6.Nxd7 Nxd7 and draws 7.0-0:
The queen loss 7...Qh4 leading to 8.c4 0-0-0 9.c5 g5 has often been tried here, but today 7...Bd6 is favoured. White can open the c-file with 8.c4 c6 9.cxd5 cxd5 and try 10.Nc3 or the aggressive 10.Qh5. Beneath the calm-looking surface of this variation lies many a tactical surprise. If you follow the well-explored paths, the position remains balanced for a long time, but there are also very tempting side paths.