GM Vladimir Kramnik used it to retain his classical world champion title against GM Peter Leko in the 14th and final game of their 2004 match.

The aptly named Advance Variation, 3.e5, is White's sharpest and best-scoring continuation. White does not have to play Nc3 on move three. It is worth noting that 5.exf6 draws 38% of the time vs. How to recapture after 5.Nxf6 is mostly a matter of taste and at high levels, each move is played equally often. The latter, while obviously also resulting in doubled pawns, is still more solid and less compromised. The former is a more dynamic choice in exchange for a shattered pawn structure. Black can capture towards the center with 5.gxf6, known as the Bronstein-Larsen Variation (after GMs David Bronstein and Bent Larsen), or away from the center with 5.exf6, the Tartakower Variation (after GM Savielly Tartakower). White can play 5.Ng3 but 5.Nxf6 is the most popular and most challenging move. Photo: Rob Croes/Dutch National Archives, CC.Īlmost as common as 4.Nd7 is the immediate 4.Nf6, even though it results in doubled pawns.

The move 4.Nd7 was played before him but is closely associated with him.

In fact, after 5.Nf3 Nf6, White plays 6.Ng3 almost as often as 6.Nxf6 and scores far better with it, in part because the bishop remains boxed in on c8, just by the knight on d7 instead of a pawn on e6. That said, this move isn't absolutely necessary, and White is under no obligation to take on f6. Black prepares to develop the other knight to f6, but without having to recapture with a pawn. It is named after-no surprise here-Anatoly Karpov. White can, and often does, chase the bishop, but this weakens the kingside. e6 has been avoided to this point in the first place. Black very reasonably develops the light-squared bishop, which is why the move. White can also reach these lines with 3.Nd2 when 3.dxe4 4.Nxe4 transposes.įrom here, the game can go in several respected directions but 4.Bf5 is Black's most popular, and this is the Classical Variation. Black almost always captures with 3.dxe4, with White making the obvious reply 4.Nxe4. 3.Nc3 is White's most common choice by a narrow margin over 3.e5.

Queen to play spoiler