Mieses Variation

The idea

White plays 3.g3, preparing Bg2. The main line is 3...d5 4.exd5 Nxd5 5.Bg2 Nxc3 6.bxc3. Black has freed the game with ...d5, and White has the bishop on the long diagonal and a solid, flexible position.

Plans for White

Castle, then use the bishop on g2 against Black's queenside, play Rb1 to use the half-open b-file, and push d4 or f4 when the time is right. After castling, a rook on e1 puts pressure on Black's e5 pawn.

Plans for Black

Develop with ...Bd6 or ...Be7, ...O-O and ...Nc6. Black's pieces are active and the center is healthy, so a normal, solid game is fine. The pawn on e5 gives Black a good share of the center, so keep it well protected.

Watch out for

For White, the c-pawns. After 6.bxc3, White's pawns on c2 and c3 are doubled, so trading too many pieces can leave them weak in an endgame.

For Black, the long diagonal. With the bishop on g2, an unprotected pawn or piece on b7 or c6 can become a target.