White keeps the game in the realm of Queen pawn openings with this move. Most responses (like 2...Nf6 or 2...e4) transpose to other openings. A unique opening order is 2...Bb4+, the Keres Defense. This is usually also a transpositional tool, usually transposing into the Bogo-Indian Defense after 3.Bd2. However, even 3. Nc3 (then transposing into the Nimzo-Indian Defense) or 3. Nd2 (a unique order, but can transpose into the Bogo-Indian Defense) are both playable.
| Game | Result | Year |
| Ding Liren (2801) vs Carlsen, M. (2870) | 1-0 | 2019 |
| Giri, A. (2790) vs Carlsen, M. (2863) | 1/2-1/2 | 2015 |
| Aronian, L. (2792) vs Carlsen, M. (2855) | 1/2-1/2 | 2016 |
| Carlsen, Magnus (2870) vs Anand, Viswanathan (2775) | 1-0 | 2013 |
| Giri, A. (2773) vs Carlsen, M. (2864) | 0-1 | 2022 |
| Nakamura, Hi (2787) vs Kramnik, Vladimir (2812) | 1/2-1/2 | 2016 |
| Kasparov, Garry (2851) vs Morozevich, Alexander (2748) | 1/2-1/2 | 2000 |
| Giri, A. (2776) vs Caruana, F. (2822) | 1/2-1/2 | 2019 |
| Eljanov, P. (2755) vs Carlsen, M. (2840) | 0-1 | 2017 |
| Gelfand, B. (2741) vs Carlsen, M. (2850) | 0-1 | 2015 |