A flexible second move by black reaching a Nimzo-Indian or Queen`s Indian defence setup is a possibility for black with good prospects as pinning the white knight at c3 weakens white´s grip over the d5 square and threatens doubled pawns, not to mention that since white has not yet moved his d-pawn black might as well get a lead in development.
Black should be careful about this move however as white has the option of playing 3.e4 a move that leads to the ultra sharp Mikenas Carls variation where black will require very accurate play in order to stay alive.
And last but not least 3.Nf3 will lead to the more tactical lines of the symmetrical English after 3...c5 and a fight over the d4 and d5 squares will develop.
| Game | Result | Year |
| Carlsen, M. (2843) vs Aronian, L. (2794) | 1/2-1/2 | 2018 |
| Carlsen, M. (2855) vs Aronian, L. (2782) | 1/2-1/2 | 2021 |
| Carlsen, M. (2862) vs So, W. (2762) | 1/2-1/2 | 2015 |
| Carlsen, M. (2861) vs Nakamura, Hi (2761) | 1/2-1/2 | 2019 |
| Caruana, F. (2808) vs So, W. (2812) | 1-0 | 2017 |
| Vachier Lagrave, Maxime (2819) vs Nakamura, Hi (2791) | 1/2-1/2 | 2016 |
| Grischuk, A. (2792) vs Aronian, L. (2815) | 1-0 | 2014 |
| Carlsen, M.. (2862) vs Duda, J.. (2743) | 1/2-1/2 | 2021 |
| Aronian, Levon (2807) vs Kramnik, Vladimir (2791) | 1-0 | 2011 |
| Ding Liren (2778) vs Mamedyarov, S. (2814) | 1/2-1/2 | 2018 |