49 Maroczy - 3 Nc3

49 - Updated 11 November 2025

3 Nc3 is a decent developing move, but with 3..exd4, Black will gain a tempo on the queen or win the bishop pair.

A recent idea I have had is 3..Be7!?, the point is 4 Nf3 exd4 transposes to the Antoshin lines. An economizing of theory that one must memorize.