Chess Opening Theory/1. d4/1...Nf6/2. c4/2...e6/3. Nc3/3...Bb4/4. Bg5/4...h6/5. Bh4/5...c5/6. d5

= Nimzo-Indian Defence, Leningrad Variation =

6. d5
White advances his center. If he can later play e4, it will be hard for Black to shake off his lack of space. Still, playing ...exd5 now and giving white a central majority would be a drastic step. Instead Black usually opts to play around White's d pawn, with ...d6 preparing ...e5, but there is another option: the so-called Averbakh Gambit. Black can sacrifice a pawn with 6...b5 7. dxe6 fxe6 8. cxb5, after which he can take the center with ...d5 and bring his rook to the half-open f file with ...O-O; the stray white pawn is usually disposed of by ...a6.

Theory table
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'''1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Bg5 h6 5. Bh4 c5 6. d5'''