Named after William Potter. White retreats the knight to challenge the bishop.
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Bc5 - See Classical Variation introduction.
5.Nb3 - Potter Variation. White retreats the knight to challenge the bishop directly. The knight attacks Bc5 and Bb6.
5...Bb6 - The bishop retreats to b6, maintaining the diagonal but losing tempo.
6.Nc3 - White develops the queenside knight, controlling d5 and preparing castling.
White's plan: Develop naturally with Be3, Be2, castle kingside. Maintain central control with pawns.
Black's plan: Solidify with ...d6 and ...Nge7. Consider ...Na5 to exchange the Nb3. Prepare ...Bg4 or ...Be6.
Key insight: More positional than the main line. White trades immediate tactics for a stable advantage.
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