The idea in one sentence
White builds the same solid setup against almost anything: d4, Bf4, e3, c3, Nd2, Ngf3 and Bd3, a pyramid that is hard to break.
♔ White's plans
- Develop the dark-squared bishop to f4 before e3
- Build the pyramid c3-d4-e3
- Attack later with Ne5 or a kingside pawn storm
♚ Black's plans
- Hit d4 with ...c5
- Challenge the f4 bishop with ...Bd6
- Pressure b2 with ...Qb6
Pawn structure. A pyramid d4-e3-c3 that controls e5 and is very hard to break.
How to learn it
- Read the idea and the plans: every move below serves one of them.
- In the story, ask of each move: what does it do, what does it stop, what does it prepare, why not the other one?
- Drill your side. At the key moves you name the idea first, then play the move.
- Missed moves come back first next time, and in your journal.
The defining moves
- 2.Bf4 develops the bishop before e3 locks it in.
- 3.e3 supports d4 and opens the light-squared bishop.
- 4.c3 completes the pyramid around d4.
- 7.Bg3 keeps the bishop: trading on d6 would help Black develop.
The line follows the moves masters play most (Lichess masters database), each checked by Stockfish 19 at depth 22; where the book move is not Stockfish's first choice, the story says so. Scores are in pawns from White's side: +0.30 is good for White, −0.30 for Black.