Horwitz Defense: what should White play?

Arising after the Horwitz Defense, this position offers White a choice between seizing space or adopting a more classical setup. The top recommendation according to computer evaluation (+0.68) is the central thrust d5, which is chosen in 50.5% of the 5.74M recorded games and scores 54.2% for White. By advancing into Black's territory, White limits Black's central counterplay and initiates Benoni-style pawn structures.

The Strategic Value of the Space Advantage

Advancing the d-pawn via d5 immediately challenges Black's pawn structure and stakes a claim on the d5 outpost. In the engine main line d5 exd5 cxd5 g6 e4 d6, play transitions directly into a Modern Benoni pawn skeleton where White controls e4 and d5 while Black prepares kingside fianchetto development. Restricting the board this way accounts for White's healthy +0.68 evaluation, offering enduring central influence.

Developing Alternatives for White

While pushing the pawn is most common, developing moves maintain flexibility without locking the center. Natural development via Nf3 features in 22.8% of recorded games (1.31M recorded), leading after Nf3 cxd4 Nxd4 Nf6 g3 Bb4+ to an evaluation of +0.23 and a 52.5% score for White. Another quiet option is e3, played in 18.7% of games (1.07M recorded, scoring 52.9%, +0.13 eval), which secures d4 as shown in e3 d5 Nf3 Nf6 Nc3 Nc6.

Resolving the Tension Directly

White may also resolve the central tension immediately with dxc5, selected in 7.4% of games (427K recorded, +0.05 eval). As seen in dxc5 Bxc5 Nf3 Nf6 Qc2 O-O, this line yields a 51.2% score for White and facilitates smooth piece activity for both sides. The fianchetto setup g3 remains an infrequent choice at 0.6% of games, continuing with g3 cxd4 Qxd4 Nc6 Qd1 Bb4+ (-0.02 eval).