ModernChess, Opening Databases, 2022.
After the standard opening moves 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6, White has a typical choice between 3.Nf3, 3.Nc3 and 3.g3. All three lead to big opening variations in which the theory branches deeply and widely. Sometimes white players avoid this early by playing 2.Bf4 (the London system), 2.Bg5 (the Trompowsky attack) or 2.Nc3 (the Veresov Attack), trying to get a less theoretical type of game. However, all these systems have a downside in that White usually delays or altogether omits to play c2-c4, which decreases his influence on the centre. That said, it might be possible to get the best of both worlds by playing 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Bf4!?, a variation that has been largely unexplored throughout chess history.