The
Maróczy Bind arises after 5.c4 (). This line is a popular choice against the Accelerated Dragon, and is arguably White's most critical try. The move 5.c4 can be considered as the positional approach as opposed to 5.Nc3. The Maróczy Bind can be seen in other openings as well, for both colors, including the
English Opening, the
King's Indian Defence, and other lines in the
Sicilian Defence. This bind is distinctive for two White pawns on c4 and e4 (c5 and e5 for Black), where they clamp down on the d5 square. White has a space advantage and more maneuverability for their pieces, but Black still has some counterplay, thanks to the possible breaks ...b5, ...d5, and ...f5. Black can play classically with moves such as ...Bg7, ...Nf6, ...d6, and ...0-0. A sample line can be as follows: 5.c4 Bg7 6.Be3 Nf6 7.Nc3 0-0 8.Be2 d6 9.0-0; this is the main line in the Maróczy Bind. As long as the pawn structure remains static, Black does not mind an exchange of dark-squared bishops, since this leaves White with the bad light-squared bishop and weak dark squares. Therefore, it is sensible for White to try and keep the dark-squared bishop or to look for a chance to move the pawns to free the light-squared bishop. Black may also exchange knights with ...Nxd4 to free up their pieces, so White can consider retreating their knight from d4 to avoid exchanges and keep Black's position cramped. One possible plan for White is to expand on the queenside by moving the a1 rook off the long diagonal and playing for the pawn push b2-b4, perhaps prepared by a2-a3. Black may play ...a5 in order to make White's b4 plan difficult and to gain space on the queenside. Another popular setup for Black is the Gurgenidze System. Black aims to immediately exchange knights to avoid the cramped positions arising from the classical Maróczy Bind. Another benefit over the main line is that since White has not yet played Be3, a knight capture forces the White queen to recapture, where it can be under fire after ...Bg7 and ...0-0. Black may continue in typical Accelerated Dragon fashion by fianchettoing their bishop and castling. A common follow-up includes moves such as ...Be6, ...Qa5, ...Rfc8, ...Nd7, ...a6, and ...b5 to undermine White's queenside pawns. The main line goes: 5...Nf6 6.Nc3 d6 7.Be2 Nxd4 8.Qxd4 Bg7 9.Be3 0-0 10.Qd2 Be6 11.Rc1 Qa5 12.f3 Rfc8. A more modern alternative plan is to play ...a5, ...a4, and ...Qa5, where Black undermines the queenside pawns in a different manner. Black hopes to utilize the a1-h8 diagonal through the moves ...Nd7 and ...a3, exploiting the shaky positions of White's rook on a1 and knight on c3. Instead of 10...Be6, the line may continue as follows: 10... a5 11. 0-0 a4 12. f3 Qa5 13. Rac1 Be6 14. Nd5. Black can then exchange off the knight with ...Bxd5 and play on the dark squares. ==Passmore Variation==