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5…Nc6 and the 7.Rb1 trap

When you play 5…Nc6 instead of 5…c6 (101 games, 52%), your queen loses the c7 retreat and the c-pawn no longer covers b5. 7.Rb1 is rare — 10 games in the file — but you score only 20% against it.

Recall: after 7.Ne4 Qc7 8.Nxf6+, which pawn do you recapture with?