The diagram shows the position after 2...e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 Qc7 6.Be3. With this move order White protects the Knight on d4 and retains the possibility of playing Bd3 instead of Be2. Black usually plays 6...a6.
Now if White plays 7.Bd3, the game often continues 7...Nf6 8.O-O, when Black has a choice among the moves 8...Ne5, 8...b5, 8...Nxd4, and 8...Bd6. Black's main alternative at the 7th move is 7...b5; White can continue 8.O-O or 8.Nxc6.
White can also try 7.Qd2 Nf6. The move 7.Be2 transposes into the variations that follow 6.Be2.
