e3 continues white's plan for a kingside assault, with the bishop on d3 and knight on e5 as targets. Black has failed to disrupt white, and needs to play carefully now.

At this point, perhaps c5 is the best response, although white already has a solid advantage.

.

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. Bg5 e6

• Kasparov, Garry, & Keene, Raymond 1989 Batsford chess openings 2. ISBN 0-8050-3409-9.