TL Chess Match 3 - Page 14

Nothing else seems to keep the positional balance intact. Also I can't think of anything better at the moment. Not really a fan of passive by-the-book chess but it will probably get more interesting with the next 2-3 moves. I expect him either taking on d4 in case he wants to spice things up, in which case we should recapture with the knight OR he could just play passive and do Kb8 or something (that's the "standard" continuation, right?)

We could play d5, that's a decent move. Whatever we play it's not going to catch him off guard. He will probably play Nf6 against either Bc3 or d5 (maybe xd4 against Bc3); ultimately the game won't be decided by this move.
I'm going to vote d5 because I like the continuation:
18. d5 Nf6
19. Qc2 exd5
20. cxd5 Rhe8
21. Bc3 Qd7
22. Bxf6 gxf6
Doubling the black pawns.
Eventually then our goal is promote on the d file; being wary of losing our h file pawn and possible promotion for black on that side.

d5?! runs into Nf6, creating a great target on d5, for instance after Qd3 exd5 cxd5 we have no moves to improve our position and black has a big red bullseye on d5

You wouldn't play Qd3 that's an awful move. You didn't even bother to read my continuation.
d5 is good (so is Bc3).

Take it easy bro, we're on the same team. I did read your continuation because you got it out of a book, but I don't think the situation is much different after Qc2 and I don't see a path to victory for us with the blockaded target on d5; black has no weaknesses and there's no way to get at the f6 pawn even if black accepts doubled pawns, which he doesn't have to do.

Why move our Queen back? We have good center control and we aren't defending anything with that move. What are we preparing for? Wouldn't a move like Qe7 help us put a little pressure on him?

Qe1 and then we threaten his Queen and Rook with our Bishop.