TL Chess Match 4 - Page 50

I still don't like this for reasons that we've talked about on previous moves, for reasons given and nuked by myself on this move and for reasons given by numerous others, which all amount to the same basic idea:
If we allow Bb4+ now, we'll simplify at a time when we'd rather keep our pieces so that we can keep the pressure on and thus keep the initiative.

Too early. White still enjoys a solid development lead, but our pieces aren't quite ready yet. Allowing Black to recapture with the d-pawn might result in fewer threats to our advanced e-pawn, but activates Black's light-squared bishop and queen. Material will equalize after the likely

7. Bxc6 dxc6
8. 0-0 0-0
9. cxd

although 8. cxd seems playable as well.

and development has evaporated but our (relatively minor) material disadvantage has been recouped.

I see the point that both jdseemoreglass and Mr. Prophylactic have made re. the simplification on f2 after Qc2. I'll note that it is rather the same as my concern that I raised when we were debating 5. d4 vs 5. 0-0 as 6. e5 Ne4 being a response, but this position is better for White than the one I outlined at that time. As jdseemoreglass puts it



I don't know that I'd castle as Black immediately following the simplification, though. You're quite right about that king-side attack. Castling into where your opponent's pieces are pointing isn't the best idea.
Admittedly, neither is leaving one's king in the center when the center files are half-open!
Black's in a dangerous spot. He's actually got fewer pieces than White [I'm using the distinction of pieces vs pawns here] so while he'd love to trade away and end up at some kind of king+pawns vs king+fewer pawns endgame, that'll be hard. But he has a few pawns he can give up to weather the storm, specifically to get rid of that pesky advanced e-pawn.
It seems that he'd rather preserve his Knight and then try to exchange off his d-pawn with the e-pawn to open up lines for his light bishop. Play for Black is going to be on the queenside and he's going to want to get his king over there.

However, what if Black plays

7. 0-0 dxc
8. Qc2 f5
?

White can take en passant, but that extricates Black's Knight (admittedly to the much weaker f6 square).
The e-file is now open and Black's going to want to get his king off it in a hurry (with the Knight no longer on e4, the f2 pawn is pretty secure).
9. Re1+ can be met with either Ne7 (preserving the other Knight) or Be7. Black gives up his advanced pawn, retains his 1-pawn material lead and tries to catch up in development. This is very similar to the scenario above, only Black has a much smaller pawn lead (1) but retains his pieces.

If White does not capture en passant, then what? The goal here, as I understand it, is to retain the initiative and keep Black underdeveloped for a long as possible while mounting a strong kingside attack. Black's lack of queenside development will mean that he has no good way to defend and will either lose in the midgame or be forced to make so many concessions that at worst, material will equalize for the endgame with us in possession of spacial control and at best we'll just have an all-round better endgame.
Is that in keeping with other people's direction here?

If so, then it seems that again, it is too early for the exchange on c6 for all the same reasons as above. The pawn on c3 is still a problem, so capturing it would be my vote. In keeping with our goals, Nxc3 might be best to put pressure on the e4 Knight. This could transpose into the lines you & Mr. Prophylactic have discussed this move and I voiced on previous moves... or there could just be a Knight exchange on c3 followed by a bishop retreat to either b6 or e7.

It is true that the g8-a2 diagonal is weak with this line and that castling kingside is dangerous business for Black.

After some thought (this was the move I've had in mind for a while now should Ne4 be played, as I've mentioned in previous moves), I concur that this is a weaker version of 0-0, since it allows Black to advance the d-pawn and recapture with the b-pawn should the trade occur unless white spends a tempo to get back on the d1-a4 diagonal.

So what about this? It retains the initiative. The advantages of Qe2 (pressure on the Knight) are retained, and Black must respond before the annoying dark Bishop's path to the f-pawn is clear.

7. Qc2 dxc ultimately trades 2 pawns for a piece, with superior development for White. Black should probably castle at this moment, as White is going to look to castle and double up rooks on the e-file very soon now.

7. Qc2 f5
8. exf ep Nxf6
9. 0-0 transposes into lines from 7. 0-0, discussed above and by jdseemoreglass.

9. Bxc6 dxc6 (I know, I know I've been saying we should wait till the d-pawn moves)
10. cxd Bb4+
11. Bd2 and we should not have too much trouble getting a good knight outpost on the e-file either on the 5th or the 6th!

Of course, our king is still in the middle of a wide-open center. This makes me nervous and has for a while. However, so long as the initiative remains ours, that should be fine. Our kingside pawns are out of any danger and still solid and castling remains a solid option.

It seems, ultimately, that 7. 0-0 is a solid option with a lot of play, but I think 7. Qc2 is as well. In all honesty, I think 7. Qe2 is a slightly weaker version of both of these and I think cxd and Bxc6 are both premature and deviate too much from what I see as the plan; ultimately, they will allow black to catch up in development before we can really bring anything to bear. I have nothing solid to say about Nbd2.