Lets play a game of Chess

[languagehasmeaning]

I think Nc3 is a bad idea, because what if black plays b4?

Um, we have a better chance of winning? That's what usually happens when the opponent plays bad moves!

We'd be stuck with 11. Nb1, which is a waste of time,

Boris Spassky would want a word with you. After 12. Nbd2, Black's queenside is extremely weak.

Nd1, which is arguably counter-intuitive,

But allows the very strong 12. Ne3.

or Ne4, which is an instant trade-off, also putting two of our pawns on one file.

This is the best refutation. It's a decent trade for White; that Black knight is quite annoying. But more importantly, it opens the d-file at a moment when White can immediately take full advantage of it with the rook and queen. This far outweighs the weakness of doubled pawns, which is generally overrated by novices. White is clearly better after 10. Nc3 b4? 11. Ne4 Nxe4 12. dxe4 ... 13. Rd1.

I like 10. Nc3 also but for slightly different reasons.

I don't know know where our c1 bishop belongs yet, so I think its best to wait a move or two to keep our options open. For the reasons you stated I really doubt black will play 10.... b4. However if he plays 10.... Be7 or 10....Bd6 preparing to castle we can attack with 11. a4 trying to create some weaknesses to target. The knight on c3 will help create pressure. Our bishops best square will depend on how black responds.

Normally I would like a set up with our pawns on e4 and f4 (after we move our knight) a rook on c1 and a bishop on e3. We could then decide between applying pressure on c5 and a possible king side attack. The problem is that e4 would weaken both our d3 pawn and the d4 square. Is the fact that blacks knight is on d7 not c6 (controlling d4) enough to justify such a plan?

[Foxpup]

Ne4 creates a weak pawn on e4, which is attacked by the black bishop.

So? I'd almost be willing to sacrifice a pawn to get a position like this. But e-pawn is safe. It can be guarded by the bishop and remaining knight and then the f-pawn if absolutely necessary (though I'd rather keep the f-pawn in front of the king).

It also blocks in your fianchetted bishop.

Um, the whole purpose of a finachettoed bishop is the defend the central squares from a distance. What is the bishop for if not to guard the pawn?

After Rd1... what are you attacking?

Nothing! You don't attack during the opening! We're controlling the d-file to shut down Black's options. Only once we get the other bishop out and both rooks together do we attack.

Black can easily trade off the rook with Qc7 Rd8 and then move the knight.

Good. Black wastes valuable time dealing with the threat. Meanwhile, we finish development and mount a real attack.

This is pretty convincing, actually. Since 10. Nc3 b4? is probably not going to happen, is Bf3 a reasonable move for black? Should we explore e4 if it is, or if it becomes reasonable later on?

No, Bxf3 is a mistake for Black. He trades away his strong bishop. Naturally, we should do nothing to prevent this.

Also, what about Kg4 ?

Not sure if trolling or you don't understand standard algebraic notation.

Would it be a waste to play h3 some time?

Some time. But not now.

Normally I would like a set up with our pawns on e4 and f4 (after we move our knight) a rook on c1 and a bishop on e3. We could then decide between applying pressure on c5 and a possible king side attack. The problem is that e4 would weaken both our d3 pawn and the d4 square. Is the fact that blacks knight is on d7 not c6 (controlling d4) enough to justify such a plan?

No. We shouldn't push our kingside pawns after castling kingside unless necessary, eg, to create an escape square for the king.

[jjacob]

I would consider b3 to later fianchetto the bishop. You have to plan for the future, and if you are playing Bf4, you do not have a target. The knight on c3 may control the center, but then what? Is that its best square? If black wanted to (though unlikely) he could at any point play b4 and kick the knight back and stack up on the c file with rook and queen to push c4.

b3 prevents c4 and also gives the bishop a good square aimed at the king. Then, the rook on a1 can move to c1 and you can target the weak c5 pawn.

I would also be interested in getting the rook at a1 to c1, but I won't support c2.
Developing pieces is important now. If nobody else is interested in Bg5, my second preference is Nc3.

[Foxpup]

If nobody else is interested in Bg5, my second preference is Nc3.

That being the case, we have four votes for Nc3 (Timelord2067, jjacob, languagehasmeaning, and myself) and two for b3 (actmyname and Taras). Ordinarily I would wait to see if Taras is convinced to change his vote, but at this point it doesn't make any difference. Looks like we're going with 10. Nc3.

[abacus]

That being the case, we have four votes for Nc3 (Timelord2067, jjacob, languagehasmeaning, and myself) and two for b3 (actmyname and Taras). Ordinarily I would wait to see if Taras is convinced to change his vote, but at this point it doesn't make any difference. Looks like we're going with 10. Nc3.

Yes, please add my vote to Nc3 too, even though Taras' images about the b3 street protest and summit were quite entertaining... 

[joust]

Shat is nc3 d3 andthose random codes?

[abacus]

Shat is nc3 d3 andthose random codes?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Algebraic_notation_%28chess%29

[Foxpup]

Shat is nc3 d3 andthose random codes?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Algebraic_notation_%28chess%29

Don't bother trying to explain it to him. It's already explained in the OP; he just can't be bothered to actually read threads before spamming his sig ad in them.

[actmyname]

Black can easily trade off the rook with Qc7 Rd8 and then move the knight.

Good. Black wastes valuable time dealing with the threat. Meanwhile, we finish development and mount a real attack.

You will only gain an attack really if you can coordinate the queen and knight (and it would be PREFERRED to have a bishop on b2)
Black has more attacking chances with the possibility of doing an h-file push and sticking the bishop on d6, and queen on c7.

[letsplayagame]

If nobody else is interested in Bg5, my second preference is Nc3.

That being the case, we have four votes for Nc3 (Timelord2067, jjacob, languagehasmeaning, and myself) and two for b3 (actmyname and Taras). Ordinarily I would wait to see if Taras is convinced to change his vote, but at this point it doesn't make any difference. Looks like we're going with 10. Nc3.

1. Nf3     d5
2. c4      e6
3. g3      Nf6
4. Bg2    dxc4
5. Qa4+  Nbd7
6. Qxc4   c5
7. 0-0     a6
8. d3      b5
9. Qc2    Bb7
10.Nc3    Be7



Another small hint regarding my identity. I won my round 1 match in Baku:
http://www.bakuworldcup2015.com/

I don't plan to announce my results from my round 2 match because that would significantly narrow down the number of people I could be.

[Taras]

Also, what about Kg4 ?

Not sure if trolling or you don't understand standard algebraic notation.

Sorry, I meant Ng4

That being the case, we have four votes for Nc3 (Timelord2067, jjacob, languagehasmeaning, and myself) and two for b3 (actmyname and Taras). Ordinarily I would wait to see if Taras is convinced to change his vote, but at this point it doesn't make any difference. Looks like we're going with 10. Nc3.

Yes, please add my vote to Nc3 too, even though Taras' images about the b3 street protest and summit were quite entertaining...  

I will also be switching to Nc3. And this war chess game is serious business, the people want to be heard
Vote summary
The dotted line here is 2 times the second most popular option.


Game statistics

The Confidence Index is the percentage of votes that went to the winning move. If it is high, then that move was obvious or planned. If it is low, the community was unsure or divided about how to proceed. The Synchrony Index is 1/n, where n is the number of options that received a vote. Low synchrony means many options received votes, and high synchrony means that everyone went for the same few options. Low synchrony is not usually a bad thing, especially if confidence is high. The Integrity Index is a measure of how seriously the game is being taken. It is the percentage of how many votes cast were for serious moves. Absurd and invalid votes, even after being revised or removed, are included in this index. If integrity is any lower than 50%, BitcoinTalk is likely to lose without moderation. If the Confidence and Synchrony indices are equal, all options had the same number of votes. If they are both at 100%, only one option received any votes. If all three indices are at 100%, and many people voted, well that's a perfect world. If Confidence is extremely high and Integrity is extremely low, we're being trolled.

[Foxpup]

11. Bf4.

Another small hint regarding my identity. I won my round 1 match in Baku:
http://www.bakuworldcup2015.com/

Best of luck against Kramnik in Round 2, Grandmaster Bruzón Batista!

I will also be switching to Nc3.

You're a little late.

[jjacob]

I will also be switching to Nc3. And this war chess game is serious business, the people want to be heard

Too late!! We are already on to the next round.
I will go for Bf4 only.

[Taras]

[neochiny]

Bd2 or Bf4? hmmm... Bd2 is so passive.. so i go to Bf4!!!

[languagehasmeaning]

Who am I to ignore the polls? Bf4 looks good. It prevents e5, Bd6 and Qc7 for black. I like taking control of the diagonal. Next we can get our rooks in the game. So far I think we are holding our own against the GM!

[Timelord2067]

Our oponent wouldn't move his bishop unless he were plning to move past his Knight, so he'd have to move his knight eg f6-g4-f2-d3

Will have a think about where I'd like to suggest we move.

[languagehasmeaning]

Our oponent wouldn't move his bishop unless he were plning to move past his Knight, so he'd have to move his knight eg f6-g4-f2-d3

Will have a think about where I'd like to suggest we move.

I am not so sure. While Bd6 seems more aggressive than Be7 it also is more open to attack. For example by us playing Ne4 at some point or moving our pawn to e4 and threatening to fork him by moving our pawn to e5 at some point. He might just be getting ready to castle. Be7 also defends his f6 knight which could be helpful for black in some situations.

So I disagree his plan with Be7 was to "move past his Knight" on f6. Its hard to imagine how Bg5 or Bh4 would be a realistic move for him anytime soon. He could play Ng4 if he wanted (as you mention) but I don't see what it would help. Moving from g4 to f2 and d3 is never going to happen at least in the next 10 or 15 moves. We have f2 and d3 well defended. Frankly if he moves his f6 knight I think it is more likely he goes to d5 than g4.

[Taras]

The bandwagon effect is forcing me to vote for 11. Bf4 before looking into how reasonable it is

"Bf4! Bf4! Bf4! Bf4!"

[abacus]

Isn't Bf4 easily contrasted with Nh5?

If so, I don't see many options other than move our bishop back.