Isn't White getting an edge now in the 3 e4 lines with the line discussed elsewhere in that Beliavsky-Sermek game, Inn2? I imagine this would be the sort of line you are looking for (after you pointed it out to me) - after 7.Bb3 in the Classical Variation it seems attention has shifted away from 7...Nbd7 unless anything has happened to change the assessments given in this thread - both Semkov and Rizzitano (and presumably many others) prefer 7...b5.

From Black's side I still dislike those 3 e4 lines the most....

I have never doubted that White has enough compensation for the d4-pawn. The problem is how to get a clear edge and is this possible. I mentioned this line in the book mostly in order to give Black an inexplored alternative. So I left the subject open.
To say frankly, I'm not very sure what readers want. When we give a lot of long variations, they say "Oh, this is too complicated, we want something short and clear". But of course they complain when some line is missing.
Now GM Delchev is working on a Black repertoire book 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6. Probably it will be based on both approaches - a shorter version (a quick repertoire) and then a more detailed one plus complete games. I hope you'll like it.

Yes; perhaps I should have given 6 Qe2 cxd4 7 exd4 Nc6 8 0-0 Nxd4!? 9 Nxd4 Qxd4 more coverage. I plead that i. I like White's comp and that ii. it's unfashionable and has under ten games on the databases! However, the grab has been played by Flohr, Uhlmann and Kharlov so is an option - look forward to seeing what Semkov's new work says about it.
So 10 Rd1 Qb6 11 Nc3 Be7 12 Be3 and I still feel that White has good comp as Scholar has demonstrated. Inn2 suggests 11...a6!? 12 Be3 Qa5 which may well be more challenging, although there is still at least sufficient compensation such as with 13 Bd4!? Be7 14 Ne4 Nxe4 15 Qxe4 0-0 16 Bc3 and that c8-bishop isn't too happy, while a rook swing is also on the cards.
White has also tried an immediate 10...Qb6 11 Bb5+ when practice has shown that 11...Bd7 12 Nc3 Bxb5 13 Qxb5 Qc6 14 Be3 Be7 15 Rac1 0-0 16 Qxc6! bxc6 17 Na4 Rfc8 18 Rc4 isn't worse for White who will regain his pawn, but this probably isn't what P1d4! players are after. Thus I wonder instead about 12 Bxd7+!? Nxd7 13 Nc3 when it's not too easy for Black to unravel: 13...Bc7 14 Be3 Qc6 15 Rac1 is awkward and 13...Nf6 14 Be3 qc6 15 Rac1 a6 16 Nd5 Qxd5 17 Rxd5 Nxd5 18 Qg4 wasn't a fully convincing queen sacrifice in Malich-Ulhmann, Zinnowitz 1966 although Black did draw without as much suffering as should have been inflicted.
Black also has Kharlov's 10...Qc5!? when 11 Bb5+ Bd7 12 Bxd7+ Nxd7 14 Nc3 a6 14 Be3 Qf5 15 Qc4 Qa5! gave White comp but Kharlov went on to defend. Maybe the simple 11 Be3!? Qc7 (11...Qe5 12 Rd8+!) 12 Nc3 a6 13 Rac1 is better, intending 13...Bd6?! 14 Nb5!.

Hello,

I agree, and have become more interested in Semkov's, other suggestion of 7.Bb3 Nc6 8. Nc3 b5. The main idea is to avoid the more dangerous main-line positions by delaying p*p, so if this one fails, will get some experience of the main-line type positions anyway.

Bye John S

Hello memers,

About your line A) I knew their were transpositional posiblities, but missed the game you mentioned. Glad I gave up on it when I did, was sensing going nowhere.

In my opinion line C) is a non starter, black at least must have some material for the suffering.

You are probably right about D) should have taken what was played in the game more seriously. However, don't think many people would aim for positon like after 12...Kd8 in preparation  . Also your ofther suggestion of I think you mean 13 ...0.0 doesn't 14Na4 followed by Be3 cause problems for black?, or am I missing something.

Bye John S

Hello,

To John Simmons;

A.  9.Qe2 Ndf6 10.Bc2 Qd5 11.Re1 Nd6 12.Nc3 Qc6 is transposition to power chess by GM Romanishin:

Romanishin,O (2590) - Baburin,A (2505) [D27]
Linares Anibal op 3rd Linares, 1996

1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.Nf3 a6 4.e3 c5 5.Bxc4 e6 6.0-0 Nf6 7.Bb3 Nbd7 8.e4 Nxe4 9.Re1 Ndf6 10.Bc2 Qd5 11.Qe2 Nd6 12.Nc3 Qc6 13.Bf4 cxd4 14.Nxd4 Qc5 15.Rad1 Bd7 16.Bb3 Qh5 17.Nf3 Nf5 18.Rxd7 Nxd7 19.Bxe6 fxe6 20.Qxe6+ Be7 21.Nd4 Nc5 22.Qxf5 Qxf5 23.Nxf5 Kf7 24.Rxe7+ Kf6 25.g4 Rad8 1-0

B. 9.Qe2 Nef6 10.d5 e5 11.Nxe5 and White looks better.

C. 9.Qe2 c4 10.Bxc4 Nd6 After moving the attacked Bishop, the resulting IQP position looks better for White.  (Black need to untangle his Knights, White gains several tempi.)

D. 9.Qe2 Nd6 the best defense. Improvement are 10.d5 e5 11.Nxe5 Qe7!? with the idea of keeping the king in center after 12.f4 f6 13.Qh5+ Kd8. The other is following the Dautov game and 0-0 at move 12. Black should snipe at the d5 pawn with equality.

E. 9.Re1 is a fixed move with idea of playing an equal endgame even with GM Sherbakovs suggestion. While 9.Qe2 allows White to play uncharted middle game.

Have a nice day

Well, I wasn't trying to sugges that Black should take the pawn; this was more in reply to Inn2, who had started this thread suggesting that this line is what put him off the Furman variation.