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hello, after moro's 7. Nf3 a6, don't think a move like 8.g3 can refute blacks opening, unless its Kasparov on the White side. 8. c4 was the main problem (according to Finkel in CBM), but imho its only a medium-sized problem, not unsolvable. To avoid 8. c4, volkov played 7... f5 against ivanchuk to force 8. Nc3 (8. Ng3 c5= Psakhis), but after 8. Nc3 a6 9. g3 b5 10. Bg2 Bb7 11. 0-0 c5 12. d5 b4, we now know the "misplaced" knight on c3 can be given up! (Ivanchuk-Volkov, European Club Cup 05). Still i think the theory is rather unclear and its not inconceivable that Black can find a defence with Fritz in 2010... Psakhis gives 9. Qe2 intending 0-0-0 following Grischuk-Sakaev, but Black has good counterplay with 9...b5 10. 0-0-0 b4 11. Na4 where White's position looks awkward to me, though Black's pawns are quite a mess. I think White has a slight edge here, but on certain days, might be happy to take Black. Nevertheless ...f5 is always loosening and i don't want to play it as early as move 7, therefore prefer to tackle problems in 7... a6 8. c4 line. Your solid b6/Bb7 is rather playable too. i have a theory that in most openings Black can usually equalise if he trades two sets of minor pieces... so i'm not sure if the whole Ba6 plan in Lutz-Zuger is good for White, though it looks rather inevitable and Psakhis gives it as main line too, with subsequent retreat 15. Qe2 as best play. Black should then play f5, followed by h5-h4 to liquidate the weak h-pawn. Its all slightly ploddish of course, but perhaps Black can even win with some grit.
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