Thanks for your quick answers.
Quote:Thanks for the interesting suggestions Willempie. This first idea looks playable enough, although I don't believe White has any advantage there. That is especially true if Black plays 9...Be6! which looks slightly more accurate that 9...Ne7 in my view. Then White will not be able to play d2-d4 'for free', black will castle long and probably develop the knight on the more active f6-square. I am fairly certain that this is no more than equal for white.
I had thought about that too, but thought that some combination of d3 and Be3 (maybe Bg5 is an option as well) would be good. That way you can play d4 later. Though objectively it is prolly equal
On the other hand the look on my Cordel addicted opponent's face when he thinks he has avoided Nxe5 with a6 will prolly be priceless
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Hmmm, I have to say this one strikes me as a bit suspicious, although I suppose I could have included it in the book as it is the kind of thing that one might occasionally encounter. White has many slightly different ways to play, but even if we just stick with your main line, it seems to me that in the final position 12.Qb7 Rc8 13.Nc3 leaves Black in a bit of a tangle, not to mention 11.Qa5!? on the previous move which may be even stronger. In both cases, the idea is to gain a tempo by attacking the c7-pawn, followed by Nc3 and possibly e4-e5 to open the game while black is undeveloped.
I hadnt considered targeting c7, that may be a good idea. Thing is I have played the delayed steinitz quite a lot and had this basic rule: Whenever white exchanges with Bxc6, you play exd4 followed by as many exchanges as possible (except the bishops of course). Seems like Qf6 is a bit overenthusiastic in this respect.
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