Thanks for all the comments.
@MNB -- Thanks much for the game cite; this is the way some of my games go. White can unravel but has to be careful, especially with the weak g3-square. Still, I think this is probably the way to play it.
@Markovich -- Yes, the Botvinnik-style plan is 0-0 and central expansion, but -- as you no doubt know -- it is not so simple to realize. First, e4 has to be timed correctly or the White center can be weak and vulnerable to a later ..c5. Second, after 1.e4,dxe4, 2.fxe4, White has to watch the g4 square. Here, maybe he plays h3 (which is one way to get castled vs the Qc7-Bd6 battery), but then he has to watch g3. It is not so easy for White to prove an advantage/edge here. Well, at least for me. But since this defensive set-up is so rarely played, I can't help wonder if there's something wrong with it that I may be missing??
@SmyslovFan -- AFAIK, Qc2 is not only normal but helps to prevent Black from playing an early ...Ne4. As Dji notes, the Bishop usually goes back to f2, where it protects the e3 and d4 pawns. In similar QGD lines, you are right that the Bishop can sometimes stay on h4 longer, but here (after ..Bd6) Black is threatening ..Rxe3, so it's either Bf2 or something like Qd2. The trick Rc1 is not so good. Black can always play ..Qb8 if he needs to and, as Markovich noted, the Rook is in the wrong place. It is better on d1 or e1, depending on circumstances.
@Dji -- Interesting idea; thanks. I will look into it.
Best, LeeRoth
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