I think 8. Qd3 is a fine move and probably is objectively equal (although as usual in the Poisoned Pawn, White gets full compensation for the pawn in the form of an ongoing and board-wide initiative).  I believe 8. Qd2 is probably at least as good, but requires an (even) greater investment in theoretical preparation due to the greater number of high level games in the line.*

* - Saying there is a "greater number of high level games" in the traditional Poisoned Pawn is the understatement of the year, as you probably know.

In the first place, I agree that Sponge Bob is cool.  I have a talking Sponge Bob doll in my office at work.  When you shake him he says things like, "OK, Now I shake you!" and when you put him down he says things like, "Play with me!" and "Tum de dum. Over here!"  Actually I think this doll is the reason they game me a private office.

But I wouldn't trust stats too much with a move that would normally come as a surprise to people, not with only 77 games anyway (check the ratings).  The main idea of this move is to play Qg3; what its drawbacks are I'm not sure, but I assume they include that the queen is more exposed on d3.

Personally I consider the main lines of the Poisoned Pawn to be so attractive for White that I wouldn't dream of not entering them, given the chance.  Read Experts and lift some Black scalps.  Super against higher rateds if you're booked up; deadly against lower rateds.

I just came across the move 9.Qd3 and I found out that it scores quite well in my database (63.0% over 77 games in Powerbook 2010). Could anybody please tell me why this move is played less often then Qd2 and Nb3? And how should the game continue after Qd3?

I'm interested in playing this move and avoiding the main lines (in the poisoned pawn variation), but maybe there's something wrong with the non-standard queen move.

Thanks in advance.