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[quote author=7144496F40464D4C4B250 link=1304672342/49#49 date=1304954468] Anyway, it would be more productive to focus on the analysis instead of quarrelling with or about A3. [/quote] Amen to that. Too many pointed remarks so far. [quote author=7144496F40464D4C4B250 link=1304672342/49#49 date=1304954468] Am I the only one who prefers 8...Nf6 over the exchange on d2? The pawn on d5 is something to latch on to for for Black and in several different ways too, b6+Bb7; c6; Rh5; answering c3-c4 with b5, etc. Black has easier development, a d5-pawn to pressure and no weaknesses, so the verdict "=" should probably be "at least = for black". Or does White have something in return? He might claim to have a space advantage, but as far as I can see that's only visible if Black shuts in Bf8 with an early ...d6?![/quote] I don't know that I agree with that. What I do think is that after 8...Nxd2, White is a tempo up if one credits that d2 is a good station for the QB, and it may well be. White enjoys a space advantage and has the obvious plan of trying to exploit the e-file. I don't see how anyone can claim perfect equality for Black in that position, but perhaps one could argue that Black can hold. I could believe that readily enough, but to hold a slightly worse position, and with scant counterplay, isn't why I sit down at a chess board. I'm not really persuaded that Black is equal after 8...Nf6, though it looks better because White's extra tempo is in the form of a knight on d2, which must move again to achieve a decent station. Even then Black is very slightly worse, it seems to me. After 9.Nf3 Black is still Black tempo-wise, and White has more space. Black can say, "See, my KR is active already," but I like to unite my rooks. I don't think White's d-pawn is weak so much as cramping Black's position. So I guess I just plain like White here, although I am prepared to believe that Black is O.K. with good play.
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