Seems very rational yes. Seems like white maybe still OK after Nb5 cd f4 but certainly not better.

Its worth noting that c5 probably is blacks normal plan here, at least initially. The effectiveness of the early f6 was somewhat dependent on white having played some rather strange moves. (especially Bg5 so no time for f4 in response.).

Driving today a realisation dawned. On Bologan's dvd one line is 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.f3 e6 4.Nc3 Bb4 5.Bf4 Ne7 6.Qd2 O-O 7.Nge2 Nd7 8.a3 Ba5 9.e5 c5 10.dc Bc7 11.Nd4 Be5. I don't know if it was this finally connecting somewhere with my game but didn't I miss 10...., c5 ? That is 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.f3 e6 4.Nc3 Bb4 5.a3 Ba5 6.b4 Bc7 7.e5 Ne7 8.Nge2 O-O 9.Bg5 b6 10.Ng3 and now c5. This looks to me like the way to break open the centre and get counterplay rather than wasting tempi with Ba6, giving White the development advantage to make his kingside attack difficult to defend. I'm still resisiting resorting to the computer's help. I want to work this out for myself. Any comments ?

Laramonet wrote on 10/19/11 at 21:22:03:

How about posting more or all of the game.

In any case I would consider the positions after 10...c5 or 10...h6, 11...c5 not bad at all for black. I think white's pawn chain is in trouble. The Knight on g3 is not so well placed. 

(added a day later, a few more suggestions)
1) I think 7. e5 is not so good, 7.Be3 was preferable.

2) White could (should?) have chosen 8. f4 9.Nf3 with a more Steinitz-like position to keep the center a bit more stable

3) 9...Nd7 and 10...f6 also looks better for Black

4) MartinC's 9...f6 perhaps followed by 10.ef gf 11.Bh6 Rf7 and a quick e5 looks also good

To summarize: If you play any reasonable combination of f6 (prepared by Nd7 or 0-0) or c5 between moves 8-10 you should be fine.

Yeah, I haven't played either side of this variation, but I would think that Black needs to play ...f6 sooner or later.

Hi All,
   Does anyone have any experience in this line or know of any games ? I've failed to find anything in MegaBase 2010, ChessLab or Chess Explorer. I've just lost a game in an inter-club league match and didn't feel like I got any counterplay going at all. It continued 6.b4 Bc7 7.e5 Ne7 8. Nge2 0-0 9.Bg5 b6 10.Ng3 Ba6 and I succumbed on the kingside having got no play on the queenside.