Pingudon wrote on 10/22/11 at 03:38:52:
In the line 1.e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 I am tying to decide between 3...Nf6 or 3...Bc5. Which one do you prefer or which one is better? Does black have better chance in any of them?
They are both equally good. Gustafsson recommends 3...Bc5 in his DVD.
Here's a quick summary of the lines:
3...Bc5:
a) Modern Italian - theoretically the best option, but equal with best play. It's very important to understand both sides' plans in this variation or else you can be outplayed quite easily, even in an equal position. This applies even more in this variation than in the others.
b) 4.c3 Nf6 5.d4 - harmless, but only if you are prepared.
c) 4.0-0 Nf6 5.d4 - dangerous, but only if Black is unprepared. However 4...d6 is good and avoids the gambit.
d) Canal System - Completely harmless. It's not easy to get good winning chances at GM level but don't worry about that. You can play 5...h6 if you are really desperate to avoid it.
e) Evans Gambit - It's very important to be prepared. 5...Ba5 is the main line, 5...Bd6 isn't trustworthy at all, and my favourite (and Gustafsson's) 5...Be7 might be the best of the lot, albeit requiring more preparation.
3...Nf6:
a) 4.Ng5 d5 5.ed5 Na5 6.Bb5 c6 etc - This is the main line but Black scores pretty well in practice and I don't see why he should be worse objectively either.
b) 4.d3 - 4...Bc5 is the Modern Italian but 4...Be7 is pretty similar, albeit slightly quieter.
c) Max Lange Attack - almost toothless but it's important to be well prepared.
d) 4.d4 ed4 5.e5 - all of the three main moves equalise but I like 5...d5 6.Bb5 Ne4 7.Nd4 Bd7 best. It's equal, but either side can easily fall into trouble if they don't really understand the position.
e) 4.Nc3 Ne4 - need I say more?
I prefer 3..Nf6 and in your line d) i like most the move 5...Ng4! Don't give White what he wants! Bit OK, this line is also objectively great.
Line e) 4...Nxe4 i still cannot remember where i saw that ...Qa5 is better than ...Qh5 as it equalises without allowing some nasty tricks. Does anyone remember?
After 3...Bc5 i don't like the "slow" variations. I like my B on e7 better then in fact. While being in the Army these days i found the necessary time to study those positions in detail after many many years!