Seeley wrote on 03/08/13 at 19:04:08:


The more I see of this chapter the more I like it. To me it spells "Quality", both the material and his explanations. And as a fan of the Møller variation I can learn a lot from the variations he anticipate. 

But one thing puzzles me; why the need of playing 5...b5 first instead of 5...Bc5 after the calm 5.d3...?

For example after: 5.d3-Bc5 6.0-0-d6, and we`ll soon have a kind transposition to my earlier post. Isnt this regarded as being quite ok for black ( the point being not to chase that  bishop on a4) ? 

Im not aware of any drawbacks with this particulary 5...Bc5 move order.  Are there any ?

Thanks!

Ben

 

proustiskeen wrote on 03/08/13 at 18:04:50:


A bit off topic. But if black players find this 7.d3 variation annoying, they can play the pure Møller move order instead:


The white bishop is not doing a lot on a4 and often white will use a tempo to get it to b3.

Of course one have to reckon with the 7.Bc2 variation given above, but from what I know it hasnt been popular for white lately (?) 

Ben

proustiskeen wrote on 03/08/13 at 18:04:50:

Black just castles or plays d6, of course. Common sense moves...

Hi Chesspubbers:

Is there any consensus on how to handle the following try by White vs the Moller?

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 b5 6. Bb3 Bc5 7.d3

I know that ...Bb7, transposing into Arkhangel positions, is not considered optimal.  How, then, should Black play?  There's very little current material out there on this.  Thanks!