
Once... Twice... Three times an F-pawn!
Today the good chess fans on Twitter voted White to play 3. d3, which offers Black the opportunity to keep the extra pawn. Let's give a quick pro/con breakdown of each of the candidate moves.
3... exd3
- PRO: be up a pawn with lots of options on the next turn; better endgame prospects.
- CON: the same unit has made the first three moves; inferior development for Black.
3... d5
- PRO: a good way to maintain a pawn on e4.
- CON: queen trade likely, which may not be in Black's best interests.
3... Nf6
- PRO: defends e4 with a piece, supports d7-d5, and closer to castling.
- CON: the knight will likely have to move again in the coming moves.
3... e6
- PRO: reinforces d7-d5 advance, activates the Queen, and doesn't further open the center.
- CON: Black may be left with a backward e-pawn, allows White to have a pawn duo.