Consultation Training Game #3

anyone want to play with me? I’ll be the “punching bag” as long as my opponent isn’t DeirdreSkye or WilliamShookspear!

No problem. Send me a challenge. Also, you need to ask a third person to join us too.

Yeah, all of the above, the more th merrier.

I want to invite someone to this club. He is @Vicariously-l. He is an amazing chess player, well known her in chess.com. He is like 2200 in daily and is very helpful. If DeirdreSkye won’t help, he is even better. Let’s invite him!

Anyway, I have accept d your challenge.

Ugh, spelt his name wrong.

Yeah

Yes, please pitch in! I hope it doesn’t turn out to be only the two of us talking about this game, that would be bad and sad. EVERYONE??? WHERE IS EVERYONE???

Okay, I'll help you a bit... 

What are the pros and cons for both sides after 5. exf6 Nxf6?

And then, slightly more tricky question, which pros and cons do you think are more relevant? e.g who will have an easier time exploiting their pros?

Count the pieces he has developed and the pieces you have developed in this position. This suggests that making another pawn move with 6. e5 is not the way to go, but I'd like you to look for a direct refutation for Black after this move.

I think there's a better move for you than 6. e5, but I think the initiative Black has is still at least worth the pawn you've gathered.

I think you may better than 5. exf6, simply because of the initiative Black develops. But it is playable and I'm not sure it is too uncomfortable for you with precise play.

The refutation to 6. Bg5 is in the style of combination. I'd like you to find it. 

Correct.

So, 6. Bg5 doesn't work. Which other moves are we going to consider?

Good! There are two other moves I'd like you to find, but only finding one of them will be fine. 

Okay, at this point we've discovered some misunderstandings that I think we can iron out.

Your decision that  6.Qe2 was okay reveals, in my eyes, a misunderstanding about the nature of the position. Black is already ahead in development, and it will take two further moves to play g3 and Bg2. In this time, Black can FINISH his own development, while you are only getting started. 

You're right about Nbd2. 

You decided 6. Bd3 was wrong, because of 6... Nb4. Why would this be bad? 
Bd3 prepares to castle. If your opponent plays ...Nb4, he's giving you time to catch up with 7. Nc3, or 7. 0-0, when you're just a pawn up. Sure he can get the two bishops, but a pawn is a pawn. 

And of course Nfd2 would be pretty sad, you were right to reject this move. (Kudos for considering it though!) 

So your best idea is to develop all your pieces as quickly as you can, and castle, while holding on to your extra pawn. The two moves 6. Nc3 and 6. Bd3 are in keeping with this idea. So, now it's time to choose between them, and I'd like you to provide your opponents most likely candidate after both moves.

There's an interesting bonus alternative with a completely different idea, but I think we can be happy with these two candidates. If you would like to find it, up to you, but it's unnecessary in my opinion. 

Stockfish uses a pretty good value measurer, so this is an okay reference, but it is easier to try and evaluate the position as a human by weighing up what you think the advantages are for both sides. (Even I get this wrong sometimes.  )

Please give likely responses for your opponents after both moves. You are thinking 6... Nb4 after 6. Bd3, so what might he do after 6. Nc3? 

You have not mentioned the bonus move yet.

Fair enough. I'll give you a prod. You've just defended your pawn, so what is an annoying way for your opponent to incapacitate that defender?

Since it is a bonus, I will only say: look for a way to turn the tables. If you can't find it, I'll share it after you've played a move.

here is a case where you need to look a little further. What does he do after 6. Nc3 Bb4 7. Bd3? I don't think it's a bad line necessarily, but I don't think you've considered all of the facets. 

Indeed. Here the doubled pawns probably make things about equal. If you like this position better than the one resulting from 6. Bd3 Nb4 then you can say that you have come to a conclusion.