Here is D3V1L's opinion/analysis on this move:
15... Qd8 16.Nxe7 Qxe7 17.b3 ( this move also prepares to push c4) Nb6 18.Ne2 (18.Qd3 Qc7 (18...Rfd8) 19.Bb2) now white is ready to push c4 and also Knight can go to g3 square...
To D3V1L: Feel free to repost your analysis and I'll delete them from this post.
15...Qd8 gives us a more passive position
Lines where white does not take immediately on e7 are likely to transpose to 15. Nxd5 lines, if we choose to capture on d5 next move. Since that currently appears to be a better first move, they are probably not of independent importance.
As a note to everyone, if we want to have any chance of Qd8 being the move selected, we better decide pretty quickly between it and Nxd5. Nxd5 (which we are also analyzing) already has a huge lead in the voting and I would guess we have at most a couple of hours before it is irrevocably in the lead.
In my opinion, Qd7 would be a better square for Black's queen. It would allow b5 on the queenside or h5 and Ng4 on the kingside.
What is the point of 15...Qd8 ? If Nxe7+ does not happen, to exchange dark squared bishops? White is not forced to trade a good knight for a bad bishop. I don't think Pogonina will exchange.
There are 185 views here of Nxd5 and 95 views of Qd8.
It appears Nxd5 will trump Qd8 in the voting based on the interest shown.
What do we do after 15 Nd5 Nxd5 16 Nxd5 Qd8 17 b3 Nb6 18 Ba3 threatening Nxe7 and Bxd6? This may be a reason to trade off the second N when it appears on d5.
Thanks to D3V1L for pointing out that my attention to the centre stopped me seeing d5 was unsound. Doh!
Have we address the problem of Natalia NOT taking the bad bishop e7 in the 15...Qd8 variation as in the 15...Nxd5 variation?
We'll be down a pawn if we play Qd8.
16. a5 attempting to trap our knight. If 16. ... Nxa5 17. Rxa5 Qxa5 18. Nxe7+ Kh8 19. Nxc8 and white is up a bishop.
16. ... Nxd5
17. Nxd5 Bxd5
18. Qxd5 and we're left with a few choices, but they all still end up losing a pawn.
18. ... b6
19. ab Nxb6
20. Qd3 wins a pawn.
18. ... Rc5
19. Qxb7 Rxa5
20. Rxa5 Qxa5
21. Rd1 Bf6
22. Be2 will win a pawn.
My eyes were so focussed on the centre.
Please try keep all discussion about 15...Qd8 in this topic.
Treat this as if it was a normal game. Post diagrams, comments, questions, etc. We will be tweaking analysis for the first 12 hours. Feel free to bounce ideas off non-members in the actual game discussions if you like, but be sure to update your analysis here as well. When you feel you have perfected you variations, post them in the Move 15 - Final Variations topic. We will start our unofficial voting for the "Alliance move" at 12 hours so be sure to post your final variations by then. Again, DO NOT VOTE in the actual game until we get our "alliance move".