I think the catalan is the only opening we are not going to get unanimous voting for, so maybe the move discussion should focus there. I'm off to work, but I'll be able to provide some rejoinder in a little bit.
Move 3. General discussion
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Jul 11, 2011
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#3
Interestingly, although this is a stage of the game where most people would play out of habit, I considered this position carefully in a vote chess game for another team. The first conclusion I came to was (in accordance with the belief of a lot of experts) that 3. Nc3 makes it rather easier for black to equalise (by playing the Nimzoindian). Less obvious was the realisation that 3. g3 is best dealt with by 3. ... c5! Prior to this realisation, I thought 3. g3 might be the best choice. 3. g3 c5 gives white two options: to play a less than ideal line of the Modern Benoni, or to play a symmetrical English line where black appears to have a fairly comfortable equality (the database statistics bear out this positional judgement). Hence I consider 3. Nf3 to be the practical best move against a good opponent. Black's main choices then are to go for a queen's indian (where modern lines for white make it not so easy to black to keep equality) or a queen's gambit (where white does quite well statistically) or a delayed Modern Benoni (where white may achieve a slight edge, but where black has avoided the sharpest variation with f5 and Bb5+). The latter used to be my usual choice as black in my OTB match and tournament games, when white avoided the Nimzo.
In conclusion
3. Nf3! is the move we should be most concerned about. I like the option of 3. ... c5, but think it highly unlikely that enough support could be gathered for this.
Elroch - you are probably correct. My assumption that g3 is the move to talk about is simply based on that we have been discussing the queen's indian for so long. It may be good to return to QID/QGD/Semi-Slav/Benoni debate. Although I will say my stance that QID is a good strategic defense in the current vote chess situation has not changed.
hopefully this is all for naught and he goes for the nimzo though
Post here your general discussion and any suggestions you have to make the current discussion/analysis/voting process better.