3. Nf3 - b6 ... I think it is the best way to increace our control over the centre + we will be ready to fianchetto the white bishop.
3. Nc3 - Bb4 ... I think it is the most flexible variation and it would be easy to convince other players.
3.g3 - c5. I would not play d5 for the white would get a lead in development which is something we can`t afford here. (3.g3 d5; 4. Bg2 dxc4; 5.Nf3 Be7)
3.Bg5 - Bb4+ (4. Nd2 or Nc3) - It is more active than 3.h6. The game would be after Nc3 transformed into an opening we prefer.
Read before posting
Post your conditional move votes for each of the likely third moves from white. You must provide a reasoning with your move. You can change your vote up until the time votes are tallied, but please edit your post, do not post a second time. General discussion should be in the move 3 discussion forum.
Votes will be tallied when Onischuk's turn occurs (that gives us 8 hours right now). Approximately 2:00 - 3:00 PM Eastern time. At that time I will post at the end of this forum to vote for the winning move. If there are not enough votes, I can extend voting until Onischuk moves, but not for past that as the whole purpose is to affect votes early at this point.
My votes
3. Nf3 - Bb4 -- Obvious one, the Nimzo is better than any other reply, and the other replies are just poorer ways of getting to openings we already decided were not in our favor.
3. Nc3 - b6 -- The QID creates very little in the way of weaknesses for the GM to exploit. The top choice in the explorer is d5. Again we already decided against a semi-slav. Also we can sway some votes by saying blacks chances to draw or win are both improved (slightly) probablistically going by the databases.
3. g3 - c5 -- I think this provides better attacking opportunities compared with the more common d5.