One of the most theoretical openings. Who’s better?

even

joe mama

or maybe white is a bit better

i think white has compensation for the pawn

Black is definitely slightly better but humanly its not always easy to play

White can castle next move, but has already moved his Queen. Development slightly ahead. Opening books rate the position about even with possible slight lead to White.

Im actually surprised i thought engine would say black has a small edge but it isnt the case, atleast chesscom engine thinks white is slightly better, weird

With the best play from both sides, it is probably equal, but I feel like black can lose in many more ways than white can, with all the pressure on the long diagonal, and the active white pieces. I would refer you to Alphazero-Stockfish because Alphazero beat SF 8 from that position in 2017. 

AlphaZero may play this perfectly and win, but positional compensation is hard to prove. Nevertheless, this position is easier to play as white.

If anyone's better, it's white. But black's position is sound.

A sample line :

I should mention that in my line, black can equalize but has to be accurate: 17... Qc8 18. Nxd5 Nxd5 19. Bxd5 Bxd5 20. Rxd5 Qe6 21. Qd1 Qf6 (other moves are also possible here) 22. Bf4 Qxb2 23. Be5... I'd still say white is for choice, but is black extremely to equality.

Ok, do you mean you face Qf5 more then Qa4? Because my database says Qa4 is slightly more popular. But yea, Qf5 is another move.

Well, I don't think he can obtain an edge, but there is a lot of theory... If white doesn't know it black can win, if black doesn't know it white can win, and if they both know it, then they draw. 

A lot of these moves are forced and they all lead to a draw/equality. This position has been tested quite a bit in correspondence and they mostly end in draws.

Yep, this is how chess is nowadays: 30 moves of theory then draw, even in a supposedly more positional openings such as the QID

Fair enough.

white is better?

I would look at it from a chess perspective and say yes. The only way you say black has anything is an extra pawn..which isnt true shortly. Otherwise you rely on the 3/2 queen side pawns to get the computer eval draw. At least in Smith Morra black keeps the pawn, but cant progress it.

And then theres the analysis...you know when someone puts down 15 Qg4, and doesnt mention the main line what that means...besides "chess.com forum analysis"