Yeah, I saw that the "Ponziani Pros and Cons" thread had a bunch of new comments, but the entire thread had been deleted.
As I said in that thread, the Ponziani is a fun opening to play occasionally. It doesn't give white an advantage, as even Ponz has acknowledged. But it does give White the chance to play some interesting lines including some endgames that may give white some concrete chances to play for a win. Having chances to play for a win is not the same as having an advantage.
Having said that, the Ponz should not be a surprise opening for anyone here because there are so many ponz followers. So, it becomes less attractive to play it on chess.com. It is still a rare bird in grandmaster chess, which is why Nakamura and Carlsen both played it recently.
The theoretical assessment of the Ponziani hasn't really changed much since the days of Frank Marshall!
I created this thread for those, who are able to discuss Ponziani without spam of ponz111 and some sockpuppets, registered here just to troll praising him and Ponziani.
So people who truly believes that Ponziani gives White an advatage may show how White can reach advantage in the following lines:
3...d5 4.Qa4:
1) 4...f6. Analysis in previous thread showed that after 5.Bb5 Ne7 Black can fight for advantage. On the other side 5.d3 leads to obviously equal position.
2) 4...Nf6 5.Nxe5 Bd6!? sharp gambit in which White have to play carefully.
3) 4...Bd7 5.exd5 Nd4 6.Qd1 Nxf3+ 7.Qxf3 Nf6 8.Bc4 e4 9. Qe2 Bd6. Black has obvious compensation for pawn. White should play carefully fot not get into trouble.
3...Nf6 4.d4 (4.d3 is obvious equality):
1) 4...Nxe4 5.d5 Bc5!? (even ponz111 had to admit that this sacrifice leads to at least eayal game for Black);
2) 4...Nxe4 5.d5 Ne7 6. Nxe5 Ng6 7. Qf3 (d4) Qe7 8. Qxe4 Qxe5
3) 4...exd4 5.e5 Nd5 (played by Carlsen recently).
If someone can point out more lines, giving at least equal play for Black or lines which demonstrates advantage for White - you`re welcome. ponz111 was unable to do it.