It's funny, but nobody seems to want to take that pawn anymore!!!
But that's the point..... black doesn't take the pawn!? Am I in some alternate universe here?! After 3.b4 ..... what's black's plan?
Lol, I was referring to the d5 pawn.
Yeah it is funny and your alone on this one.
Sorry but the Black move of c4 is misguided as much as the White move e5.
Here is the basic rule, do not move a pawn twice in the opening unless you have a very good reason.
Black's move 1. e4 d5 2. e5? c5! is not a greedy grab for the center, It is just the best move available and gives Black a slight advantage.
Even better if black grabs the pawn on e5........
And what about Black not being so cooperative with 6...Nxe5? and playing the natural 6...e6, when white is simply worse?
this opening happens in the french after the following moves..
with obscure compensation for the pawn, in my experience playing against this position, white's compensation gives him barely an = game, most of the threats are superficial...direct, but his lead in development makes up for that. The position is roughly = in my opinion, and like BEES says, why not 5..Bg4?, it is definitely an improvement over the french continuation move order line, so....