Why is this English Defense line bad? 1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3. Nc3 Bb7 ..

Hi everybody,

For this position computer thinks white is better. Why?

I don't see obvious space or development advantage. Or am I wrong?

Is there any position middle opening (following playable lines ofc) where computer doesn't favor white? If you find one let me know...

@gugajrf: My engine reccomends 5...f5 after which position is equal. So, yes I found.

@massamoore: "white is clearly better" needs some explanation for me. Also "better piece activity" is not very clear. Maybe you can explain us. 

What I found is this: pawn on d7 is a weak backward pawn. d file is open so, as your Bc2 move, white can put pressure on d7.

What do you think?

5...f5 looks counterintuitive.  I'm not saying it's bad it only looks bad from a superficial standpoint. 

I don't know what is your engine but mine tells me that after 5...f5 white is +0,32. It doesn't mean that it is a bad opening because it's a small advantage and IT IS NOT the move order you talked about.

Obvious 5...f5 is the best move (and the book move) instead of c5. However following the book lines after Qh5+ g6 Qe2 Nf6 Bg5 fxe4 Bxe4 Bxe4 Bxf6 Qxf6 Qxe4 0-0 Nf3 it feels to me that even though Black has a bishop, White is better because has more space, after 0-0 finishes development and just feeling by looking at the board.

Think black is comfortably equal in line suggest. King's book suggests 8...h6!? 9 Bxf6 Qxf6 10Nf3 Nc6 11e5 Qg7 for more complicated play, instead of 8...fxe4. Instead of 3Nc3, 3Bd3 is a more problembatic line for black.

The OP has a curious way of using software for studying openings. 5...f5 is the thematic move get from books of breaking up white's centre and getting interesting play. Ok thats a bit old school, so 5 ...c5. Then a very human response is 6d5 when Bb7 not very active black can play 6...BxNch which might be playable but it's an inferior sort of Nimzo position. Software approves of 6d5 too, but 6pxp for some reason. Now 6...Bxp seems a natural response black develops normally, software agrees it's pretty equal. Now see, software suggests interesting pawn sacs for activity with 6...Nf6, and 6..Na6, i.e 6...Na6 7pxp BxN 8 pxB pxp when can use c-amd a files. Not interested in this though, wants to look at 6 ....pxp, were there is not much activity for black, c5 blocking play down c-file. Weird.

@TwoMove: My intention is to evaluate the final position given in first post. We can question how we get there but lets assume we are there.

I thought the pawn on d7 is weak (backward). Isn't this a potential problem for black? (that should be avoided)

It's not that bad a position for black, but not very promising. Far more interesting possibilities enroute. Don't think d7 is very easy to attack, the black squares are a bit weak, which chould become worse after a3, and giving up the two bishops. Hard to see how use b-file, or how knit together any active possibilities. Just have to resist whatever white comes up with.

What is Black aiming at when playing 5...c5?

The only reason I can think about is turning the b7 bishop to a fat piece of plastic after 6.d5.

Why white does not play the absolutely natural 6.d5, but takes on c5? I can find no good reason, other than white being a woodpusher.

After 6.dc5? Bxc5 Black has a good game, this is fairly obvious. Why does he have to play the horrible 6...dc5? The only logical answer to that question is the same as to the previous one- you just have to swap colors.

The reason white has a (very) clear advantage after 6...dc5? 7.Ne2, is fairly obvious,again: the b4 bishop is horribly misplaced, and he has either to be swapped for the c3 knight without even giving white doubled pawns (shouldn't anyway be such an issue with the c-file closed), conceding the bishop pair to white for free, or lose precious time with ...Ba5-c7 to come back to play, while white has an easy going play with 0-0, Bg5, f4 etc, and alternatively playing Bc2 and Bf4, when that hole on d6 looks like an, errr, hole...

Thanks for the comments.

So is this evaluation ok (after 7.Ne2) ?

Development: White has slight advantage
Space: White has slight advantage
Pawn structure: d7 is weak
Open files/important squares: b and d files half open. Pressure on d7 is possible on d file.
d4 and d6 are holes. d6 is weaker.
Minor pieces: Bishop on b4 is blocked by c5. B on d3 can be better after a future e4-e5
White knights are developed but not the black ones. B on b7 is good but so is B on c1

RESULT: White is better.

Sure. Hopefully, I did it right..

Right or not, it's hardly relevant. This position can occur only after mutual positional blunders.