Why Having Equal Material Doesn't Matter

The size of your bishop is what matters in these kinds of things.

@Nictator65 - Thanks for the feedback.  I know there is a lot of irreverent information, but its good to to point it out for beginners, as a lot of it is overlooked.  The point was to show how much control Black has over White in the original position.  Like you said; material does matter, but it's not the most important thing.  What I found out through analysis (and later computer analysis supports these claims) was the best move was to play a6 first supporting the b5 pawn and hand the move back to White.  There is no reason to rush as Black.  After a6 White can't do much of anything.  f5 would be the second move for Black with your ideas of opening up lines along the Kingside.  

GM Yasser Seirawan's first games as a beginner, "knowing I was getting better because it was taking my opponent's longer to beat me."

Want to become a GM? See how Yasser started out (painfully!).

Oh, by the way, at about the 30 minute mark being ahead materially means nothing. It's position, baby!!

@PhilipFry000 : Pointing out irrelevant details tells the beginners they should check every car, moving or not, before crossing a street. That's a fool-proof method to confuse a beginner. What anyone should check is ways to improve each sides' positions, and this is measured by activity.

Regarding the position you posted, Black doesn't control White and much less is "dominating" him. It's just that Black can develop piece activity while White can't. For instance, ...a7-a6 is meant to free the light-squared bishop for active duty, as otherwise, the b5-pawn is hanging after ...Bd7-g4 or ...Bd7-h3. On the same line, ...f7-f5 is meant for opening the f-file and setting pressure on e4.

However, it is not that because White has to play passively on the kingside he's lost. White has (serious) problems because he needs several tempos (which he doesn't have) to establish effective defensive coordination (to oppose Black's active play on the kingside and the center), i.e. Bd2-e1, Na3-b1-d2, Kg1-g2, Nf3-g1, f2-f3. Such setup is necessary because, after ...f7-f5, if White plays e4xf5 then Black gets an eventual threat of ...e5-e4, thus giving life to the idea of a passed pawn on the d-file to distract the White defenders on the kingside. And should White not exchange on f5, then Black may play ...f5-f4 followed by a pawn storm on the kingside, or ...f5xe4 and a protected passed pawn on d4, or even ...Qd8-e7 to maintain the tension to choose later if ...Rf8-f6 and ...Ra8-f8, or just ...Ra8-e8 (to support ...e5-e4) depending on how White plays.

In any case, you can see why not having activity or counterplay is a nightmare: Could White develop threats on the queenside, Black wouldn't be able to mass his pieces on the center and kingside that fast and easy (as the threats would divert or hold some pieces on the queenside).

@Nictator65 - Thank you for that, I am working through a book (Amateur's Mind - Silman).  The way you described the position is perfect example of what I cannot do currently, but am striving for.  A lot of the post was to get somebody to say "why not Bxa3 or Bg4" which are moves beginners love to play (I'll pin his Knight to his Queen! I'll capture a piece! - Those must be good moves).  Clearly you have a much better understanding of the nuisances of the position.  

The way I saw it was Black has complete control and White has no counter play.  Could White develop counter play? Not right away so a supporting move like a6 just strengthens the position. 

Really instructive from both sides. I appreciate that you PhilipFry3000 are putting yourself out there without computer analysis and willing to be corrected by NIctator65 , a 2343 player. I have really enjoyed following this conversation. Thanks guys!

@PhilipFry3000 : The problem with ...Bd7-g4 is that it doesn't work: 1...Bg4 2.Nxb5 f5 3.exf5 Rxf5 4.Qe4 and Black is lost (hanging pieces anyone?). The line shows that Black's position isn't mature yet for forced lines and that it has to be strengthened before looking for forced lines. On ...Be7xa3, it indeed weakens White's queenside but also loses control of c7, thus giving life to both white rooks, meaning Black would have to deal with white threats on the queenside, thus keeping him from attacking in force on the center and kingside.

Now, if your question is what should White do if guaranteed that Black won't go for ...f7-f5 right away? In principle, the coordination I showed you: Bd2-e1, Na3-b1-d2, Kg1-g2, Nf3-g1, f2-f3 (6 tempos). If Black keeps "losing" time, then Nd2-b3 and Be1-a5-c7, to trade the dark-squared bishop that controls c7 and is neutralizing both white rooks.

You may ask why not to play for f2-f4 instead? Mainly because the white pawn is on g3 and not on g2. With the knight stranded on a3 and lack of light-squared bishops, it's foreseeable that opening lines on the kingside will work in Black's favor (like an attempt to play Rc1-f1 may meet ..Bd7-h3).

On a side note, I've delayed posting an article on "Piece Activity" in my blog because of what's been happening these past months. In the meantime, this article may be of help to you: https://www.chess.com/blog/Nicator65/position-evaluation-part-i-level-amateur

@PhilipFry3000 : Since I'm using "piece activity" often as a "positional" evaluation criteria, maybe the following game can clarify the concept (it's part of the "soon to finish" article I mentioned before):

In my analysis I capture on h3 and then go bg4.

Dear Chessfriend,

My name is Gabor Balazs. I am a Hungarian FM, fighting for the IM title. My top ELO is 2435. I have been playing chess for 21 years. I won the Hungarian Rapid Championship twice (U16 and U18).

I love teaching chess and it is very important for me that both of us enjoy the lessons beside the hard work. I have pupils almost all the levels from beginners to advanced players (1100-2200 ELO).

Why should you choose me?

- I have a widespread opening repertoire (a lot of openings are analysed by strong Grand Masters).

- I have a lot of chess books in PDF and Chessbase format, so I can teach you the main middlegame plans, the art of calculations, famous chess games and the endgame theory.

- I have elaborated, personalized training plans, which help you to improve your skills effectively.

- I help you analyse your games deeply, so you can realise your mistakes and learn from them.

- I am really flexible and hard-working person, the quality of my work is really important for me.

Please, contact me (balazsgabor1991@gmail.com), if you are interested in working with me, I am looking forward to your message.