Doesn't e4 just win a piece?
I believe it doesn't, 14.e4 Be5 15.Qa4 b5 16.Qxb5 Bxe4, or 15.Qd3 Nb4.
Perhaps Nbd2, aiming for Be5 Qc4, or otherwise Nf3? Or perhaps f4 is best after all.
Anyway, Black is clearly better, White played the opening very timidly.
So e4 trades the e-pawn for blacks b-pawn while opening the b-file for black. Positionally, black should be better after that exchange. In short, e4 is no good. Does white have any better options?
1. e4 Be5 2. Qc4 Qxc4 3. Bxc4 Bxe4 4. Re1 Bxb1 5. Bxd5 exd5 6. Rxe5 Be4 7. f3
f6 8. Re7 Bf5 9. g4 Bc2 10. Rxb7 d4 11.bd2. Seem like the d pawn not a really big problem
1. e4 Bc5!? 2. Qc4 b5 3. Qxb5 Bxe4 is my preferation for black.
This is my choice:
1. Nc3 Bh2+ 2. Kh1 Nxc3 3. Qxc3 Qxc3 4. bxc3 Be5 5. Bb2 Rac8 6. Rac1 Be4 7.
Rfd1 Rfd8 (with a small advantage for black?)
In the game, the next move was actually Nc3, which turned out bad for white. The following moves were 14.. Nxc3 15. bxc3 Be5. This kicks the queen, wins the c-pawn and poses a serious threat to the rook. Perhaps the mistake is not 14. Nc3, but rather the recapture with the pawn as opposed to the queen!?
If 15. Qxc3 Be5, then white could counter with a queen exchange 16. Qxc7 Bxc7 and gain some mobility!?
What do you think of whites position after such a variation?
