Black is well ahead in development & it is not so easy for White to find good squares for his pieces, especially the DSB. Also, Black can play ...Nc4 & almost certainly get the Bishop-pair of it, if not more. Also, he can even consider maneuvers like ...Ra8-a5-h5 at some point.
In other words, Black has enough play for his pawn minus.
I would much rather play as black here....white has a much more difficult and cramped game.
if you ever find a position like this, stop. praise God. win the game in a massive attack. repeat.
At first glance it seems to me that black can generate a kingside attack faster than white would be able to reposition pieces for defense. Knight to f6 and then to g4 is one idea that pops out.
Position kind of reminds me of the famous Capablanca - Marshall game where Marshall unleashed his new attack. Black has all sorts of King side threats but if White is clever and precise or if Black goofs up, it's usually drawn or won for White.
In this exact position, it looks to me like each sides pieces aren't quite harmonized yet. The eval 4 moves or so later might give a better take on the position's real potential.
Interestingly, I really let stockfish run on my phone and with white to move the eval actually falls from +.4 to .2 over time as the engine goes deeper, meaning that with computer level play white's compensation is long lasting. It does strike me as one of those positions where black might end up just being down a pawn when played by humans though.
Interestingly, I really let stockfish run on my phone and with white to move the eval actually falls from +.4 to .2 over time as the engine goes deeper, meaning that with computer level play white's compensation is long lasting. It does strike me as one of those positions where black might end up just being down a pawn when played by humans though.
It's Black to move in this position. Sorry I guess I should've noted that.
The engine says that this position is equal but I don't really understand why. I'm not really paying much attention to the engine because it seems like one of those positions where it's OK for Black because some random forced lines that just so happen to work after every White move. But that's not really helping me understand why this is good or how I would ever attempt to create such a position.
Black to move