Does this position favor White or Black?

Trying to understand how to evaluate a position, I've been starring at this one for quite some time. Who does it favor? Any thoughts? 

Thanks!

I have alot of these problems at chess magnet school and only 60% right so take this with a grain of salt!  I feel the position has equal possibilities for both sides right now.

If Black was to play, I would say Black is better off.

But, since White is to play, and things look rather even, I would consider two alyernatives: either castle or play Kg5.

I am sure you ment Ng5, any ways white cannot take that e5pawn, and needs to get its queen out from in front of the king asap! 

To me the obvious White move seems to be Nc3, Ng5 or Bg5. And I don't see why White needs to move his Queen from the e file as of now.

I think White's position is better, since the isolated Black e-pawn is a liability, and White is one step closer to connecting his Rooks.

my opinion is a slight advantage for white.. after Ng5 capturing at d4 by black comes with a threat and white should exercise caution but white isn't in real danger as far as my weak mind could see.. i.e 1. Ng5 Nxd4 2. Qc4 Ne6 3. Nxe4 and now white has a threat of his own 4. Bg5 but since i'm a low-level player even if either side has advantage, i'm not entirely sure i can sieze it..

Just found this (with Ng5 being White's move): 

Black has more pieces developed but the light-squared bishop is locked in. Ng5 does not seem to work because after 0-0 (I guess Qe7 because 0-0 would not be good because of Qc4+) White cannot take the e4 pawn. The main issue for White seems to occur with Black castling, as after the Knight moves the d4 pawn is under attack. Another thing to note is that after a6 followed by b5 Black opens the b7 square to fianchetto the bishop with tempo from moving the pawns. 

1. 0-0 0-0 2. Ng5 Nxd4 3. Qc4+ Ne6 4. Nxe6 dxe6 and then White can start putting pressure along the e-file and the e4, e6 pawns, but Black is up in material. 

1. Bc4 looks somewhat nice preventing Black from castling. But after Qe7 it looks a little difficult especially because the d4 pawn would fall. Say 2. Ng5 Nxd4 3. Qd2 Now White is on the f7 square but it doesn't seem like it's enough for the lack of development and loss of a pawn. 

Simply c3 to protect the pawn perhaps is a good idea. It seems like a big problem with Black taking the d4 pawn is that the Knight takes with tempo also. 

Interesting point of view, thejackbauer. And funky username, by the way. 

I like your idea with Bc4. 

But I do not agree that Black has more pieces developed, since White got his Queen out, and with that, both players have 3 pieces out. It will take White 3 moves to castle and connect his Rooks, it will take Black 4 moves. So, the way I see it, White is ahead on development.

nice game.. 2 pawns for a knight + pressure is good enough compensation.. at move 29 it's like white is ahead  a pawn now since the a2 knight is useless.. in fact it doesn't even left a2 until the game ended..

Thanks for posting that game, it really hits home the point!  To be able to think and play at that level.....

Yes, a good display of what this position can lead to after 1. Ng5. And your welcome. 

Haha thanks. But it seems like White is in a somewhat uncomfortable position. Black can develop the problem bishop via a3, b4 with tempo and also if Qe7 the Knight is forced to move. White's Queen is out but to me it seems like it forces White to play c3 in that case, which is sort of a waste of a developing move. 

Your example game was very interesting but after the Knight sacrifice I feel as though Black should be better. But I'm not a GM and the position seemed too complicated to really say that if Black played more precisely he would have won. 

I think white is better, especially if it's his move. Black's game does have its good points: although his c8 bishop won't be out for a long time, the pieces he does have out are well centralized, and the e4 pawn gives him some freedom. However, white has a very attractive thing to make use of -- the a2-g8 diagonal, which can try to keep black from castling, and even if he does castle the diagonal is still weak. Black on the other hand doesn't have a real target with which to use his pieces. So I get the feeling that white will eventually have time to pressurize the e4 pawn and have control of the game.

I did think the knight sac was a tad dubious. It just seems like white doesn't have enough pieces to work with that would really put pressure on black. White's a long way from losing but I think black's pieces have more potential than the slow pawns. But hey, it was able to beat a grandmaster, so who knows. Certainly in the practical sense black has no easy task.

And then a King spoke, and silenced all the pawns. 

If I was playing the white pieces and saw that black had the E and F files open and his pawn at e4 clearly giving him a kingside space advantage,  After black castles that pawn would be taboo as white would be exposed on the E file by a pin from the rook. I would take drastic action here :     1. ( Bxc6).. .(d7xc6 ) best it frees the queen bishop, 2. (Ne5) posts the knight on a powerful square if... Bxe5 white captures with the d pawn chasing off the king knight winning blacks e4 pawn. White has counterplay defending his stake in the center .      lol

I like your thinking weather man, thanks for your input!  I would like to challenge you one day after I get up the courage!

Interesting, mateo...! So, do you think White is better than Black in this position? Or is Black better?

Just my opinion but from the original position white is in trouble because of the 2 open files and blacks e4 kingside space grabbing pawn going against him. But it is his move , as long as you recognize when the position is at critical -mass and you must act decisively, will generally give a you pretty good idea of how to try to change  the elements  in the position that are working against you. 

So, mateo..., if you were to bet on who would win, in a game between masters, you wound bet on Black?