Evaluate this position

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Vivinski

I can't help but like white's position, white has a good bishop (I think) allthough it may not be placed optimally, the knight is also good because it's on the kingside and can therefor support the attack.

Now, when you'd play this in a long time control game, what would your plans and calculations be (for white specifically)? Like calculate how many pawn moves you can make and what moves black can do in the meantime?

What would your thoughts be at this point.

I engine checked this position and the chess.com computer slightly favors black, another one says it's dead equal (0.00 at depth 20)

gambiteer12

I wouldn't trust engine evaluations in closed/locked centre positions. The engine may be putting to much emphasis on things black can't take advantage of such as the b2 pawn and two bishops, there's also the pin on the d4 pawn that prevents f5 for the time-being.I think white should play  on the kingside with h4-h5 and/or prepare f5 and black should try get the b-pawn rolling.

Edit: Houdini changes its mind after something like 1.h4 Qa7 2.h5 b5 3.hg fg 4.g5!? followed by Nh2-Ng4-Nf6. I haven't looked at the position for long so I very much doubt its best play.

rooperi

yeah, h5, I think too. Mainly because there seems to be little else.

Vivinski

@ Gambiteer that's a concrete idea.

But who do you guys think is better here? Or is it equal?

Caiello

here are some specific lines which are probably not the best lines (esp. the line under 2.....Qa7 which I didn't spend much time on) ........

but what seems clear is that white cannot easily break through on the kinside and black can't easily break through on the queenside.......so......