Maroczy Bind Help Evaluating

In my mind this is the standard starting position for a Maroczy which can be reached through various move orders of multiple openings:

So each side has all 4 minors, and that's a typical structure and piece placement (AFAIK). I get this in some lines as white, but also as black and I guess I'm ok with that. What's the current thinking on this? Black should be fine? Is it ok for lower rated player to play this as black or are they asking for trouble?

But in some of my repertoire I'm getting different variations. For example what about this?

So e6 is already a big difference, and of course black didn't finachetto this time (I assume because d6 is weaker). Is this better for white than normal? Worse? Or just different?

Another one

Here the big difference is the absence of the light squared bishops. In my mind this is a benefit for black vs the standard Maroczy because with less space it's nice to have fewer minor pieces to worry about (white is less likely to build up something really dangerous I think).

And another one

A well known hyper accelerated dragon position.

Here a pair of knights have been traded, and obviously the knight on e6 stands out as different. This is a good line vs the hyper accel dragon right? Any tips on white or black goals?

too familiar... 

+1

The Maroczy Bind is renowned for White having a slight edge, but no more. Without going into huge detail (which several books do if that is of interest), I think White has a small advantage in these lines. Why? Taking a look at this first diagram: notice how much of the center White has along with slightly more space. Look at the Knight on d4, it controls a lot of squares and the pawns on each side helps this Knight out quite a bit. The space is the key I think. The Knight is on the 4th rank and eyes over the 6th rank into the enemy camp; conversely, Black's Knights only look one rank deep into enemy territory (versus White's two ranks deep). White has a small space advantage, arguably slightly more central influence and so overall I think White is a tad better, but this should not be exaggerated either. It is a very small edge, but something nevertheless.   

U have some knowledge about it and u expect answers here which will help you?

These positions are too rich to be solved here, especially by players who don't have a clue (most the case in chess.com).

These was bad news, now the good ones : there are good books for that.

Especially the 2 volumes by Shipov on Hedgehog.

And Chess structures by Flores which has a very good chapter on it.

Normally "the bind" is overrated amongst, yes, almost everyone (for white). It is really difficult to convert and easy to overstretch. So close to equality, very generally speaking.

Minor piece issues are complicated.

Question: What is the move which is mostly played in this position (white to move)?

Posting doesn't work... so: r2q1rk1/pp1nppbp/2bp2p1/8/2PBP3/2N2P2/PP1QB1PP/R4RK1 w - - 0 13

Careful with your comparisons pfren, or some might infer the Greek Gift sacrifice has something to do with the 7.8 billion Euros  Greece gave to ECB bondholders

"Ma-Rock-Zee."  Is that how you pronounce "Maroczy"?

The knight on c3 is simply preventing white from playing the Maroczy against the proper dragon, no? Playing c4 is exploiting the fact that black is fianchettoing his bishop before developing a knight to f3, which would force white to play Nc3 like in the normal dragon.

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.c4 is innocuous.

Black can easily avoid Maroczi bind, while white plays a kind of bad English Botvinnik.

Some examples :

There's an everlasting question I cannot decide for 20 years: 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 a6 an then 3. c3 or 3. c4 

There is nothing in common between 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.c4 and 2...a6 3.c4.

This leads to different positions...

Of course, if u consider black plays what u want...

I tend to agree with this opinion - my experience handling the black side of the Maroczy in the Hyper-Accelerated Dragon (note: pfren is right that it's not an option vs. the regular Dragon, it's in Accelerated Dragons that White can play this way) has been that White often lacks the required patience to milk the space advantage. Theoretically, I'd have to agree that White enjoys an edge, but I think it's easier for Black to play.

Also, Black has a number of way to spice things up:

There are many games for this garbage Dragon. Anyone can go over the lines.

Once again u compare 2 differents creatures.

Najdorf with Be2-e5 and O'Kelly with a6-d4 and e5 later have nothing in common.

The structure ok, but different piece placement, not at the same time, and other things, threats on e4 for black, etc... Chess is a concrete game, and u cannot generalize e5 for black in sicilians.

Telling an IM who also plays in correspondance chess, that he plays low oposition, when u are about 2000 here and show that u don't know so much what u are talking about is just ridiculous.

I agree. I usually either win or draw and even my losses are long hard fought struggles. By doing this, I transform the game into a Symmetrical English (Botvinnik Variation) and in the games where Black chooses to not fianchetto his Bishop on f8, I have had my most wins. In my personal OTB experience, I think that 2 c4 has a psychological (I`m not into head games, though) factor in that Black has been forced to think on his own and now has to play (in their eyes) a dull positional game with not so many tactical fireworks. That`s fine with me. 

(This is my topic by the way, I was Stiggling)

Oh, I thought this topic wouldn't ever get a reply.

I'm glad to see it has a lot of posts.

Yes, I know this isn't really a question fit for the forums, but I was hoping a titled player might say a few words.

Thanks for the book recommendation.

So it's not that your were incorrect, it's that they are dishonest and bullying.

Who has an ego problem?

Pfren is rarely courteous, but even more rarely makes a bad post. In an ocean full of children and beginners I'm thankful for the occasional IM. The level of knowledge, experience, and frankly dedication to the game is incomparable.

And I hate to sound like one of these obsequious morons who heaps praise on every titled player that posts, no matter how mediocre their posts are, but Pfren and Poucin make high quality posts. If all they had were titles I wouldn't care about them.

@Optimissed:

this is your first interaction with pfren in this thread:

1) you were in the wrong (Maroczy is against Accelerated Dragon not Dragon)

2) you started the insults.

I don't know whether this antagonising is carrying over from some other thread, but this is all the rest of us can see.