From zefrank
Comparing the merits/disadvantages of both boards.
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Here's a side-by-side comparison of both initial moves.
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Bd6 - Start Position
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| Speculative Move: 9. a3 Bd6
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Bxc3 - Start Position
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| Speculative Move: 9. a3 Bxc3
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For the sake of this debate, we're assuming that cxd5 will be Ze's next (unforced) move.
- In the Bd6 line, this capture is countered by forcing a Knight trade.
- In the Bxc3 line, Ze is forced to recapture with his pawn or suffer a loss of material. It was suggested that Ba6 was the best move to make following this.
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Bd6 - Knight Trade
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| Speculative Move: 10. cxd5 Nxc3
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Develop Bishop
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| Speculative Move: 10. bxc3 Ba6
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- Ze completes the exchange by capturing our Knight, allowing us to pick up the pawn we lost with exd5, equalizing in material.
- Here Ze makes his (assumed) cxd5 move, which forces us to respond with exd5 (if we use our Queen, then Ze uses Bc4 to pin and we lose our Queen) or we respond with 11. .. Bxd3 12. Qxd3 Qxd5 .. keeping our e pawn, but trading both bishops in a (now open) position. Bear in mind that after 11. cxd5 exd5 12. Bxa6 is decisive, as White has another bishop on the board and this will force our other Knight to a6 to recapture (forced).
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Recapture and Equalize
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| Speculative Line: 11. bxc3 exd5
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Bxc3 Line - cxd5 Capture
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| Speculative Move: 11. cxd5 exd5
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To be honest, I didn't even see the genuine threat that cxd5 exposes in the Bxc3 line .. if there's another move that Black can make (aside from Ba6, which is flawed) then we need to analyze that .. because based on THIS information, Bd6 is clearly a superior move.