@jkarp: 1...Nf6 is not the Alekhine Defence, it's only called Alekhine Defence when it is played after 1.e4. And of course, White can play 2.d4 after 1...Nf6, there's nothing wrong with that. It's true that White is pushing pawns then, but that's not bad in that case since he also grabs the center with it and prepares to develop the DSB.

@jkarp: the annotator is talking about the open Sicilian with colours reversed (so White plays c4 and d3, and Black plays ...e5, ...Nf6 and ...d5).

It is! I must agree with you!

the center is not everything!

He means that it blocks the path to the b7 pawn. After the bishop has moved from c8, Bxb7 would be very dangerous because the rook on a8 is attacked.

Thanks l-d-j

If a player was to take the Knight on c6, Bxc6, would dxc6 be a resonable response, half-opening the d file an unearthing the LSB for Black?

Both liam1260 and jkarp are right, 4...dxc6 is a reasonable response after 4.Bxc6? (which would be bad).

Although ...dxc6 would be a reasonable reponse to Bxc6, I'd still prefer on general grounds to take with the b-pawn. Having said that, White would be ill-advised to make such a capture, as it would leave him weak on the K-side light-squares. This would be especialllt dangerous, as Black would still have his own LSB. If white want's to castle K-side, he must keep his g2-Bishop.

Leads into Botvinnik's system. The hole at d4 is a bit of a drag, but it has its upsides...

The Botvinnik System is used against a center with a Black pawn on c5.

He's talking about the Gameknot opening database.

The annotator means the same, but says it in other words.

I think you're imputing too much thought to White here -- the Botvinnik System is a well-known "no-thought" opening system, like the Colle or the KIA. If White is a Botvinnik fan, it's likely that s/he was planning on playing c4-g3-Bg2-Ne2-e4-d3-0-0-Be3-Qd2 no matter what you played (only taking time out to break that pin) and only started thinking on move 12. One does not play this system to get a complex opening struggle, but to get a comfortable and familiar position with little effort, and then outplay the opponent in the midgame. Unfortunately for White, you proved difficult to outplay!

Thanks for you comment - I think you are probably right - it was a "he" by the way

at this point i like blacks game.

Yes, I was quite liking my position too....

they are equal

not bf5? bg5 and it is bad why: h6!

Maybe he's just keeping you guessing...  

@jkarp: queen side castling is not always bad. In this case it could be a possibility since his kingside is also weakened by the move f3.

I agree with l-d-j

I guess he is planning Bh6 besides allowing castling on both sides.