mine too

getting to be automatic for me at this stage!

i would take the pawn

I have played as white in this position and I would be tickled pink of black takes the pawn. Fast and furious development for a pawn is a steal of a deal.

If Black takes the pawn he definitely needs to be booked up.

yes, I agree..take the pawn and also know the opening. Over the board its very difficult for Black to defend without experience in this line. I like this opening but probably won't play it anymore at this level.

e5 is the key move for White. Always get it in if possible.

Your sensible move rocks! This will kick that pesky Knight!

Now his knight can't go to c3 and he will probably have to move his queen again.

this does not look like a good position for White

what might of been better for white?

It is easy to see why 7. ...f5 is favored over 7. ...d6. Structurally 7. ...f5 would superior since black is not obligated to play the weakening ...d6. 7. ...f5 creates huge potential for black on the king side. black can increase his grip on the light squares by developing his LSB to b7.

either way you're challenging e5 but ...f5 is really putting it to White..a game altering move

The pin is almost necessary since it would be very hard to hold onto e5. For white the position is slightly ackward because of his weak center and lack of development opportunities. The prospects for black are a little bit better because he does have good development options and pressure on e5 is mounting.

probably the best move

I think so to, it also threatens to win a pawn.

This is an automatic move usually unless I have the option to castle.

?? Assisting your opponents development plans is never a good idea. White is in dire need of development prehaps 10. Nc3 intending to deeal with the Nxb5 threat with Nxb5 hitting at the weak d6 point.

Nc3 does seem indicated.

10. Nc3 dxe5 11. Nxe5 Nxe5 12. Qxe5 Nxb5 13. Nxb5 Bxb5 14. Qxb5+ Qd7 doesn't lead to any advantage for white - it seems very drawish. One assumes white was playing for a win. This position has occurred in 14 games in this Gameknot world database. exd6 has been played 9 times and Bg5 5 times. On the database of Gameknot games, there are 3 games, all continuing with exd6. I cannot agree with either elyhim of thereaper1 that 10. Nc3 is any stronge than exd6

it's probably better to castle before all these moves in the center

I see the benifits of membership, Nice statistics Charleshiggie. @ agree with jhfit.

Perhaps then elyhim may like to explain why in previous games on the Gameknot database from here, white won all three games and on the world database, white won 5 out of the 9 games from this position!

I would say that black is almost winning here. Edited: perhaps "almost winning" is over zealous. As for the world database games I would say that look at the ratings!!. I like this position because I think black has more dynamic options.