This opening move may be favored by Freddy, and I see why as it opens and develops a minor piece, the Queens Night which has essentially is protecting the center (Controlling). With this kind of opening white should do well, although from Jo's opening remarks, I think there may be a lesson from Black to be learned with this opening of Nf3 (A00) Novosibirsk opening.

surely this is 1.Nc3..... 1.Nf3 is Commonly played and leads to the Reti

c5 is played taking the 2 steps by the pawn on it's first move. White develops the other Night and so does black who gets her Queens Night in the game. This also sets up her d5-d8 diagonal for her Queen.

This is the 2nd move of the same piece by white, recovers the pawn.

This move also threatens a fork on e5. Easily averted, of course, but something for White to think about at ant rate!

Speaking of the forks, you always need to think about all the possible counter attacks from your opponents. It's easy to avoid a attack and move with out looking for another attack. In correspondence chess you have a lot of time to look over your moves. Sometimes this will be the difference of a loss due to a pawn end game not in your favor.

The result is that Black has a central majority, and solid chunk of central territory into the bargain.

As white, I dont like playing against these type of positions, where black has a huge pawn wedge ready to advance.

I like Blacks center pawn structure.

Perhaps White had already seen that Black has the edge, and was seeking ways of taking the thing out of 'normal' paths. His reinforcing e4 has weakened his K-side, some, and is looking for ways to mitigate that weakness. The K is probably headed for g2; the bishop to develop somewhere on the f1-a6 diagonal.

I would move the queen, then castle queenside

I would castle quickly king side. I am not sure of any advantage of a Q side castle, I could be wrong, but since this game is over 6 years old I am not sure of any more comments. Unless I re-post this game somewhere to get re-discovered.

I think this is far better for black. I guess white thinks the Rd1 is much stronger than it is.

doesn't seem to have much choice...Bd2?? removes the pin and allows PxN, and Bg5 is met with h6

15. Bd2 d4 16. Nd1 Bxf3 looks good for black, but thereagain so many things do

15. Bd2 dxc3 -- the pawn is already on d4 -- 16. Bxc3 Qb6+

15...Qb6 16. Na4 Qc6 Be2 and the knight goes

... and a good thing, too. Black now has much the better of it, and should press on for the full point.

very nice move!

17.....Qf5!

Another idea was 20...Bxa3, laming White's Q-side majority. However, the move played, by threatening to win the a2-pawn, induces White's response.