This looks as though the game might transpose into a Maroczy Bind Sicilian Defence. I don't know how many of my OTB games transposed thus from my favorite (at the time) English Opening. It brought me a steady and reliable income of wins, an' a'.

This thrust also leaves the d-pawn backward, though that is probably less of a consideration. But coupled with the DSB fianchetto, the d-file weaknesses could become serious matters for Black. More circumspect was 5...d6.

In this type of position I always would try, as Black, to play e5 preparing for it by e6, Ne7 and if necessary g6 and Bb7. I hate those two centrak pawns of White and always want to meet them head on as soon as possible. If successful in this, Black usually has a very free game from then on.

Good point!..I have been caught there before and usually try to play a6 first!...I forgot to say that just now!!

Black is right to be concerned about the coming entry of the Knight at d6. It is very difficult to suggest anything different, as there is no other way for Black to prevent the disruption of her King.

Black at least has come out of this so far with material level, and castling rights preserved. But the dark square weaknesses in Black's game stretch right across the board.

Good thinking. Let Black spend the time exchanging if she wants to so badly. All the same, I might have been inclined to keep the Queens on (11.Qd2, say), complete development, and then really go after the dark squares.

Yes its a toxic hole for Black. We should all learn from this to keep the White Knight from reaching b5 by playing an early a6. Easy to comment after the event and as I said before..I have been caught by this before.

I like this defence.

I don't think I would have played this. Possible now was 14...Kf7, and ...Nd4 was worth thinking about, too.

Good move. Although the black knight is well placed on d4, and the white bishop isn't doing much on e2 or f1, White is seeing ahead to the service this prelate can render upon the light-square diagonal a2-g8.