Originally posted by BowmannInteresting position to examine. Since you have put the emphasis on what "you" would play. I would like to offer my positional thoughts on this position, and assume we are in "Over-the-board" chess mode, and not online correspondence chess mode first of all.
[fen]r1b2rk1/4bppp/pqn2n2/1pp1p3/4P3/2P2N1P/PPBN1PP1/R1BQR1K1[/fen]
As White, what would you play?
Here are some thoughts first about candidate plans (I am bcf 187 for the record) :-
(a) First off, the move Nf1 springs to mind as a typical manoever of Nf1-g3-f5. However in this position, black could theoretically just chase the knight when it lands on f5 by the move g6. So there is a question if that stereotypical plan should be followed. It would have been more effective if there was a black pawn on h6 instead of h7, to make the g6 chasing move less playable (h6 would have to be defended first).
(b) I notice there is a potential weakness of the d5 square. Perhaps this could be exploited after Nf1, by a move like Bg5 and Bxf6, followed by Nf1-e3-d5
(c) In the same light as (b) above, the move a4 springs to mind as "interesting" because if Black replies with b4, then Nc4 hitting the queen. Then say the queen retreats to c7, then maybe Bg5, with again the idea of Bxf6, and this time Nc4-e3-d5. But what if black play does not play b4 after White plays a4 - but instead plays something like Bb7?! Then maybe a4 is looking a bit silly.
Overall it seems that Nf1 is the most sensible move with at least a couple of positional ideas - firstly Ng3-f5 and secondly the idea of Bg5xf6, followed by Ne3-d5.
It is of course reassuring that Tal has played Nf1, so in online correspondence chess, Nf1 would be the move. Probably OTB, Nf1 would be the move for me as well, since a4 doesnt seem that effective. Black can just keep the tension with Bb7. However, there was an interesting Ruy lopez type plan used by 3d fritz (i think), to defeat Kasparov which involved an a4 and b4 moves, but probably quite a significantly different position.
Food for thought 🙂
Conclusion: I think Nf1 would be my preferred move
A beginner will often drift along from move to move in his games, without any kind of a plan. This is simply because he doesn't know what to play. He'll look for something which is legal and apparently safe; perhaps even a move which immediately threatens one of his opponent's men, whether or not his opponent can meet this threat without any trouble.
But good chess playing involves planning. A player should have a plan, however small, and try to fulfil it. This is the best advice one can give to less advanced players.
One idea is to take advantage of an outpost in one's position. An outpost is a square supported, ideally, by a Pawn and from where one can control or contest squares in the enemy camp. The outpost should be strong, and immune to attack by enemy Pawns.
Looking at the Pawn structure here, it will be seen that White has an outpost on d5. It is supported by his Pawn on e4, so that if White were to place a minor piece on d5 it would be quite safe there.
The Knight on d2 is the obvious candidate for redsidence on d5. And so
1. Nf1
is a good move, as from there it can jump to e3, and eventually d5. More to the point, it is a "good" move because it follows a plan.