?! White has effectively given up the initiative associated with the first move. This move isn't bad per say, it does not change the result, but it takes pressure off black.

I may want to play f5 before Nf6. The bishop cannot go to b4 and e7 looks less attractive to me than c5 which will be unavailable if and when white plays b4. So I know where I want the bishop and I can defer a decision about whether to play f5 before Nf6 and I may not be able to put the bishop on the square I want it, so I break Nimzowitch's rule concerning knights before bishops.

I need d6 before I can do f5, and white can get his bishop to g5 quickly. Had he played Be2 I can consider d6 hoping for 5. 0-0 when f5 is a live possibility. As things stand it's not looking so good so I prepare castling.

The logical continuation after 3. a3.

?! The start of a faulty plan. White is preparing Be3 but it does not work well. Either 7. g3 and 8. Bg2 or 7. Be7 and castles look better.

X-ray pressure, if I can clear the pawns then I'll get his queen for a rook.

The point of 7. Qe2, as 7. ... Bxe3 allows 8. Qxe3 ridding white of the danger bishop hitting his f2 square. The problem is that the rook is now unprotected which turns out to matter in the game.

! I do not need to worry about the bishops being swapped. After 9. Bxb6 then axb6 and I have Nxb4 and white cannot recapture because the queen is not on the back rank. I've got a lead in development and it's time to break up the center.

? I think this is the critical mistake as white starts losing very quickly after this.

Now I have the option of 12. ... Nxb4 and if 12. ... axb4 13. Rxa1+. But I have a better option now. Black's 7. Qe2 seems to have done some real damage.