Hi,
Don’t feel I’ve fully answered Wnaderking’s question in the bloggy thing
so for the interested reader here is something to look for in the 4.d3 line.
What a Difference a Pawn Moves Makes.
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 d5 5. exd5 Nxd5 6. O-O {This is the e-pawn chase line.} 6... Bg4 7. Re1 {Slipping in the move 7.h3 makes a lot of difference. (see next game.)} 7... Bc5 8. Nxe5 {A very plausible and tempting line even in OTB play. If now 8…Bxd1 9.Nxc6+ and Nxd8 White comes out of it a piece up. Easy to see therefore easy to fall for.} 8... Bxf2+ {This Bishop has to be taken. If not Black can go into the above line with Bxd1 meeting the discovered check with Bf2xe1.} 9. Kxf2 Qh4+ 10. Kf1 Bxd1 11. Nxc6+ Kf8 12. Ne5 Nf4 {This looks like the trickiest to meet.} 13. Rxd1 {Note 13.Nf3 Bxf3 and Black is clearly on top.} 13... Qxh2 14. Bxf4 Qxf4+ 15. Nf3 {Stopping here. Black's plan is to throw the h-pawn at White and keeping pushing it. Looks good.}
Same line but with 7.h3 thrown in.
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 d5 5. exd5 Nxd5 6. O-O Bg4 7. h3 Bh5 8. Re1 {Back to the pawn chase line.} 8... Bc5 {And now not Estrin’s recommendation of 9.d4! (exclam his) from his book on the Two Knights. It's OK. But much better is:} 9. Nxe5 {With the pawn on h3 this now works in White's favour.} 9... Bxf2+ 10. Kxf2 Qh4+ 11. g3 {Now we see the difference. If the h-pawn was on h2 then Black has Qxh2+ here. Now Black is in trouble.} 11... Qxh3 12. Nf3+ {Blocking the attack on the Queen and stopping Qh2+ all with a tempo gaining check.} 12... Nde7 13. Bg5 f6 14. Bf4 {Not liking this for Black. The Bg5-f4 jaunt has stopped Black from castling. Rh1 is coming and Black is already a piece down. Can Black go Queenside. No, I'll show why as it's a very common error in blitz and OTB.} 14... O-O-O {One does not spot the danger pattern till after the move is made. The King and Queen are sitting on the same diagonal.} 15. Be6+ {Wins the Queen. So look out for that one. On 7.h3 play (after you have investigated it....don't trust me...don't trust anyone..) 7...Bh5 8.Re1 Qd6.}
