10 ...c4
Game 624856
My first inclination is Nc6, which completes development. After this move the Silman attacked squares count is white=9, black=11, and I don't see any weaknesses for black.
cxd4 doesn't look promising to me, as I don't like creating an isolated pawn.
c4 is nice, but I will have to follow it up with b5 and a6. c4 also frees my dark bishop and blocks in the d2-knight.
11.Ne5
Your c4 move gained a lot of space for you on the queenside, but it'll be tough to defend the black c-pawn. If I can win it it'll leave white with an isolated d-pawn. I played Ne5 attacking the queen and keeping the initiative. After that I'll try to attack the c-pawn and open a file on the white queenside. The queenside rook will try to take the open file with the plan of trying to double rooks on the open file. The white a-pawn may end up isolated so that's one downside. But it'll be isolated on a closed file so it can't be attacked from the front by a black rook.
12. b3
Game 624856
(edited comment: Just trying to trade off the black c-pawn here and leave the d-pawn isolated.)
12 ...b5
Game 624856
It seems now that ...Nc6 would have been better than ...c4 on my 10th move.
b5 seems to be the only move that allows me to keep my center pawns,
while cxb3 isolates my d-pawn
Nc6 is a little late, and I think not much help here other than adding an attacker to e5.
I'm looking for a way to trade on e4 so I can repair my center pawn structure
After b5, the Silman square count is: white=9, black=12
13.a4
Game 624856
I played a4, attacking the b-pawn and trying to undermine the defense of the black c-pawn. It looks like the a or b files are definitely gonna open. If you play Ne4 at some point I'm not sure if I'll recapture or not. The black knight is on a good square on e4, but if I capture you can take back with your f-pawn. So I'm not sure which I dislike the most. :-) My plan from here is to put my rooks on which ever files open up. Black has a lot of space on the queenside so it looks like that's where the majority of fighting is going to be for awhile.
13 ...Ne4
Game 624856
I forgot that you can move a pawn two squares when I was analyzing my previous move! (I never forget about it for my side, only my opponent's).
I like a6 to protect the b5 pawn, but then realize that I left my knight undeveloped and my a8 rook stands alone. Not moving my knight earlier looks like a bigger mistake now.
If a4xb5, I have to be careful to not allow b3xc4.
bxa4 seems fine, I expect a recapture with the rook.
b4 just loses a pawn.
Ne4 is still a good move. This frees my Q from guard duty. I think I should be able to recapture the white pawn after a4xb5.
14. axb4
Game 624856
Well a pawn is a pawn so I'm taking it. axb4. You can win it back though if you take my d2 knight. White now has a half-open a-file and pressure on a7 pawn. The center is blocked, but with piece and pawn trades possible it could open up.
14 ...Nd2
Game 624856
I like getting rid of the d2-knight as it covers c4 and b3. I didn't see cxb3 afterward (due to my prejudice against creating isolated pawns), but the center is breaking anyway. Trading knights leaves my Q tending my f5-pawn. I guess this is balanced by your Q threatening it. Also any other move loses my c-pawn. c4 is bad square for me fight on, as you have two knights covering it. I notice that b5-b6 is dangerous as my rook is unprotected, but my Q guards b6.
So it is either:
...NxNd2, QxNd2...cxb3, Qb2/Rb1 and my b-pawn seems indefensible
...cxb3, Nxb3...Qb5, Ra5 and the b5-pawn is safe
Normally at this stage of the game I start paying attention to the diagonals, but I notice your bishop is on the same color as your pawns, and your Q is blocked on the other side for a while, preventing coordination.
15. Qxd2
Game 624856
Qxd2 is forced. After that you summed it up the same as I did. If black takes the b-pawn I'll continue to attack the b-file and keep pressure on the black a-pawn. So the white Q to b2 is probably next. My bishop technically is "bad", but It's outside of the pawn chain so that helps. The black bishop has much more freedom of movement. There are no threats to either kingside here. All of the play is on the queenside. Sadly my bishop is locked out, so my queen and rooks will have to do all of the fighting there. My bishop and knight do help to keep the center locked down though.
16 ...Nd7
Game 624856
Not a lot of choices here. White gets the b3 pawn, and supports b5 at the same time. I want to get rid of your advanced b5 pawn before you have a chance to protect it with your pawn chain.
a6 (...Nxa6) fails if white does not take a6. Then Nd7 allows black to capture.
Nd7 finally finishes development, and connects my rooks. It prepares a rook attack on b5. If I don't move this now, I think it will start hurting me.
17.Nc6
Game 624856
Nc6. Trying to win another pawn. I also looked at Ra6 here attacking the black queen. But it looked a little tricky. My rook may have ended up stuck on a6 with nothing to do except sit in front of the black a-pawn. I've still got Qxb3 to win a pawn, but my knight is well placed on c6 and can attack your back rank from there.
17 ... Bd6
Game 624856
Your knight attacks my pawn and bishop. I missed the attack on a7 by your knight. It looks like that pawn is a goner.
a6 can at least draw your pawn to the a-file (perhaps after a rook trade)
Nb6-c4 looks like it could be bothersome for white.
Bd6 would probably wind up in a trade, and keeps the knight from taking it. I think this would be a good trade as the bishop is controlling d6-b8.