Kalashnikov question

In the Everyman book on the SK, there is a variation on page 127 involving the following position:



(The position above is after 12. ...Nf5)

They give 11. ...Qh4? 12. ba6!!, so I thought I would try Qh4 to see if my opponent would play 12. Be3?, which he did. So I played 12. ...Nf5 and he replied with 13. Qc1, threatening Qc6. I then played 13. ...Ne3 and he took back with the queen, but what I'm wondering is what is the problem with 12. Be3?


Move list below:

e4 c5
Nf3 Nc6
d4 cd4
Nd4 e5
Nb5 d6
N1c3 a6
Na3 b5
Nd5 Nge7
c4 Nd4
cb5 Nd5
ed5 Qh4
Be3 Nf5
Qc1

giving away the bishop pair?

I don't think anything is wrong with Be3, but some moves in a position get a ? because there is something better that they missed. That said, because of 12. bxa6!, I always preferred 7...Be7!? which leads to fine play for Black after 8. Nc4 b5 9. Ne3 Nf6 10. g3 h5!? I've done some work on this variation, but can't find the file and can't remember. A lot good it's done me now!

I think that after the B exchange at a6 the White can caslte and achieve a slight initiative;

Originally posted by black beetle
I think that after the B exchange at a6 the White can caslte and achieve a slight initiative;