After 7. c5 id play b6,
It would break the initiative by creating 2 menaces, if your pawn is taken in b3 you open the tower column in "a", while if he dont, you simply retake the center with the same pawn.
Im no expert but this is the only counter i see in this position plus both position give you a strong middle. Id probably try to take over the long diagonal as soon as possible to either attack or protect my said tower.
Else i would play conservative, if i had the tabloid under the new post to see the position again i could suggest other plays. (i also might edit this one if i see i just did a complete mistake!)
ok i see how he was able to keep the middle after that but i would have still took his pawn, placed the rook in the open line and took the white diagonal with my bishop.
Im clueless on how it would have ended but i would have tried to keep a strong structure while demolishing his queen pawns.
Ill try to bring another idea before i leave to work.
More im looking at it what black beetle suggested is pretty good.
well, what i like... this is about 5 mins of looking at the game, but
i prefer:
7. c5 Ne4
8. Nxe4 Qa5+
9. Nd2 f6
closes out the dark bishop, releases the pin, and after move 9
provides ample compensation for the Knight sac, white then
has to choose whether to keep the bishop pair, or save the knight
both are ugly for white, if he saves the bishop, black has an advanced
pawn. the possibility of doubled pawns on the g file seems bad at first glance
but after realization that the e4 square will still be a possible outpost
in this variation, and the possible march down the kingside (fxg5, g4)
puts pressure on an uncastled king (pin on knight to king)
(kingside pawn march)
these are just some possible rambling thoughts i had while looking at
the position. Another good variation:
7. c5 O-O
The problem with a move like c5 is that it overextends White's centre and leaves it vulnerable, while also neglecting development. Better would be something like 7. Bd3.
After 7. c5, the two main "active" lines are 7... b6 and 7... e5, the two ways that black can try to take advantage of this pawn chain. Also good are 7... h6 and 7... O-O which should follow up with similar play to what is described below (compiled with the help of Fritz).
The reason 7... e5 works is because of a tactic.
If 8. Nxe5 Nxe5 9. dxe5 Nd7 black should regain e5 and/or c5.
If 8. dxe5 then 8... Ne4.
After 9. Bxe7 Qxe7, black will get back one of the pawns.
If white trades knights first 9. Nxe4 dxe4, the pawn on e5 will fall after 10. Bxe7 Qxe7.
The craziest (though probably best) line after 9.Nxe4 dxe4 is 10. e6 Bxg5 11. Nxg5 Qxg5 12. exd7+ Bxd7 leaves black with more space and more development (and White's c5 pawn is still pretty weak). Roughly equal, but the advantage if any belongs to black.
7... b6 is also good. But after 8. b4, black should probably not respond with 8... a5.
In principle, a5 is weakening Black's pawn structure a little too much. White would follow through with 9. b5!?. This threatens the pawn on c6, and if 9... cxb5 then 10. c6! Nb8 11. Bxb5 += (9... Bb7 is fine, but not great).
From 8. b4, black should continue with a move like 8... h6, 8... O-O, maintaining the tension and Black should be willing to try to exploit the overextending pawns later.