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| I have just played 16...a5, threatening 17...a4 |
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The pawn push ...a4 would not be the end of the world for White, but it does weaken the Bind and is probably best prevented.
I expected 17.Rb1, while Stockfish16.1 and Dragon1 very marginally prefer 17.Qb2. In both cases the idea is to meet ...a4 with b4.
My opponent chose 17.Bd1!?
The move more-or-less physically stops ...a4, but it undevelops the bishop and disconnects the white rooks.
The latter point is in some ways the more serious as one of the main tasks in the opening is to get the rooks connected.
Indeed, once rooks are connected the opening can be thought of as over, since achieving the connection normally means the player has developed all the minor pieces and the queen, and has castled.
Hence my opponent's move could be argued as taking White from the middlegame back to the opening.
Having said all that, the engines are perfectly happy with 17.Bd1!?
Dragon1 at first even reckons White has a slight edge, but fairly soon comes to agree with Stockfish16.1 that the position is equal.
However, the position in much harder for a human to play than is the case after 17.Rb1 or 17.Qb2.
This was dramatically illustrated by the game continuation 17...Qb4 18.Qd4 b5 19.Qb6!? Rfc8 20.Nb1? bxc4 21.Qxb4?! axb4 22.Rxc4 Bb5 (0-1, 37 moves).
LESSON: undeveloping moves, especially in ways that discoordinate other pieces, are fraught with danger.
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