Curtains vs PoG

[TimM]

Just got a PM about this thread...

I didn't like Nb4, it leaves black off balance.

9.Qb3 Bf5 10.Nd4 is pretty obvious. Now after ...Be4 11.O-O Bxg2 (if we don't take now, white will just ignore this bishop and continue his development) 12.Kxg2 what do we really have? Exchanges of minor pieces usually help white in this isolated pawn position, regardless of any pressure the g2 bishop may have been exerting. Now the knight on b4 is doing nothing, it's just going to wind up going back. The white queen is not on a bad square at all and there is a weakness on b7 it is eyeing (13.a3 Nc6 doesn't actually allow Qxb7 yet, but later it might). 13.Bg5 has some bite because our f8 bishop is the only thing holding b4, so if we go ...Be7 that piece is a little overworked. White has Nf5 in some lines too.

But on 10...Bg6 11.Bg5 looks strong. White is threatening to just take this knight and go Qa4+ which is an annoying check. So now I don't even like 9...Bf5.