Quote:
Originally Posted by valenzuela
Help me out here with the opening please:
What should white plan here be? To me Be3 seems natural but it seems to completely suck according to databases and Rybka.
For some reason Nbd2 seems much stronger than Be3 as well.
Whites overall plan is probably a kingside attack, which would probably be why the bishop is better off staying put, it's a long range piece so doesn't need to move to develop. Nbd2 intends to follow up with Re1 to support e4 and clear the f1 square then eventually Nd2-f1 then usually g3 eyeing f5 probably h3 is needed in there at some point so that black can't pin the night and Ng4 isn't a concern after we move the rook to the e file. I don't play the ruy Lopez so I'm no expert, that's just my take on what a typically maneuver might be.
There might also be something Nbd2-b3 to support a central expansion or Nbd2-f1-e3 where it eyes d5 and f5. My understanding is f5 is a particularly important square in this type of position which is probably why white will often maneuver the knight there. I think the main reason not to move the bishop is because its already developed on its home square and eyes h6 preventing black playing g6 without a lot of prep.