Answers.Body: <p>I see at least 3 good points to <code>5. h3</code>:</p>
  
  <ul>
  <li>first and foremost, it puts a question to the Bishop: if Black wants to maintain the pin, he will have to move it to <code>h5</code>, which is more vulnerable and decentralized. Moreover, once the Bishop will be on <code>h5</code>, white squares on the Queenside will become vulnerable, as the Bishop cannot retreat and defend them in one move (just have a look to <code>b7</code>, for example);</li>
  <li>once the Bishop is on <code>h5</code>, White can kick it away with <code>g4</code> if he wants, gaining space and advancing a Pawn with tempo;</li>
  <li>now that <code>h3</code> is in place, <code>h2</code> becomes a comfortable flight square for the King if White castles Kingside, thus avoiding first rank weaknesses during the endgame.</li>
  </ul>
  
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Answers.UserDisplayName: javatutorial
Answers.Body: <p>I would emphasize and simplify @javatutorial's 1st point: 5 h3 restricts the bishop's mobility.  </p>
  
  <p>It used to have freedom to transfer between the kingside and the queenside, but now it cannot reach the queenside during the opening unless it can reach f5 or e4, which is very unusual.  This reduction in the bishop's scope makes it less powerful than it was before, and therefore <em>worse</em>.</p>
  
  <p>So, the main point is to make the bishop <em>a worse minor piece</em>, which is a strategic goal for White in this opening.</p>
  
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Answers.CreationDate: 2017-01-31T10:04:38.393Z
Answers.Text: Very well explained. :)
Answers.UserDisplayName: javatutorial
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Answers.UserDisplayName: jaxter
Answers.Body: <p>Off the dome:</p>
  
  <p>To support a future g4/h4/h5 push; Protect against Nf6-g4; forces the bishop to a more vulnerable square (h5; make Black make a decision regarding the bishop - exchange it/leave it on the c8-h3 diagonal/move it to h5.</p>
  
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Answers.LastEditDate: 2017-01-28T13:05:47.673Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Priyome
Body: <p>I was watching the current Carlsen vs Adhiban game and I saw a move that always puzzles me:</p>
  
  <pre><code>5. h3 Bh5
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>I'd say Carlsen want to unpin the knight, or kick the bishop away. The bishop retreats, while keeping pressure on the same diagonal</p>
  
  <pre><code>6. Be2
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>This move I don't get. I can imagine that <code>6.g4</code> would cause positional trouble on the kingside, so the bishop is moved to e2 in order to break the pin.</p>
  
  <p>But if this is true, then why did Carlsen play <code>5.h3</code> in the first place ? </p>
  
  <p>I don't get what does <code>5.h3</code> achieve.</p>
  
  <p>Thanks !</p>
  
  <p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/MoOOz.png"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/MoOOz.png" alt="this puzzles me"></a></p>
  
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2017-01-27T16:25:31.817Z
Comments.Text: Black never attacks on the kingside with this structure so white just makes room for his king for far future. Also makes possibility to kick away bishop in one move without Bxf3 possibility for black along the way in case d4 and e5 squares participate in some sort of tactics. Little move, nothing special.
Comments.UserDisplayName: hoacin
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Comments.CreationDate: 2017-01-27T19:46:33.073Z
Comments.Text: For the reasons mentioned by others, h3 (or equivalently h6) is a very common move in such situations.
Comments.UserDisplayName: user1583209
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2017-01-27T23:27:45.853Z
Comments.Text: If you're showing a position and moves, it would be better if the diagram was the position _before_ the moves. Now as it's the opening, it is quite easy to reconstruct, but in general we wouldn't know e.g. where the black bishop was when white played h3.
Comments.UserDisplayName: JiK
Tags: <analysis>
Title: what does this move achieve?
ThreadText: # what does this move achieve?
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2017-01-27)
  
  I was watching the current Carlsen vs Adhiban game and I saw a move that always puzzles me:
  5. h3 Bh5
  
  I'd say Carlsen want to unpin the knight, or kick the bishop away. The bishop retreats, while keeping pressure on the same diagonal
  6. Be2
  
  This move I don't get. I can imagine that 6.g4 would cause positional trouble on the kingside, so the bishop is moved to e2 in order to break the pin.
  But if this is true, then why did Carlsen play 5.h3 in the first place ? 
  I don't get what does 5.h3 achieve.
  Thanks !
  
  **Tags:** analysis
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_1**: Black never attacks on the kingside with this structure so white just makes room for his king for far future. Also makes possibility to kick away bishop in one move without Bxf3 possibility for black along the way in case d4 and e5 squares participate in some sort of tactics. Little move, nothing special.  
  > **username_2**: For the reasons mentioned by others, h3 (or equivalently h6) is a very common move in such situations.  
  > **username_3**: If you're showing a position and moves, it would be better if the diagram was the position _before_ the moves. Now as it's the opening, it is quite easy to reconstruct, but in general we wouldn't know e.g. where the black bishop was when white played h3.  
  
  ---
  
  ## 3 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_4 on 2017-01-30. Score: 4 | Accepted answer
  
  I see at least 3 good points to `5. h3`:
  
  * first and foremost, it puts a question to the Bishop: if Black wants to maintain the pin, he will have to move it to `h5`, which is more vulnerable and decentralized. Moreover, once the Bishop will be on `h5`, white squares on the Queenside will become vulnerable, as the Bishop cannot retreat and defend them in one move (just have a look to `b7`, for example);
  * once the Bishop is on `h5`, White can kick it away with `g4` if he wants, gaining space and advancing a Pawn with tempo;
  * now that `h3` is in place, `h2` becomes a comfortable flight square for the King if White castles Kingside, thus avoiding first rank weaknesses during the endgame.
  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_5 on 2017-01-30. Score: 3
  
  I would emphasize and simplify @username_4's 1st point: 5 h3 restricts the bishop's mobility.
  
  It used to have freedom to transfer between the kingside and the queenside, but now it cannot reach the queenside during the opening unless it can reach f5 or e4, which is very unusual. This reduction in the bishop's scope makes it less powerful than it was before, and therefore *worse*.
  
  So, the main point is to make the bishop *a worse minor piece*, which is a strategic goal for White in this opening.
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_4**: Very well explained. :)  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_6 on 2017-01-27. Score: 1
  
  Off the dome:
  
  To support a future g4/h4/h5 push; Protect against Nf6-g4; forces the bishop to a more vulnerable square (h5; make Black make a decision regarding the bishop - exchange it/leave it on the c8-h3 diagonal/move it to h5.
  
  
  ---
  
  