Answers.Body: <p>It's a <strong>common</strong> idea in the position. It's there to prevent <code>Be3 Ng4</code>. Allowing Ng4 with the bishop on e3 is not good; White's dark bishop should be exchanged with Black's strong g7-bishop, something like <code>Be3-Qd2-Bh6</code> or <code>Be3-Bd4-Bxg7</code>.</p>
  
  <p>Please note White played <code>10.Be3</code> immediately next. Without <code>9.h3</code>, something like this would have happened:</p>
  
  <pre><code>9.Be3 Ng4! 10.Qe2 Nxe3!
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>Black's position is fine with the strong g7 
  bishop unchallenged. <code>9.h3</code> is a good move.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2018-11-30T19:47:13.287Z
Answers.Text: Is there a reason to prefer 9. h3 to 9. f3?
Answers.UserDisplayName: eyeballfrog
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2018-11-30T21:14:36.737Z
Answers.Text: @eyeballfrog Yes, and it has to do mainly with king safety and not wanting to weaken one's own position. in general, playing h3 instead of f3 is a bit safer for white's king if white ever wants to castle short, since it doesn't open up a long diagonal from a7 to g1. Moreover, a pawn on f2 guards the e3 square which makes it easier for white to keep control over some key dark squares in their position.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Scounged
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2018-11-30T03:50:19.590Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2018-11-30T03:55:35.120Z
Answers.LastEditDate: 2018-11-30T03:55:35.120Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: SmallChess
Body: <p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/AhYE9.png" alt="enter image description here"></p>
  
  <p>The pawn move from <code>h2</code> to <code>h3</code>. I do not understand the reason behind this.</p>
  
Tags: <pawns>
Title: What is the idea behind h2-h3?
ThreadText: # What is the idea behind h2-h3?
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2018-11-30)
  
  ![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/AhYE9.png)
  
  The pawn move from `h2` to `h3`. I do not understand the reason behind this.
  
  **Tags:** pawns
  
  
  ---
  
  ## 1 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_1 on 2018-11-30. Score: 10 | Accepted answer
  
  It's a common idea in the position. It's there to prevent Be3 Ng4. Allowing Ng4 with the bishop on e3 is not good; White's dark bishop should be exchanged with Black's strong g7-bishop, something like Be3-Qd2-Bh6 or Be3-Bd4-Bxg7.
  Please note White played 10.Be3 immediately next. Without 9.h3, something like this would have happened:
  9.Be3 Ng4! 10.Qe2 Nxe3!
  
  Black's position is fine with the strong g7 
  bishop unchallenged. 9.h3 is a good move.
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_2**: Is there a reason to prefer 9. h3 to 9. f3?  
  > **username_3**: @username_2 Yes, and it has to do mainly with king safety and not wanting to weaken one's own position. in general, playing h3 instead of f3 is a bit safer for white's king if white ever wants to castle short, since it doesn't open up a long diagonal from a7 to g1. Moreover, a pawn on f2 guards the e3 square which makes it easier for white to keep control over some key dark squares in their position.  
  
  ---
  
  