Answers.Body: <p>The difference is that after Bxc6 you win a pawn with Nxe5. That's why the computer gives a +1 evaluation for it.</p>
  
  <p>After Ba4 you end up with just an equal, normal position.</p>
  
  <p>So it is rather the difference between going from better/won to equal than from equal to worse.</p>
  
  <hr>
  
  <p>In fact 4...a6 is a weak move by black. Most popular and good is 4...Nxe4.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2019-03-03T16:12:39.307Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2019-03-03T16:12:39.307Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: user1583209
Body: <p>Recently, I played a game and after running the computer analysis, it seems like playing 5. Ba4 was a mistake, being better Bxc6.
  <a href="https://i.sstatic.net/vWe2V.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/vWe2V.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>
  
  <p>However, I cannot find the reason why. By retreating the bishop, White does not lose a pawn after ...Nfxe4. So I cannot see why my move would be a mistake.</p>
  
Tags: <opening>
Title: Playing Ba4 in this position
ThreadText: # Playing Ba4 in this position
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2019-03-03)
  
  Recently, I played a game and after running the computer analysis, it seems like playing 5. Ba4 was a mistake, being better Bxc6.
  [![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/vWe2V.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/vWe2V.jpg)
  
  However, I cannot find the reason why. By retreating the bishop, White does not lose a pawn after ...Nfxe4. So I cannot see why my move would be a mistake.
  
  **Tags:** opening
  
  
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  ## 1 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_1 on 2019-03-03. Score: 3 | Accepted answer
  
  The difference is that after Bxc6 you win a pawn with Nxe5. That's why the computer gives a +1 evaluation for it.
  
  After Ba4 you end up with just an equal, normal position.
  
  So it is rather the difference between going from better/won to equal than from equal to worse.
  
  ---
  
  In fact 4...a6 is a weak move by black. Most popular and good is 4...Nxe4.
  
  
  ---
  
  