Answers.Body: <p>I am a pawn down with bad pawn structure on my Queen side, so rather than exchange or play a4, I would like to keep the thin advantage of having the pair of bishops, so my bishop is to save. </p>
  
  <p>Where to move it now ? I don't really like Be2, it doesn't give me anything and it dims my bishop's radiance, instead I would probably play <strong>Bc4</strong>, then <strong>Ba2</strong>, maybe pushing my pawn on c4 and playing <strong>Bb1</strong> (and <strong>Bc2</strong> after that), best position I think and the good (b1-h7) diagonale. </p>
  
  <p>Then with the Queen and Nf3 I could have some possibilities</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2016-06-20T21:38:46.177Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2016-06-20T21:38:46.177Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Koblenz
Answers.Body: <p>See how black's bishop on d7 doesn't have good squares where it does something useful, so avoid the trade. Because the bishop could be a useful attacking piece, avoid <code>1. Bd3 Nxd3</code> since White doesn't want to trade it off. The only available squares are <code>c4</code> and <code>e2</code>. <code>1. Bc4</code> seems a bit more active and flexible, so I would go with <code>Bc4</code> and similar plans to CWallach's answer above.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2016-06-21T02:48:23.147Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2016-06-21T02:48:23.147Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: limits
Answers.Body: <ol start="2">
  <li>Protect (a4) so the black queen will stay in bad position and Nc5 won't attack. Nf3 to g5 and it will open up some options and clear a path for queen and bishop plays assuming the black queen still stays at the same position.</li>
  </ol>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2016-06-22T00:07:33.527Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2016-06-22T05:20:59.267Z
Answers.LastEditDate: 2016-06-22T05:20:59.267Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: NarGanbaatar
Answers.Body: <p>As white is a pawn down without compensation, piece exchanges should be avoided. White's only practical chance is a king side attack.  Maybe Bc4, with the plan of Bc4-a2, c2-c4, Ba2-b1. Along with Qh5 and/or Qc2 plus g2-g4. Its slow and black can defend, but what else can white try?</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2016-06-20T19:46:07.630Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2016-06-20T19:46:07.630Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: CWallach
Body: <p>I saw the following position and was wondering how white should continue:</p>
  
  <p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/a482x.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/a482x.png" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>
  
  <ol>
  <li>Should white exchange bishops?</li>
  <li>Should white play a4 to protect the bishop?</li>
  <li>Should white play c4 to protect the bishop and undefended pawn on d5?</li>
  <li>Should white do something else</li>
  </ol>
  
  <p>Which of the options above, would be the best way to continue and what should be the thought process behind each suggestion.</p>
  
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2016-06-20T16:48:21.873Z
Comments.Text: 4. Resign - White is a pawn down and has a worse pawn structure as well. Black is winning, no matter what White does.
Comments.UserDisplayName: Glorfindel
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2016-06-20T17:33:46.650Z
Comments.Text: I think `Be2` is the best choice. White should try to make something happen on the long diagonal `a1`-`h8`and also try to prove the bishop on `d7` has no useful squares.
Comments.UserDisplayName: Dag Oskar Madsen
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2016-06-20T18:03:02.653Z
Comments.Text: @Glorfindel - Well, I was looking for something besides resign.
Comments.UserDisplayName: xaisoft
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2016-06-20T18:03:17.610Z
Comments.Text: @DagOskarMadsen - Thanks, I didn't even notice that option.
Comments.UserDisplayName: xaisoft
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2016-06-20T18:55:01.513Z
Comments.Text: Komodo 8 likes Bc4
Comments.UserDisplayName: chackerian
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2016-06-20T23:02:05.500Z
Comments.Text: I don't quite agree with @Glorfindel regarding resignation. it depends upon the level of the players. In USCF terms, if the players are `D` or `E` players, a pawn doesn't matter a lot. If they are `B` players, it's uncomfortable. An `A` player might play on for a while, but know that doom is likely. Higher level players might resign unless prize money was involved.
Comments.UserDisplayName: Tony Ennis
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2016-06-30T14:05:21.923Z
Comments.Text: The problem with this question is asking which move is the best doesn't make much sense when several of White's preceding moves have been bad. You need to fix the earlier problems.
Comments.UserDisplayName: TheMathemagician
Tags: <analysis><beginner>
Title: How to continue in this game?
ThreadText: # How to continue in this game?
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2016-06-20)
  
  I saw the following position and was wondering how white should continue:
  
  [![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/a482x.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/a482x.png)
  
  1. Should white exchange bishops?
  2. Should white play a4 to protect the bishop?
  3. Should white play c4 to protect the bishop and undefended pawn on d5?
  4. Should white do something else
  
  Which of the options above, would be the best way to continue and what should be the thought process behind each suggestion.
  
  **Tags:** analysis, beginner
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_1**: 4. Resign - White is a pawn down and has a worse pawn structure as well. Black is winning, no matter what White does.  
  > **username_2**: I think `Be2` is the best choice. White should try to make something happen on the long diagonal `a1`-`h8`and also try to prove the bishop on `d7` has no useful squares.  
  > **username_0**: @username_1 - Well, I was looking for something besides resign.  
  > **username_0**: @DagOskarMadsen - Thanks, I didn't even notice that option.  
  > **username_3**: Komodo 8 likes Bc4  
  > **username_4**: I don't quite agree with @username_1 regarding resignation. it depends upon the level of the players. In USCF terms, if the players are `D` or `E` players, a pawn doesn't matter a lot. If they are `B` players, it's uncomfortable. An `A` player might play on for a while, but know that doom is likely. Higher level players might resign unless prize money was involved.  
  > **username_5**: The problem with this question is asking which move is the best doesn't make much sense when several of White's preceding moves have been bad. You need to fix the earlier problems.  
  
  ---
  
  ## 4 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_9 on 2016-06-20. Score: 4 | Accepted answer
  
  As white is a pawn down without compensation, piece exchanges should be avoided. White's only practical chance is a king side attack. Maybe Bc4, with the plan of Bc4-a2, c2-c4, Ba2-b1. Along with Qh5 and/or Qc2 plus g2-g4. Its slow and black can defend, but what else can white try?
  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_6 on 2016-06-20. Score: 2
  
  I am a pawn down with bad pawn structure on my Queen side, so rather than exchange or play a4, I would like to keep the thin advantage of having the pair of bishops, so my bishop is to save.
  
  Where to move it now ? I don't really like Be2, it doesn't give me anything and it dims my bishop's radiance, instead I would probably play **Bc4**, then **Ba2**, maybe pushing my pawn on c4 and playing **Bb1** (and **Bc2** after that), best position I think and the good (b1-h7) diagonale.
  
  Then with the Queen and Nf3 I could have some possibilities
  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_7 on 2016-06-21. Score: 1
  
  See how black's bishop on d7 doesn't have good squares where it does something useful, so avoid the trade. Because the bishop could be a useful attacking piece, avoid `1. Bd3 Nxd3` since White doesn't want to trade it off. The only available squares are `c4` and `e2`. `1. Bc4` seems a bit more active and flexible, so I would go with `Bc4` and similar plans to username_9's answer above.
  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_8 on 2016-06-22. Score: 0
  
  2. Protect (a4) so the black queen will stay in bad position and Nc5 won't attack. Nf3 to g5 and it will open up some options and clear a path for queen and bishop plays assuming the black queen still stays at the same position.
  
  
  ---
  
  