Answers.Body: <p><code>Nf3</code> protects the pawn on <code>d4</code>, which otherwise will be taken by queen during the next move.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2018-07-23T23:01:09.873Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2018-07-23T23:01:09.873Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: lenik
Answers.Body: <p>In the second example, after a2-a3, black does not have to retreat his dark squared bishop but can instead play ...Qxd4 when after axb4 Black can follow up with Qxd3.  </p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2018-07-23T22:13:09.260Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2018-07-23T22:13:09.260Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: AS3Noob
Body: <p>I have not been able to tell why my computer sometimes tell me that advancing a pawn from its original square in order to kick an opponent piece is right and other times wrong.
  Take for instance, this game whose link is in case someone needs it: <a href="https://lichess.org/JdqqGV0Aekw4" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://lichess.org/JdqqGV0Aekw4</a>
  <a href="https://i.sstatic.net/JMJXc.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/JMJXc.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>
  
  <p>In this case it is Ok to play a6 to kick out the knight.
  However, in this position:<a href="https://i.sstatic.net/Se9er.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/Se9er.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></a> I played the obvious Nf3.
   However, it seems that kicking out the bishop with a3 would be a great mistake. 
  I feel that sometimes kicking out these annoying pieces gets me in a less superior position whereas other times it is best kicking them out before castling or proceeding with the development of pieces and that is something that really confuses me. 
  I would appreciate if someone could really give some kind of rule of thumb or at least some things to consider before doing those pawns advances.</p>
  
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2018-07-23T20:12:05.093Z
Comments.Text: There's a slight discrepancy between your title (about attacking a piece on the 6th or 3rd rank) and the examples in the body of your question (about attacking a bishop on the 4th or 5th rank).
Comments.UserDisplayName: bof
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2018-07-23T22:04:58.160Z
Comments.Text: Sorry about that. I will correct that. As for a3, the computer gives me a minimum advantage whereas moving Nc3 gives an advantage greater than +1.
Comments.UserDisplayName: Maths64
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2018-07-23T22:28:19.437Z
Comments.Text: Sorry I meant Nf3 in my last comment
Comments.UserDisplayName: Maths64
Tags: <analysis>
Title: Moving a pawn to attack a piece on the 5th or 4th rank
ThreadText: # Moving a pawn to attack a piece on the 5th or 4th rank
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2018-07-23)
  
  I have not been able to tell why my computer sometimes tell me that advancing a pawn from its original square in order to kick an opponent piece is right and other times wrong.
  Take for instance, this game whose link is in case someone needs it: <https://lichess.org/JdqqGV0Aekw4>
  [![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/JMJXc.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/JMJXc.jpg)
  
  In this case it is Ok to play a6 to kick out the knight.
  However, in this position:[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/Se9er.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/Se9er.jpg) I played the obvious Nf3.
  However, it seems that kicking out the bishop with a3 would be a great mistake.
  I feel that sometimes kicking out these annoying pieces gets me in a less superior position whereas other times it is best kicking them out before castling or proceeding with the development of pieces and that is something that really confuses me.
  I would appreciate if someone could really give some kind of rule of thumb or at least some things to consider before doing those pawns advances.
  
  **Tags:** analysis
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_1**: There's a slight discrepancy between your title (about attacking a piece on the 6th or 3rd rank) and the examples in the body of your question (about attacking a bishop on the 4th or 5th rank).  
  > **username_0**: Sorry about that. I will correct that. As for a3, the computer gives me a minimum advantage whereas moving Nc3 gives an advantage greater than +1.  
  > **username_0**: Sorry I meant Nf3 in my last comment  
  
  ---
  
  ## 2 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_2 on 2018-07-23. Score: 2 | Accepted answer
  
  `Nf3` protects the pawn on `d4`, which otherwise will be taken by queen during the next move.
  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_3 on 2018-07-23. Score: 5
  
  In the second example, after a2-a3, black does not have to retreat his dark squared bishop but can instead play ...Qxd4 when after axb4 Black can follow up with Qxd3.
  
  
  ---
  
  