Answers.Body: <p>They're playing on the extremely high level and opening preparation is amongst the things they invest the most of their time so they're always searching for the new ways to spice the game up and thus increase their chances for the victory.I don't think there's a deep idea behind Nf3.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2017-01-19T09:14:46.620Z
Answers.Text: Thx for your answer. That was my also my first guess, but maybe i'm just missing something.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Don
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2017-01-18T23:37:17.357Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2017-01-18T23:37:17.357Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: PetarBosnjak
Answers.Body: <p>After 4....Qf6, both 5.Be3 and 5.Nxc6 are likely to transpose to 4....Bc5: 5.Be3 Bc5 and 5.Nxc6 Bc5. Instead, 5.Nf3 seems to be an interesting alternative, with chances to obtain an advantage. It worked quite well for Giri, as he was pressing the entire game.</p>
  
  <p>After 5.Nf3, black should probably be able to equalize. Andreikin played the precise 5....Bb4+ and the game continued 6.c3 Bc5 7.Be2 d6 8.0-0. Black followed up with the logical 8....Nge7, but ended up in a worse position after 9.b4 Bb6 10.Bg5. Note that 9....Nxb4 or 9....Bxb4 doesn't work because of 10.Bg5. Instead, 8....a6 and 8....Qe7 (to play Nf6) are probably better alternatives, after which black should be able to keep the balance.</p>
  
  <p>Actually, one can also wonder why black would give white the opportunity of 5.Nf3 by playing 4....Qf6 instead of 4....Bc5.
  Two possible reasons are: </p>
  
  <ul>
  <li>After 4....Qf6 5.Nxc6, black wants to play 5....dxc6, instead of 5....Bc5. This way, he can still chose between Bb4, Bc5 or Bd6.</li>
  <li>Black doesn't like the position after 4....Bc5 5.Nb3 Bb6 6.Nc3 Nf6</li>
  </ul>
  
  <pre>
  <code>
        [StartPly "7"]
  
        [FEN ""]
        1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Qf6 (4...Bc5 5.Nb3 (5.Be3 Qf6)(5.Nxc6 Qf6) Bb6 6.Nc3 Nf6) 5.Nf3 (5.Be3 Bc5)(5.Nxc6 dxc6 (5...Bc5)) Bb4+ 6.c3 Bc5 7.Be2 d6 8.O-O Nge7 (8...a6)(8...Qe7) 9.b4 Bb6 (9...Nxb4 10.Bg5)(9...Bxb4 10.Bg5) 10.Bg5
  
  </code>
  </pre>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2017-01-20T14:55:45.967Z
Answers.Text: What's wrong with 6. c3 after 5. Be3 Bc5?
Answers.UserDisplayName: Yakiv Kovalskyi
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2017-01-20T18:22:58.747Z
Answers.Text: Absolutely nothing, it is the main line. But I didn't discuss 5.Be3 Bc5 any futher as it immediately transposes to 4....Bc5.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Maxwell86
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2017-01-21T05:17:00.737Z
Answers.Text: What's wrong with 5.Nb3 or 5.Nb5?
Answers.UserDisplayName: bof
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2017-01-21T07:58:00.467Z
Answers.Text: Absolutely nothing, they're interesting alternatives as well. But the question was about 5.Nf3, so I didn't consider 5.Nb3 or 5.Nb5.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Maxwell86
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2017-01-19T19:10:26.000Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2017-01-22T08:57:04.010Z
Answers.LastEditDate: 2017-01-22T08:57:04.010Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Maxwell86
Body: <p>Yesterday Anish Giri played the scotch opening at the Tata Steel Tournament with the strange looking move(to me) 5.Nf3.</p>
  
  <pre><code>[fen "rnbqkbnr/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/RNBQKBNR w KQkq - 0 1"]
  
  1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Qf6 5.Nf3
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>What is the idea/plan behind this move after retreating the knight immediately.
  From my point of view i would assume the knight is better placed on d4 than on f3.</p>
  
  <p>Can white even hope to have an opening advantage after this move?</p>
  
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2017-01-18T10:06:59.830Z
Comments.Text: I'm not a GM so I'll put my guess rather than answer ... On d4 the knight is just inciting cheapos against b2 and f2, especially after something like 6 Be3 Bc5. After Nf3 white is safe as houses and can start thinking about gaining time by chasing Black's Queen about with ideas like Bg5 and Nc3-d5
Comments.UserDisplayName: Ian Bush
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2017-01-18T10:39:39.830Z
Comments.Text: `4... Qf6` is also not the most common move.
Comments.UserDisplayName: Dag Oskar Madsen
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2017-01-18T12:04:52.293Z
Comments.Text: Only Giri can tell, but I'd guess the main ideas were: 1) play something unusual that the opponent is not as familiar with; and 2) keep pieces on the board in order to complicate positions (avoid draw playing with white against a "weaker" player)
Comments.UserDisplayName: user1583209
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2017-01-18T13:49:06.807Z
Comments.Text: @DagOskarMadsen After 4... Qf6, 5 Nf3 is even rarer. Most games go either 5 Nxc6 Bc5 or 5 Be3 Bc5 which transpose back into two main lines after 4... Bc5. Hence I think 5 Nf3 isn't a serious move to gain advantage, but if you are not familiar with 4... Qf6, 5 Nf3 removes tactical weakness on d4 and white is of course not behind.
Comments.UserDisplayName: jf328
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2017-01-18T13:53:30.773Z
Comments.Text: @jf328 In effect you are saying `4... Qf6` is just as good as `4... Bc5` since you recommend white transpose to the `4... Bc5` line.
Comments.UserDisplayName: Dag Oskar Madsen
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2017-01-18T14:05:43.947Z
Comments.Text: @DagOskarMadsen Yeah, the only other move for white is 5 Nb5, but after 5... Bc5 6 Qe2 Bb6, I don't see this position is in any way better than the main lines.
Comments.UserDisplayName: jf328
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2017-01-18T14:09:54.533Z
Comments.Text: @jf328 `5. Nb5 Bc5 6. Qe2 Qd8!?`is actually also quite interesting. White's pieces aren't well placed.
Comments.UserDisplayName: Dag Oskar Madsen
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2017-01-22T10:03:18.020Z
Comments.Text: @DagOskarMadsen After 5.Nb5 Bc5 6.Qe2 Qe8 White's pieces may not be well placed, but he can try to improve the position of his queen with 7.Qg4. This could get messy.
Comments.UserDisplayName: bof
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2017-01-22T13:23:01.913Z
Comments.Text: @bof I haven't tested with a computer, but maybe black can play `7... Nf6!? 8. Qxg7 Rg8 9. Qh6 Bxf2`.
Comments.UserDisplayName: Dag Oskar Madsen
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2017-01-23T04:41:35.110Z
Comments.Text: @DagOskarMadsen Stockfish recomments 8.Nxc7+.
Comments.UserDisplayName: bof
Tags: <opening><1.e4><scotch-game>
Title: Scotch opening 5.Nf3
ThreadText: # Scotch opening 5.Nf3
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2017-01-18)
  
  Yesterday Anish Giri played the scotch opening at the Tata Steel Tournament with the strange looking move(to me) 5.Nf3.
  
  ```
  [fen "rnbqkbnr/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/RNBQKBNR w KQkq - 0 1"]
  
  1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Qf6 5.Nf3
  
  ```
  
  What is the idea/plan behind this move after retreating the knight immediately.
  From my point of view i would assume the knight is better placed on d4 than on f3.
  
  Can white even hope to have an opening advantage after this move?
  
  **Tags:** opening, 1.e4, scotch-game
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_1**: I'm not a GM so I'll put my guess rather than answer ... On d4 the knight is just inciting cheapos against b2 and f2, especially after something like 6 Be3 Bc5. After Nf3 white is safe as houses and can start thinking about gaining time by chasing Black's Queen about with ideas like Bg5 and Nc3-d5  
  > **username_2**: `4... Qf6` is also not the most common move.  
  > **username_3**: Only Giri can tell, but I'd guess the main ideas were: 1) play something unusual that the opponent is not as familiar with; and 2) keep pieces on the board in order to complicate positions (avoid draw playing with white against a "weaker" player)  
  > **username_4**: @username_2 After 4... Qf6, 5 Nf3 is even rarer. Most games go either 5 Nxc6 Bc5 or 5 Be3 Bc5 which transpose back into two main lines after 4... Bc5. Hence I think 5 Nf3 isn't a serious move to gain advantage, but if you are not familiar with 4... Qf6, 5 Nf3 removes tactical weakness on d4 and white is of course not behind.  
  > **username_2**: @username_4 In effect you are saying `4... Qf6` is just as good as `4... Bc5` since you recommend white transpose to the `4... Bc5` line.  
  > **username_4**: @username_2 Yeah, the only other move for white is 5 Nb5, but after 5... Bc5 6 Qe2 Bb6, I don't see this position is in any way better than the main lines.  
  > **username_2**: @username_4 `5. Nb5 Bc5 6. Qe2 Qd8!?`is actually also quite interesting. White's pieces aren't well placed.  
  > **username_5**: @username_2 After 5.Nb5 Bc5 6.Qe2 Qe8 White's pieces may not be well placed, but he can try to improve the position of his queen with 7.Qg4. This could get messy.  
  > **username_2**: @username_5 I haven't tested with a computer, but maybe black can play `7... Nf6!? 8. Qxg7 Rg8 9. Qh6 Bxf2`.  
  > **username_5**: @username_2 Stockfish recomments 8.Nxc7+.  
  
  ---
  
  ## 2 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_7 on 2017-01-19. Score: 4 | Accepted answer
  
  After 4....Qf6, both 5.Be3 and 5.Nxc6 are likely to transpose to 4....Bc5: 5.Be3 Bc5 and 5.Nxc6 Bc5. Instead, 5.Nf3 seems to be an interesting alternative, with chances to obtain an advantage. It worked quite well for Giri, as he was pressing the entire game.
  
  After 5.Nf3, black should probably be able to equalize. Andreikin played the precise 5....Bb4+ and the game continued 6.c3 Bc5 7.Be2 d6 8.0-0. Black followed up with the logical 8....Nge7, but ended up in a worse position after 9.b4 Bb6 10.Bg5. Note that 9....Nxb4 or 9....Bxb4 doesn't work because of 10.Bg5. Instead, 8....a6 and 8....Qe7 (to play Nf6) are probably better alternatives, after which black should be able to keep the balance.
  
  Actually, one can also wonder why black would give white the opportunity of 5.Nf3 by playing 4....Qf6 instead of 4....Bc5.
  Two possible reasons are:
  
  * After 4....Qf6 5.Nxc6, black wants to play 5....dxc6, instead of 5....Bc5. This way, he can still chose between Bb4, Bc5 or Bd6.
  * Black doesn't like the position after 4....Bc5 5.Nb3 Bb6 6.Nc3 Nf6
  
  ```
  
        [StartPly "7"]
  
        [FEN ""]
        1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Qf6 (4...Bc5 5.Nb3 (5.Be3 Qf6)(5.Nxc6 Qf6) Bb6 6.Nc3 Nf6) 5.Nf3 (5.Be3 Bc5)(5.Nxc6 dxc6 (5...Bc5)) Bb4+ 6.c3 Bc5 7.Be2 d6 8.O-O Nge7 (8...a6)(8...Qe7) 9.b4 Bb6 (9...Nxb4 10.Bg5)(9...Bxb4 10.Bg5) 10.Bg5
  
  ```
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_8**: What's wrong with 6. c3 after 5. Be3 Bc5?  
  > **username_7**: Absolutely nothing, it is the main line. But I didn't discuss 5.Be3 Bc5 any futher as it immediately transposes to 4....Bc5.  
  > **username_5**: What's wrong with 5.Nb3 or 5.Nb5?  
  > **username_7**: Absolutely nothing, they're interesting alternatives as well. But the question was about 5.Nf3, so I didn't consider 5.Nb3 or 5.Nb5.  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_6 on 2017-01-18. Score: 1
  
  They're playing on the extremely high level and opening preparation is amongst the things they invest the most of their time so they're always searching for the new ways to spice the game up and thus increase their chances for the victory.I don't think there's a deep idea behind Nf3.
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_0**: Thx for your answer. That was my also my first guess, but maybe i'm just missing something.  
  
  ---
  
  