White to move

My thoughts:
Initially, I was thinking 'Well it isn't very obvious to me what black's plan is'. I was thinking along the lines that black would be aiming to play on the queenside with ...c7-c5.

Looking at the position more closely, white has an active rook on e1, bishops pointing towards the black king and some control over the e5 square. The bishops on d3 and d6 are the active ones for their respective owners. Then it dawned on me that black's plan is to play ...Bf5 to exchange their bad bishop for white's better one. I am unable to see a way that white can prevent this as 1. Nh4 moves the N to a poorer square and encourages 1... g5 from black with ...Bf5 to follow.

Looking along similar lines for white, trying to play Bf4 springs to mind. The black N on e7 would be attacked by the white rook on e1 if the black B on e6 moves and the B on d6 were deflected. 1. Qc1 (aiming to play 2. Bf4) looks a good try.

Now, if after 1. Qc1 Bf5 2. Bf4. I see 2 options for black a) 2... Bxf4 and b) 2...Bxd3.
If a) 2...Bxf4 3. Qxf4 and the threat is 4. Rxe7.
If b) 2...Bxd3 3. Bxd6 I think that black needs to move their N, for example, 3...Ng6. White could then try 4. Qe3 to keep control of the e file.

Overall, it looks easier to play white's position but I don't know if white is indeed better.

Yes, you've seen the positional problem: Black is threatening to play ...Bf5, which White's previous moves had been trying to stop!

The B position looks a bit artificial specially the Q+B position.
The Q is passive and if the Bs exchange wont happen looks fairly useless, it is also blocking the R. In my opinion is important for W to avoid exchanges that would favor the less developed site.
So I would not think of swapping the d2B it is ok where it is maybe c1 could even be better in the future aiming for the B Kside and defending b1.Bs on the first rank are usually powerful and away from danger.Following the same line f1 could be a good,temporary square for the other B. Now to avoid the B exchange we must move the Q, Qb3 seems ok keeping an eye on both d5 and b7.
B could think of developing his R via a6 after a5 , but our Qside pawns are solid after Bc1.Ideally I would like my Q on the Kside where along with my
Bs possibly a Kne5 and a R lift I could organize a good attacking formation.
Possibly in f4 or e3-g3 after Kne5 could be a good entry square for the Q.
So 1) Qb3 Bf5 2)Bf1 c6 3)Bc1 Qc7 4)Ne5
I agree is easier to play with W ,there are no "big" moves in these kind of
position just a large number of "small" hopefully good ones.

Black has the Bf5 threat, but white has a lead in development, so maybe he should be trying to do something before black completes his development ? At first sight there seem to be a lot of options.

Re3 with the idea of a kingside attack, because if Bf4,then Rxe6 - but black can just play Bf5. Also if Ne5, then Bf5. Qb3 and black can just play c6 and Bf5 is threatened again. If 1. Qc1 with the idea of sacrificing on h6, then still Bf5.

Maybe given whites lead in development he should look for something tactical against the king. Bh7+ with Bg5 or Ng5 - but nothing works. Nh4 g5 looks like black has created a weakness round his king - but there is no obvious way to take advantage immediately.

Maybe since white has a lead in development he should open the position with c4 ? - but after dc Bxc4 Bxc4 Qxc4 c6 white has an isolated d pawn and not much to show for it.

So how about b3, preparing c4 ? Black plays Bf5. c4 Bxd3 Qxd3 and now white is threatening c5 winning the bishop on d6 and if c6 still c5 and the Ne7 is undefended. If black plays Qf5, Qxf5 Nxf5 g4 Ne7 c5. So maybe b3 prevents Bf5, and black has to play c6, and then white plays c4 and Bf5 is still prevented. If Qd7, then Ne5. So I'd play 1. b3. Positionally this also has the benefit that after c4, the bishop d2 won't be bad anymore.

? So how about b3, preparing c4 ? Black plays Bf5. c4 Bxd3 Qxd3 and now
? white is threatening c5 winning the bishop on d6 and if c6 still c5 and
? the Ne7 is undefended. If black plays Qf5, Qxf5 Nxf5 g4 Ne7 c5. So maybe
? b3 prevents Bf5, and black has to play c6, and then white plays c4 and Bf5
? is still prevented. If Qd7, then Ne5. So I'd play 1. b3. Positionally this
? also has the benefit that after c4, the bishop d2 won't be bad anymore.

Yes! I think 1 b3 is the key because of this important tactic, 1...Bf5 2 c4 Bxd3 3 Qxd3 and because of the c5 threat Black must play something like 3...dxc4 4 bxc4 Ng6. But what is White's plan in this position?

After the clever Malcolm's plan I think W should take control of the only open file with Qe4 and relocate the B in c3. Along with the mobile central
pawns couple it stands better and has several plans available :
1)Penetration along the file gaining the 7th rank after swapping the Kn
2)After preparation mobilize the central pawns with the idea of making a
central passed pawn
3)Organizing a K side attack using the B+Q on the long diagonal

I found it quite enlightening to see what other people were thinking. I tip my hat to malcolm and giorgio. I look forward to the next one where I hope to make a more educated contribution.

Tony I do not think is going to take too much to make the
Unlock Your Genius monthly or maybe every 6 weeks.
It seems the only section that generates a good number of
replies and it is certainly educational.
Also you are choosing good normal games there is no finding of a single
tactical move but it teaches us the way of organizing our thinking
during middlegame and that can be compared with your thinking.
With one position now and then improvements will be slow to come.

? Tony I do not think is going to take too much to make the
? Unlock Your Genius monthly or maybe every 6 weeks.

No, true, I got the impression that there isn't too much interest myself.
I can certainly change them more often and see how it goes.

Thanks Tony.
Maybe a little price,for the ones who have not won any, like a copy of
one of your excellent books,a subscription to the site for one year
etc could stimulate our minds. Interactivity is the key word in teaching
these days and in this case interaction with a GM can only be useful.
When I started playing many years ago in Italy we only had one GM Sergio
Mariotti and when he came to our club to play a blind simul was something
extraordinary.

It's a great feature that I've found really useful... I think the people taking part get a lot out of it.

I think a 'prize' may be counterproductive and people may be tempted to enlist the help of their silicon friends (although not too helpful in the sorts of positions that are being looked at). I think you need to want to participate rather than be 'bribed' to.

I certainly think twice before posting to the fora as I do doubt the value of my comments. I wonder if people refrain from posting because they are afraid of sounding foolish. If we are aware of the rating of the poster it may help the other readers understand where that person is coming from.
(I've added my rating to my signature - converted by looking at http://www.exeterchessclub.org.uk/bcftable.html)

? I think a 'prize' may be counterproductive

The problem is that only 3 members participated.Exchanging ideas is always
productive but what will really help us his Tony comment.
A little incentive could help increase the number of interested players.

? The problem is that only 3 members participated.Exchanging ideas is
? always
? productive but what will really help us his Tony comment.
? A little incentive could help increase the number of interested players.

I agree that an incentive may help. I'm not sure how best that is achieved though.

? A little incentive could help increase the number of interested
? players.

Except that having prizes doesn't change the number of people who try to solve it! We have offered many prizes over the years but have had very few entries.

Lets do it Tony anyway with or without prizes.
It will make the site a bit more interactive more alive.
Even if it is going to benefit a small minority if the work load
on your side is acceptable why not.