Annotated chess game

I think jkarp means 3.d4, and I agree. For one thing, it carries a threat. If Black were to play 3...Nf6 in response, White could reply with 4.dxe5 dxe5 5.Qxd8ch Kxd8 6.Nxe5 threatening 7.Nxf7ch. Black could play 3...exd4, but after 4.Nxd4, White has the big share of the centre. In response to 3.d4!, 3...Nd7 is considered the best, though 3...Bg4 enjoyed a certain popularity late in the 19th Century, despite Paul Morphy's famous win over the Duke of Brunswick with this line. Also playable at move 3 is Bc4, though my experience with it suggests White doesn't get much of an edge.

This move is just a little bit risky. To illustrate why, check this out: 4.Bc4 Nc6 5.h3 Bh4 6.Nxe5! Bxd1 7.Bxf7ch Ke7 8.Nd5# - a version of the famous 'Legal's checkmate.' Note in this line, Black could play 6...Nxe5, with the game continuing 7.Qxh5 Nxc4 8.Qb5ch Qd7 9.Qxc4 and White has won a pawn - a centre pawn at that. Black can avoid this sort of disaster, but has to beware of possible unmasking of an attack on the loose bishop (this is a very well known motif in the opening - and a useful trick to learn).

Don't check just because you can. Make sure your opponent doesn't benefit from your check, as in this case.

Better is 4.Bc4, striking towards f7.

I agree with jkarp, here: this pawn move is about as good as any alternative. But there was nothing wrong with ...Nc6 or ...Nd7 either. I probably would not retreat the bishop to d7, as although it forces white to decide whether to exchange or lose time, it probably represents too much of a loss of time for Black.

Good move. It were better played a move earlier, but it's fine here. For one thing, it inhibits Black's possible break by ...d5. But the pressure upon f7 may turn out beneficial.

Premature. The time was not yet ripe to play this. Better was to wait by playing 6.Bb3.

the recommendation by answer_is_here limits the damage to 'minus-one' - two pawns for the piece.

Actually, from the point of view of time, this doesn't gain Black much. But it does mean that the knight gets driven to a rather bleak location - the Outer Siberia of a4, withal (unless she is willing to lose a little time by 8.Nb1 - not such a bad idea in the circumstances).

Ne2 is better. Later you may be able to attack your opponent's b4-pawn

The thing with 8.Ne2 is that after 8...Bxf3 9.gxf3 White is left with a rather tattered looking K-side. It's by no means fatal - the g-file might even come in useful for White - but I find it no more attractive than the alternatives.

Interesting!

Very Tigran Petrosian.

Ordinarily I would agree with jkarp's comment. But here the situation is just a little bit out of the ordinary. These pawn moves are becoming more and more constricting for White, who will soon have to undertake energetic measures to break the chains. Black is playing quite well here.