| GilesFarnaby: I will pursue my QGA investigation with one game I consider to be a real model of dealing (as black) with the problems that may arise and also knowing how to get profit of the lasting advantages of black´s setup. 3...a6. This may look like a stupid nuance in the move order at first: 
click for larger viewBut I´ll try to explain why I consider it better than playing 3...c5 straight. 1) You can transpose to D22, one line that not only has a better record for black than most of the QGA lines, but is also one that many a white player will try to avoid due to not being sufficiently prepared for it. Some typical positions that could arise are the following: 
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click for larger viewAnd tend to render a good Q-side B, or keeping the extra pawn without suffering. If white intends to leave the R on a1, then black can fianchetto the Bf8 and for sure it will hunt something in that diagonal. 2) In some ocasions you will also prevent Qa4+ after Bxc4. Black could answer Qa4+ with Nc6 if ...c5 has already been played, also, and be able to change queens after with ...Qa5+, and also white has to pay attention to a possible ...b5 fork (once Ra8 is defended somehow), thus having later to spend a tempo at least moving one of the pieces. 3) Black will be able to initiate the Q-side expansion if he feels like doing it, without the trouble of a possible Bb5+, thus we won´t have to study those lines if we don´t want to. 4) We will provoke an early a4 sometimes that, while not being strictly bad for white, will allow as to play aggresively with Bf8 in the now-safe b4 square, we can even develop it with check (e.g., 6...Bb4+) and either leave it there (if white blocks the check with Nbd2) without having to care about a3, or after Bd2 retire it to d6, provoking the white N to develop through c3 and thus creating a b2 backward pawn for white to worry about: 
click for larger view5) Is also important to notice that white could transpose to some Slav or Catalan lines. 6.Qe2 this not only intends to support Bb4 (other option is Bb3, but that could ammount to a loss of tempo), but also open the rank for Rd1 after 0-0, exploiting black´s possible lack of development, that will have to confront the threat through Nbd7, Nfd7 or Qc7 and thus, in practice, white will gain control of the diagonal. I don´t reccoment to be picky with that as black: let white gain the file as long as you are developing fast and you don´t have dangerous pressure, you are always capable of fighting back the possesion of the file some moves after if things go well. | 
Kibitzing
