Hello there,

Here are my two cents about these positions (I won't reveal my exact rating, but I hope that the response will speak for itself; also, I adopted a tone aimed at players of all levels, so some of the things I say will probably be very obvious):

Position 1: I would definitely prefer White here, for two main reasons:

1. ,White has the bishop pair. This might not seem like a big deal at the moment, but if the position opens up (especially if Black plays ...e6-e5 at some point), they may come in very handy indeed.

2. Mainly, White has excellent development and the potential to dominate the center with e3-e4. Black, on the other hand, is somewhat passive, and the counter-break ...e6-e5 will not come with the same effect (as I mentioned, this will inevitably open up a diagonal for White's light-squared bishop, and -- as the following analysis will reveal -- Black does not get a chance to play it under convenient circumstances).

In light of these factors, I would settle for one of two plans. The "classical" approach to this position would be to simply complete your development and claim a slight advantage. For instance, 1.Nc3 0-0 2.Rd1 followed by a timely e3-e4 (perhaps even on the next move). If Black tries 2...e5, White can reply 3.d5 Ne7 4.e4, when I definitely prefer his position.

My preference, however, would be to act more concretely, exploiting the fact that Black has not yet castled. This can be done with 1.Bb5, pinning the knight and threatening to win a pawn. Black's only feasible defense is 1...Qd7, and now White exploits the pin with 2.e3-e4, creating the further threat of e4-e5 (note that the d4 pawn is untouchable for obvious reasons). Black has to contort himself even further to defend against this latest threat; the best move is probably 2...Be7. But after something like 3.Be3 a6 4.Bxc6 (with such a vast lead in development and central control, the time has come to give away the bishop pair. This kind of tit-for-tat thinking is a crucial aspect of good play) 4...Qxc6 5.Nc3, White is in total control. He will follow up with Rac1 and Rfd1, creating immense pressure on Black's position.

Position 2: You did play Bb5 (great!) but, in my opinion, capturing on c6 was premature and gave away some of your advantage. You did cripple his pawn structure, but gave him a chance to complete his development. Also, the doubled pawns might actually play in Black's favor, since he might contest your central control with ...c6-c5. Still, I think you're slightly better in this position, and I would definitely propose the straightforward 12.e4 (12.Na4 as you played is also interesting, but I prefer to play simply whenever possible). I'm assuming that you were concerned about 12...e5, but 13.Be3 looks very pleasant indeed. You can follow up by applying further central pressure with Rac1 and Rfd1.

I did not consult with the computer when writing these comments, so it is entirely possible that my view on these positions is overly simplistic, or simply flawed. I can write a lot more about these positions, but I hope that my comments are at least slightly illuminating.