A Chess Position Analysis by Me

This is the PGN (record of the chess game) for a Karpov game one position of which I recently put a little time into analyzing:

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Be2 Be7 7. O-O O-O 8. f4 Nc6 9. Be3 Bd7 10. Nb3 a5 11. a4 Nb4 12. Bf3 Bc6 13. Nd4 g6 14. Rf2 e5 15. Nxc6 bxc6 16. fxe5 dxe5 17. Qf1 Qc8 18. h3 Nd7 19. Bg4 h5 20. Bxd7 Qxd7 21. Qc4 Bh4 22.Rd2 Qe7 23. Rf1 Rfd8 24. Nb1 Qb7 25. Kh2 Kg7 26. c3 Na6 27. Re2 Rf8 28. Nd2 Bd8 29. Nf3 f6 30. Rd2 Be7 31. Qe6 Rad8 32. Rxd8 Bxd8 33. Rd1 Nb8 34. Bc5 Rh8 35. Rxd8

http://www.playtheimmortalgame.com/board/showthread.php?threadid=123530&page=2

Here is my analysis so far of the position from White's perspective after Black's 16th move:

Material: the dark squared Bishops have been traded off. Otherwise all there. Now, the Bishop that is the same color as you are playing (Black dark Bishop, light White Bishop) is considered a bit stronger in middlegame because it can hit two of the enemy King's castled Pawns, not just one. There's a tiny material advantage for White. With one Bishop gone on each side so is the Bishop pair; the remaining Bishop without his partner is now no better than a Knight for the most part. Tempo: White 11, Black 10. You can see the extra tempo pretty easily; White's castled Rook has been developed to e1. Space: White has 2 Pawns in the center to Black's 1. White's QN is better developed for center control than Black's. Both of White's Rooks are pressuring the center; neither of Black's Rooks are. Both sides' Bishops and Queens are pressuring the center. White has the center space advantage. He also has the Queenside space advantage and a little bit of a Kingside space advantage. He also has a tiny material advantage. White has significant advantages in all three areas (see Znosko-Borovsky's The Middle Game in Chess). Nimzowitch positional elements: no open files, no Rooks on 7th, no outposts, no Pawn chains...but White can open the d-file or form a Pawn Chain by pushing the d-Pawn. If he goes the Pawn Chain route he needs to put heavy pressure on d5, d6 and e4 - especially d5. The fact that he's already advanced the c-Pawn is a good sign for the Chain as it will be needed to attack d6 or neutralize Black's cxd6. The Pawn Chain could lead to an Outpost on d5, a brutally central and advanced position. Opening the file means White wants to get a Rook on the 7th. There's a Knight on that file which will make a fine target, slowing Black down while White prepares his artillery battery along the d file. White's tempo advantage suggests this is a good idea. White can pursue either option and maintain advantage. Undefended pieces and Pawns (white) c2, c4 (black) a7, b7 and d7. The b7 Bishop looks especially vulnerable, white White's is backed by it's King. Single defended P&P (white) a2, b2, h2, f3, g2 (black) d6, g7. These two groups of points are weak points in each position. Target the enemy's and protect your own. Now analyze what's going on on each line. See which diagonals are controlled or empty - remember dark squares are in some ways safer for both sides due to the lack of those Bishops. Look at what files and ranks major pieces are on. Notice that both of White's Rooks can be Rook lifted to the 3rd Rank, while neither of Black's can be. Notice that the White Queen and a Black Rook are on C; a Black Queen and White Rook are on e. A white Rook is on d, and a Black one on f. All Rooks are on back Ranks, both Queens on their second Rank. Notice the White Queen aiming at the Black King's position. Both Bishops struggle over the long light diagonal. OK I'm bored now. Notice I've done zero tactical analysis.

At this point, I'm leaning toward dxe5 with a view to getting a Rook on d7 followed by an attack on the castled King. The Pawn chain situation could be made really annoying if Black plays b4.