5.d4 is basically opening up his pieces and fighting in the center while Black is still not castled. Other moves are too passive.
As for 10.h3, the first thing you need to understand is the whole point in White's position. Just like in the Exchange Ruy, White has a Kingside 4-on-3 majority. Black has the same, but his majority is smack in within 3 files, and no real way to force a passer in a pure King and Pawn ending. Needless to say, just like in the Exchange, pure King and Pawn endings are almost always winning for White in the Berlin.
So what is the difference between the Exchange and the Berlin? It's the e-pawn! In the Exchange, the White pawn is on e4. White wants to play f4, and eventually f5. The e-pawn helps with this.
Here, the pawn is already on e5. White is going to have to play f4 at some point otherwise the e5-pawn will be loose and drop. How is White ever going to get that f5-lever pushed? He needs to play g4! How is he ever going to get in g4? Well, for starters, fighting for control over g4 often starts with an h3 or f3 push. Well, the pawn is already going to need to be on f4, so h3 is the only way!
This is where the term "Berlin Wall" comes from. Black will go out of his way, at all cost, to prevent g4 by White. If White can't get in g4, White won't get in f5. If White can't get in f5, his whole attack is stifled. Black sets up the "Berlin Wall" to prevent g4. These items include:
- Playing ...h5 at the right time. Doing it immediately can be catestrophic if g5 is given to White too early.
- Trading your Dark-Squared Bishop for a White Knight! So many amateurs make the mistake of thinking that the Bishop pair is so great for Black. It's not! The dark-squared Bishop is a problem piece for Black. Same-color Bishop endings or White Knight against Black Dark-Squared Bishop are also horrible endings for Black. Black would prefer OCB's, White Knight vs Light Squared Bishop, or White's Dark-Squared Bishop versus a Black Knight. Well, that said, a common amateur mistake by White is Re1, often a terrible move. Black should answer with ...Bb4! immediately! Why you ask? Well, the Light-Squared Bishop of White's is already gone - traded for a Black Knight. The Dark-Squared Bishop can make no contrabution directly to the control of g4, a light square! If Black can trade that piece of his off for one of the White Knights, which both CAN get to g4, Black has a leg up on g4, and stifles White's entire attack. If Black can succeed in this specific trade, he will almost always have at least a draw provided he doesn't trade off his Light-Squared Bishop for White's Dark-Squared Bishop (like if both Bishops are attacked by opposing Knights), leading to a pure knight ending (good for White).
please help I basically odnt understand the point of
5. d4
and 10. h3
If white doesnt play h3 at any point can this be punished by black? and if white just sits still in the next 5-10 moves can black force something with plans? I realize b6 Kb7 Be6 C5 are ideas by black but how does black put pressure on a lower rated player who doesnt understand whats going on in these positions. Thank you so much