Pawn Chains, Placement of Bishops

Is there a common decision making process where one chooses to bring the bishop outside the pawn chain versus solidifying the center by moving a pawn (thereby locking the bishop behind pawn chain)?

In a recent game I reached the following position in the opening:

My initial thinking was simply solidify the center with e3 but computer slightly prefers Bg5. 

My hesitation to play Bg5 initially was that black can easily block the pin by Be7 and makes my bishop vulnerable to h6.

Maybe a small detail but I'm wondering how one chooses how to play in such positions.  What questions should I be asking before deciding on a move?

I always ask myself if the bishop can be vulnerable to attack pawns, forcing it to an awkward square like g3 if the centre is clogged up.

A good question to consider might be how to play the position after the move. So can you form plans for the different options and which plan do you like best which might be a matter of playing style. One idea (dont know if its correct) is if you trade the DSB for the f6 knight, your opponent has the bishop pair and you have a knight pair. You have more space on the queenside with your c-pawn. Seek to keep the position closed by trying to establish a queenside pawn structure on dark squares. This favours your knights, gives you some control of dark squares to compensate for your lost DSB, and reduces the scope of your opponents DSB. That would be my thinking process. Can I build a medium term plan around the decision that amplifies/exploits differences that are in my favour? If I think I can, then I make the move and pursue the plan with vigour.

Good point, though in some cases Nxg3 can subsequently unleash the rook on the open file after hxg3.  Guess it depends what else is happening on the board.

I agree with you on this, however it's almost always nicer when the bishops are traded instead of knight for bishop. (I do know that's not possible sometimes though)

I'd say you wouldn't want to make that kind of trade if your opponent will castle queen side as the light squared bishop can become quite the powerful piece when the position opens up.

Thanks for your input.  At this stage I'm trying to be solid out of the opening though I realize decisions made in the opening will have a bearing on mid and end game.

I really like your approach. Thanks for your input!

@sportoman. I can't take credit. It is Jeremy Silman's imbalances approach, though I doubt I've done it justice. I've just started reading Amateurs Mind which teaches the approach. I believe it is also taught by his book How To Reassess Your

Sorry. How to Reassess Your Chess, which I haven't read. I think amateurs mind is a basic introduction and Reassess your Chess goes into greater depth. If you are interested in learning a set of thinking tools to help you evaluate a position and develop appropriate plans/strategies, then I recommend Amateur's Mind as a good starting place. I'm about 1400 on here and learning a lot from the book.

@markgrupp Thanks yeah I've heard good things about Reassess Your Chess but didn't know about the other one.  I'll give them a read.