user17281: I got to this position, while playing this game: https://lichess.org/dT3d9Dp4
Here I feel the need to develop my bishop. I thought of Bf4 but I feared g5, after  which I will lose a tempo. Be3 always make me think of a pawn fork on d4 or e4. I feel Bd2 is too passive. What frustrates me most is that developing the bishop might not even be necessary at this position. How will I know what to do? Is developing the bishop necessary?
[FEN ""]
[Startply "12"]

1.e4 Nc6 2.d4 e6 3.Nf3 h6 4.Bd3 d5 5.O-O Nge7 6.Nc3 a6  


user15365: You should develop your bishop at some early point in the game, because your aim is to assign every piece the best responsibility as possible. But you don't have to do it now.
You don't have to be afraid of g5 because it would weaken your enemy's kingside (for example, it wouldn't be safe for him to castle on that side). Besides, you are ahead in development.
Bd2 is also a good development option for the bishop. Developing doesn't imply an active move or attacking.

user7657: The old rule about knights before bishops was because it's not always clear where the bishop should go right away.  In this position, you've already castled while it will take black two more moves to get to that point.  Accordingly, I would  get your rook to e1 first before developing the bishop, open up the center with exd5 while the black king still remains there and develop a strong attack against it.  Then your queen bishop could play a more active role, perhaps at f4.  As someone has mentioned, black's playing ..., g5 would weaken his kingside, so shouldn't be of great concern. Alternately you could play a French Advance type of move with e5 here to gain space in the center and then continue developing, since black has blocked his "c" pawn with the queen knight and can't attack the base of your pawn chain with ..., c5 immediately. Your queen bishop could potentially be of use then on e3 to add support to your d4 pawn if needed. 

user14130: since you are ahead in development, it will benefit you to open the center, or prepare for that, so Rook to e1 seems to be good altenative, 
it will benefit you to:
1- have a plan
2- develop based on that plan,
so, here I would play Re1 and wait to see where balck is going to castle, and then go after his knig, or open the  center if it remains there,

PS: another suggestion would be to play e.d5 immediately, the idea behind it is to try to open up the game ASAP and not let black develop harmoniosuly 

user70: You don't have to develop your Bishop on the next move. Bf4 does look ok, however. Re1 also looks good as it will support the e pawn.

17281: <p>I got to this position, while playing this game: <a href="https://lichess.org/dT3d9Dp4" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://lichess.org/dT3d9Dp4</a></p>

<p>Here I feel the need to develop my bishop. I thought of Bf4 but I feared g5, after  which I will lose a tempo. Be3 always make me think of a pawn fork on d4 or e4. I feel Bd2 is too passive. What frustrates me most is that developing the bishop might not even be necessary at this position. How will I know what to do? Is developing the bishop necessary?</p>

<pre><code>[FEN ""]
[Startply "12"]

1.e4 Nc6 2.d4 e6 3.Nf3 h6 4.Bd3 d5 5.O-O Nge7 6.Nc3 a6  
</code></pre>
 15365: <p>You <em>should</em> develop your bishop at some early point in the game, because your aim is to assign every piece the best responsibility as possible. But you don't have to do it now.</p>

<p>You don't have to be afraid of g5 because it would weaken your enemy's kingside (for example, it wouldn't be safe for him to castle on that side). Besides, you are ahead in development.</p>

<p>Bd2 is also a good development option for the bishop. Developing doesn't imply an active move or attacking.</p>
 7657: <p>The old rule about knights before bishops was because it's not always clear where the bishop should go right away.  In this position, you've already castled while it will take black two more moves to get to that point.  Accordingly, I would  get your rook to e1 first before developing the bishop, open up the center with exd5 while the black king still remains there and develop a strong attack against it.  Then your queen bishop could play a more active role, perhaps at f4.  As someone has mentioned, black's playing ..., g5 would weaken his kingside, so shouldn't be of great concern. Alternately you could play a French Advance type of move with e5 here to gain space in the center and then continue developing, since black has blocked his "c" pawn with the queen knight and can't attack the base of your pawn chain with ..., c5 immediately. Your queen bishop could potentially be of use then on e3 to add support to your d4 pawn if needed. </p>
 14130: <p>since you are ahead in development, it will benefit you to open the center, or prepare for that, so Rook to e1 seems to be good altenative, 
it will benefit you to:</p>

<p>1- have a plan
2- develop based on that plan,</p>

<p>so, here I would play Re1 and wait to see where balck is going to castle, and then go after his knig, or open the  center if it remains there,</p>

<hr>

<p>PS: another suggestion would be to play e.d5 immediately, the idea behind it is to try to open up the game ASAP and not let black develop harmoniosuly </p>
 70: <p>You don't <em>have</em> to develop your Bishop on the next move. <code>Bf4</code> does look ok, however. <code>Re1</code> also looks good as it will support the <code>e</code> pawn.</p>
