user3872: It seems that after 9. h3 or 9. Nc3, black usually plays Ke8, Bd7, h6, and sometimes Ne7. My question is: why isn't 9... Ne7 played more often, with the plan of putting the Knight on g6?
Situation:
[FEN ""]
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5 8. Qxd8+ Kxd8


user4588: One of the reasons could be that the knight on f5 is already developed. Probably it doesn't appeal to many players to spend 2 tempi to reposition the knight, while black is already slightly behind in development.
Futhermore, many alternative setups are possible and perfectly playable: Ke8, Bd7 and Kc8, etc...
However, it seems that an early Ne7 recently regained some of its popularity: 

So - Kramnik
Maze - Smith
Caruana - Dominguez
Caruana - Carlsen
Nakamura - Topalov


3872: <p>It seems that after 9. h3 or 9. Nc3, black usually plays Ke8, Bd7, h6, and sometimes Ne7. My question is: why isn't 9... Ne7 played more often, with the plan of putting the Knight on g6?</p>

<p>Situation:</p>

<pre><code>[FEN ""]
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5 8. Qxd8+ Kxd8
</code></pre>
 4588: <p>One of the reasons could be that the knight on f5 is already developed. Probably it doesn't appeal to many players to spend 2 tempi to reposition the knight, while black is already slightly behind in development.</p>

<p>Futhermore, many alternative setups are possible and perfectly playable: Ke8, Bd7 and Kc8, etc...</p>

<p>However, it seems that an early Ne7 recently regained some of its popularity: </p>

<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1795269" rel="nofollow">So - Kramnik</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1794293" rel="nofollow">Maze - Smith</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1791972" rel="nofollow">Caruana - Dominguez</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1784261" rel="nofollow">Caruana - Carlsen</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1772851" rel="nofollow">Nakamura - Topalov</a></li>
</ul>
