user27496:     rnbqkbnr/pppppppp/8/8/4P3/8/PPPP1PPP/RNBQKBNR b KQkq - 0 1
    [Date "2021.08.14"]
    [Result "0-1"]
    [UTCDate "2021.08.14"]
    [UTCTime "22:01:55"]
    [ECO "C42"]
    [Opening "Russian Game: Nimzowitsch Attack"]
[StartPly "22"]

    
    1... e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. Nc3 { C42 Russian Game: Nimzowitsch Attack } Nxc3 6. dxc3 Be7 7. Bd3 O-O 8. Be3 c6 9. Qd2 d5 10. O-O-O a5 11. h4 a4

I played the Petroff as black and my opponent answered with the Nimzowitsch attack. We continued with a pawn run on the a- and h-file. The situation is quite complex and I did not know how to evaluate it. The engine was about +0.9. Are there good ways to think about comparable attacking situations? It is clear to see that the white's bishops are better placed than the black ones. What else is important to consider?

user2001: I would say White has the initiative and easier play.
Let's try something like this
[FEN ""]
1.e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. Nc3 Nxc3 6. dxc3 Be7 7. Bd3 O-O 8. Be3 c6 9. Qd2 d5 10. O-O-O a5 11. h4 a4 12.Ng5 h6 13.g4

It looks dangerous for Black.
Rd1-g1 is coming. Ng5-h7 is an idea. If hxg5 hxg5, h-file opens, White can transfer the Queen with f2-f3 and Qd2-h2.
In general, when castling opposite sides, the player who attacks first will have the initiative and thereby advantage.
White's g-pawn is more dangerous than Black's a-pawn. White's c3-pawn controls d4 and b4 squares and the a1-h8 diagonal, which delays Black's attack.

user19861: The position is roughly equal.
White has a lead in development but black has a  better center and slightly safer king. I don't see any immediate threats from white and at some point white will play c4 and equalize in the center leaving both sides with roughly the same position.
I do think Black's position would be easier to play though because it's just simple development. Black will play Bg4, Bf6, Nd7, and maybe Qb6 ( in varying orders) If white plays h5 answer with h6 and I'm not really worried about the sac on h6. The Ng5 ideas are garbage. I'll eventually take the knight and white will be down a piece with no compensation.

27496: <pre><code>    rnbqkbnr/pppppppp/8/8/4P3/8/PPPP1PPP/RNBQKBNR b KQkq - 0 1
    [Date &quot;2021.08.14&quot;]
    [Result &quot;0-1&quot;]
    [UTCDate &quot;2021.08.14&quot;]
    [UTCTime &quot;22:01:55&quot;]
    [ECO &quot;C42&quot;]
    [Opening &quot;Russian Game: Nimzowitsch Attack&quot;]
[StartPly &quot;22&quot;]

    
    1... e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. Nc3 { C42 Russian Game: Nimzowitsch Attack } Nxc3 6. dxc3 Be7 7. Bd3 O-O 8. Be3 c6 9. Qd2 d5 10. O-O-O a5 11. h4 a4
</code></pre>
<p>I played the Petroff as black and my opponent answered with the Nimzowitsch attack. We continued with a pawn run on the a- and h-file. The situation is quite complex and I did not know how to evaluate it. The engine was about +0.9. Are there good ways to think about comparable attacking situations? It is clear to see that the white's bishops are better placed than the black ones. What else is important to consider?</p>
 2001: <p>I would say White has the initiative and easier play.</p>
<p>Let's try something like this</p>
<pre><code>[FEN &quot;&quot;]
1.e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. Nc3 Nxc3 6. dxc3 Be7 7. Bd3 O-O 8. Be3 c6 9. Qd2 d5 10. O-O-O a5 11. h4 a4 12.Ng5 h6 13.g4
</code></pre>
<p>It looks dangerous for Black.</p>
<p>Rd1-g1 is coming. Ng5-h7 is an idea. If hxg5 hxg5, h-file opens, White can transfer the Queen with f2-f3 and Qd2-h2.</p>
<p>In general, when castling opposite sides, the player who attacks first will have the initiative and thereby advantage.</p>
<p>White's g-pawn is more dangerous than Black's a-pawn. White's c3-pawn controls d4 and b4 squares and the a1-h8 diagonal, which delays Black's attack.</p>
 19861: <p>The position is roughly equal.</p>
<p>White has a lead in development but black has a  better center and slightly safer king. I don't see any immediate threats from white and at some point white will play c4 and equalize in the center leaving both sides with roughly the same position.</p>
<p>I do think Black's position would be easier to play though because it's just simple development. Black will play Bg4, Bf6, Nd7, and maybe Qb6 ( in varying orders) If white plays h5 answer with h6 and I'm not really worried about the sac on h6. The Ng5 ideas are garbage. I'll eventually take the knight and white will be down a piece with no compensation.</p>
