Also both players’ rooks are touching. They’re the tank, resistant but hard to move (literal tons of stone), so they’re best kept apart (hence their starting position) to cover for each DPS.
And 2 pairs of white scouts behind each other? This is inefficient and hinders their attack options, which is why they start at exactly 1 pawn per file. And the junglers should be more developed at this stage of the game, they’re among the first to go exploring thanks to the Jump ability.
Black has 2 white-square bishops. Why not promote to a queen instead?
Just taking the maximum amount of material is not romantic, so the bishop is taken to avoid being haunted by Chigorin and Zukertort
Black already has a white square queen too.
Also both players’ rooks are touching. They’re the tank, resistant but hard to move (literal tons of stone), so they’re best kept apart (hence their starting position) to cover for each DPS.
And 2 pairs of white scouts behind each other? This is inefficient and hinders their attack options, which is why they start at exactly 1 pawn per file. And the junglers should be more developed at this stage of the game, they’re among the first to go exploring thanks to the Jump ability.