Rather play black or white?

I would much rather prefer playing White. especially if White still moves first. White is so much further ahead in development at this stage and both Rooks already sit on Half-open files and Black has to be very careful when trying to catch up in development with White's pawns already on the fourth rank.

As far as White's King being open, I would counter that Black currently is not threatening anything so it doesn't matter. Before Black even thinks about attacking the White King, Black needs to figure out how to get his pieces in play and White already has a big head start in that area. I consider lack of development to be a big weakness in Black's position.

Even being two pawns up, I would hate to play Black in this position.

On very long time controls I think black may be preferable, but in a short game I'd go with white. I think it's roughly even.

Black gets 2 pawns.
White gets space, and half open files for the rooks.

Don't see either side castling comfortably.

@kstevens67 A matter of semantics but just so nobody gets confused it is inaccurate to say that White has a lead in development. The term development refers to initial deployment of minor pieces (knights and bishops) so neither side has any development here.

Without looking at the engine or anything, my sense is that his is roughly equal. White on one hand has control of the center and more activity for some of his pieces, Black is ahead in material and may have an easier time defending his king than White whose pawn structure leaves his king vulnerable should Black succeed in finding a way around it.

I would take Black and plan to build financhettoes on both sides and try to somehow create a position in which White's pawns can't advance further without letting an attacking bishop through or creating a strong square for my knights.

I don't even think in a long tournament game I would want to take black.

According SF/Komodo, position is in balance.

Because of the Russian Game: Black. I'll take either but right now I simply have a better chance to win by playing defense, equalizing, and then counterattacking with that opening. It's like 70% of what I wind up in as black.

As someone already eluded to - As my attacking skills are improving, of course I'm starting to like white more.

Do you like white or black in this endgame?

No way to pick white in #1 for me in blitz. In long time control game if I'd have some time to prepare I'd look at some variants and decided. I don't care what engine says, you need to be very precise in this position to actually get anything out of white's space advantage, black is up two pawns, white's pawns in the center look more like weaknesses that black can attack rather than "domination in the center".

@trickynick -I disagree of course. It is much too simplistic to claim development refers to initial development of minor pieces. There is so much more to development than that.

In the excellent books “Build up your Chess” by Artur Yusupov, “the aim is to mobilize the forces quickly and the first principle of opening play is rapid development of ALL the pieces". You cannot talk about development without mentioning the Rooks and Queen. This is like analyzing a position by only looking at half the board.

The second principle of opening play is to struggle for the center. White has the advantage in both areas in my opinion and with this advantage comes the initiative which is always nice to have. Many players underestimate the benefit in having the initiative which is also an advantage.

Will Back be able to catch up in development is the question and I am looking at this position from a practical stand point and which position I would rather play. Both sides are probably going to make mistakes, but I am looking at the position as White’s position I see being easier to play for the moment and Black must be extremely careful. Keep in mind that Black’s King IS still in the center and should the center become open, this should benefit White who is better developed.

In reality the position is probably close to equal thanks to Black’s two extra pawns, but let me tell you something. I would be licking my chops if I played this position as White looking for piece activity and later some sharp sacrifices getting to my opponents King. For those who like to defend may prefer the Black position to try and whether the storm winning in the endgame with their two extra pawns, but I don’t see it being that easy for Black as most mistakes I see come when the person is under some pressure which in this case I see being on Black.

@Wolfram_EP I don't understand. You don't think gambits are more dangerous in blitz? Your post implies you think black's position is better in blitz than in standard. I don't even think white needs to play more precisely than black does.