After some consideration, it seems the most important criteria were development and space. Global quality is always important. Only one move answers all 3. Despite my fear of Nh5, I think there is legitimate compensation and the better move gives me decisive advantages in space and development. My fear of him employing an equalizing tactic to remove my thematic bishop forgets that if he does so, he will be positionally much worse off. Below is our current position and the process of decision making. Because it was still in the opening, some parts seem forced, but it was a good exercise to go through.

• Threat analysis
  • Checks
    • none
  • Captures
    • none
  • Pressure/tension
    • c5 - c3 cxd4 cxd4 e5? dxe5 dxe5 Bxe5! Nxe5 Qxd8 Kxd8Nxe5 +/-
    • e5 - dxe5 dxe5 Nxe5 +/-
    • g5 - Bxg5 +/-
    • Nd5 - Bg3 with subsequent challenges to that misplaced knight (e4 or c4)
    • Nd4 - Nd2 Nxd2 Qxd2 +/= 3 developed pieces for 1, with more central activity and maintained my key bishop. My queen has to move to get onto her battery square, but that’s ok
    • Nh5! - Bg3 Nxg3 hxg3 or Bd2 loses the initiative. Am I willing to trade my thematic bishop for a knight and a very active queen square that pins the black queen? 4. e3 Nh5 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 g5 7. Nfd2 gxh4 8. Qxh5
  • Vision for opponent
    • Kingside - g6 Bg7 O-O Normal development. Getting my bishop to e2 would be advantageous against a fianchettoed kingside
    • Center - e5 d6 Bb4 O-O - pretty limiting for his LS Bishop
    • Queenside - unsure now
• Long version of positional evaluation
  • Space
    • White controls/contests
      • controls e5 - 4
      • controls g5 - 2
    • Black controls/contests
      • controls e4 - 2
    • Space advantage: white
    • Goal: control/contest new square in energy camp. Coordinate pieces. Improve pawn structure
    • Potential solutions
      • c3
        • controls b5
        • opens line of development for LS bishop
        • increases bishops global and local quality
  • Development
    • Currently equal
    • Potential advantage: white (black needs an extra move to free up both bishops
    • Advantage white
    • Goal: increase advantage
    • Potential solutions
      • Nc3 - blocks c-pawn
      • Nd2 - blocks queen
      • Qd2 - increases quality of queen and DS bishop. Tactical threat with Ne4
      • Qd3 - Increases quality of queen
      • c3 - increases quality of pawn structure
      • e3 - increases potential advantage in development for LS bishop
      • g3 - increases potential advantage in development for LS bishop
  • Quality
    • Global
      • Pawn structure
        • Closed
        • LS diagonal can be opened for me
        • DS bishop outside structure
        • Bad for his DS bishop
      • Pieces each side owns
        • too early, but mine fit structure (its a system)
      • Requirements for position
        • open LS diagonals
        • Centralize queen-knight
      • Potential solutions (only pawn moves)
        • c3 - creates central-pointing pawn chain
        • e3 - better for global quality of bishop
        • g3 - weakens kingside unless willing to commit to fianchetto
        • h5 - protects DS bishop, increasing its global quality
    • Local
      • Knights - he has the advantage with two centralized knights
      • Bishops - mine are better now and potentially much better
      • Queen - mine is more mobile
      • Rooks - equal
      • Advantage me
      • Potential solutions
        • Nbd2 - centralizes and develops knight
    • Material
      • Equal
    • Choosing the move
      • Maximum # of criteria answered 3
      • Discard all with less than two answered leaves c3, e3, g3
      • None are urgent
      • Ignoring material
      • only e3 answers 3 criteria, all important