Question:
Should we be discussing our future plans or just our next move?
I think having a plan is important but if we discuss it openly, it will be impossible to surprise our opponent. Essentially he will always know what we are planning while we can only guess what he is planning.
On the other hand if we only talk about our next move and noting else we may not end up with the best plan and our moves may end up being more reactive than proactive.
For the 12th move I still trying to decide between
12. a4 (attacking b5)
12. Rac1 (taking more control of the file)
12. Rfd1 (preparing d4)
At first I liked 12. a4 the best to induce weaknesses if black plays 12..... b4. However as foxpup pointed out when we were discussing 10. Nc3 this is unlikely to happen. Instead black may just defend by developing his queen to b6 in which case I am not sure what we have accomplished.
I would go with a4. After Qb6 I would recommend b3.
I will still vote for 12. a4 but I am curious about the reason for planning b3 after Qb6. I could understand if our bishop was still on c1 and wanted to go to b2. Now that our bishop is on f4 what is the purpose of b3?
Is your plan to move Nd1 if black plays b4 and then move the knight to b2 and c4? If so what is wrong with the same idea but moving the knight to b1, d2 and then c4 instead without needing to spend time with b3?
Even if black eventually captures on a4 I think we would prefer to take back with a piece instead of our b3 pawn anyway so that we can use the a file.