[Event "Casual Blitz game"] [Site "https://lichess.org/Weaqo9cR"] [Date "2021.09.07"] [White "joaovithor"] [Black "Locke79"] [Result "0-1"] [WhiteElo "1603"] [BlackElo "1666"] [TimeControl "180+0"] [Termination "Normal"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "B13"] [Opening "Caro-Kann Defense: Exchange Variation"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/Locke79"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/AA9OXNhE/elR2V4xV"] [Orientation "black"] 1. e4 { [%clk 0:03:00] } 1... c6 { [%clk 0:03:00] } 2. d4 { [%clk 0:02:59] } 2... d5 { [%clk 0:03:00] } 3. exd5 { [%clk 0:02:58] } 3... cxd5 { [%clk 0:03:00] } 4. Nc3 { [%clk 0:02:58] } 4... Bf5 { [%clk 0:02:59] } 5. Nf3 { [%clk 0:02:57] } 5... a6 { This is one of the possible options, Black has no weaknesses so taking the time to play a6 is fine. This also removes Whites possibility of pinning the c6 knight leaving e2 or d3 as the only options for the bishop. } { [%cal Gf1d3,Gf1e2] [%clk 0:02:58] } (5... Nc6 6. Bb5 a6 7. Bxc6+ bxc6 8. Bf4 e6 9. O-O Ne7 10. h3 Ng6 11. Bg3 Bd6 { Another line I get every so often which keeps the tension of the minor pieces in the middle. Whites traded a center pawn away but I'd be left with a semi weak a pawn. }) 6. Bd3 { I'll gladly swap this off as the light bishop can be a bit of a hassle for me to keep around. } { [%clk 0:02:56] } (6. Nh4 { This is White's more aggressive line } 6... Bc8 7. g3 Nf6 8. Bg2 Nc6 9. O-O Bg4 10. Qd3 h6 { The game takes on a very interesting structure, something you don't see in most Caro openings. I would enjoy playing this but I've never had the opponent play Nh4 in this situation. } 11. h3 Bd7 { [%cal Gc3d5] } 12. Re1 e6 { [%cal Gh4f5,Gh4f3] } 13. Nf5 Bb4 (13... Be7 { I think I would opt to play this line as it forces White to move the knight and no longer have the sac on h6 after 0-0. } 14. Nxe7 Nxe7) 14. a3 Bxc3 15. bxc3 O-O 16. Nxh6+ gxh6 17. Bxh6 { This looks very dangerous for Black, I wouldn't want to play into this. }) 6... Bxd3 { [%clk 0:02:56] } 7. Qxd3 { [%clk 0:02:55] } 7... Nc6 { [%clk 0:02:56] } 8. O-O { [%clk 0:02:52] } 8... Nf6 { [%clk 0:02:56] } 9. Ne5 { [%clk 0:02:51] } 9... e6 { This is a standard position to get, usually Bg5 is incoming before the capture on c6 but if that happens then Bg4 Rc8 is possible. } { [%clk 0:02:55] } 10. Nxc6 { [%clk 0:02:48] } (10. Bg5 Rc8 { Now it wouldn't be in White best interest to capture the knight anymore. } 11. Ne2 Bd6 12. Ng4 Be7 13. Nxf6+ Bxf6 14. Bxf6 Qxf6 15. c3 Na5 16. Rac1) 10... bxc6 { At this point I have a game plan of bishop development, castle and put the rooks and Queen on the c and b files. } { [%clk 0:02:53] } 11. Bg5 { [%clk 0:02:41] } 11... h6 { [%clk 0:02:51] } 12. Bh4 { [%clk 0:02:38] } 12... Be7 { [%clk 0:02:46] } (12... Bd6 13. Rfe1 O-O 14. Na4 { Na4 is recommended but allows for my Queen to escape the pin. } 14... Qa5 15. b3 (15. Bxf6 Qxa4) 15... Nd7) 13. Rae1 { [%clk 0:02:33] } 13... Qc7 { [%clk 0:02:44] } 14. Bg3 { [%clk 0:02:29] } 14... Bd6 { White isn't producing any threats here and my game plan is very straight forward, swapping pieces off isn't really the best idea. } { [%clk 0:02:43] } 15. Bxd6 { [%clk 0:02:26] } 15... Qxd6 { White is going to look to outpost the knight on c5 but I have the backwards knight move to d7 to prevent it. Being able to push c5 is my entire game plan so it can't be blockaded. } { [%cal Gc3a4,Ga4c5] [%clk 0:02:43] } 16. Na4 { [%clk 0:02:22] } 16... Nd7 { [%clk 0:02:39] } 17. b3 { [%clk 0:02:16] } 17... O-O { [%clk 0:02:38] } 18. Re3 { [%clk 0:02:12] } (18. c4 { The game gets much more complicated after c4. } 18... dxc4 { This is the first and most obvious. It fractures my pawns so I'm not too keen on it however it also fractures White's pawns. } { [%cal Gd3c3] } (18... Qa3 19. Qc2 Rfb8 20. Re3 Nf6 21. Rc1 a5 22. Nc5 dxc4 23. bxc4 Qb2 24. Rc3) 19. Qxc4 { There are a few options that stick out, setting the rooks behind the Queen or on the open file and getting the knight to d5. } { [%cal Gf8d8,Gf8b8,Gd7f6,Gf6d5] } 19... Rfd8 (19... Nf6 20. Rc1 { [%cal Gf8b8] } 20... Rfb8 21. Qxc6 Qxd4 22. Rfd1 Qb4 23. Rc4 Qb5 24. Qf3) 20. Rc1 { Both sides get counter play in the form of a weakened pawn. } 20... Nf6 21. Rfd1 Nd5 22. Nc5 Qc7 23. g3 Nb6 24. Qc3 Nd5 25. Qc4 Nb6 26. Qe2 { [%cal Ga6a5,Ga5a4] } 26... a5 27. Qe5 Qxe5 28. dxe5 { At this point White has fixed their pawn slightly, I'm left with a backwards pawn but the a pawn has potential. } 28... Rxd1+ 29. Rxd1 a4 30. Rd6 axb3 31. axb3 Nd5 32. h4 g5 33. hxg5 hxg5 34. Ne4 Ra1+ 35. Kg2 Re1 36. Nxg5 Rxe5 37. Nf3 { The game is likely to come to a draw at the end of this. }) 18... Rfc8 { [%clk 0:02:37] } (18... c5 19. dxc5 Nxc5 20. Nxc5 Qxc5 21. Qd2 Rfc8 22. c3 Rc6 23. Rg3 { My opponent played Rg3 in the game but never played Qd2 to threaten the h pawn. } { [%cal Gd2h6,Gg3g7] } 23... Rac8 24. Qxh6? { This looks impressive but the capture on c3 defends the g7 pawn } { [%cal Gc5c3,Gc3g7] } 24... Qxc3 25. Qf4 Qb2 26. Rf3 R6c7 27. a4) 19. Rg3 { [%clk 0:02:06] } 19... c5 { [%clk 0:02:34] } 20. dxc5 { [%clk 0:01:58] } 20... Nxc5 { [%clk 0:02:33] } 21. Nxc5 { [%clk 0:01:57] } 21... Rxc5 { [%clk 0:02:33] } 22. Re1 { [%clk 0:01:51] } (22. c4 { I expected c4 in the game but it wasn't played. It's White best try at getting counter play. } 22... Rac8 23. h3 g6 24. Qd2 Kg7 25. Rd3) 22... Rac8 { [%clk 0:02:31] } 23. Re2 { [%clk 0:01:48] } (23. Qd4 { Threatens mate so the Queen has to drop back for the moment. } { [%cal Gd4g7,Gg3g7] } 23... Qf8 24. c3 { White progress and defends. } 24... R5c6 25. h3 Kh7 26. Qd3+ g6 27. Qd2) 23... Qc6 { [%clk 0:02:24] } 24. c4?? { The only real blunder of the game and it lost it immediately. } { [%clk 0:01:28] } 24... dxc4 { [%clk 0:02:23] } 25. bxc4 { [%clk 0:01:28] } 25... Rxc4 { [%clk 0:02:22] } 26. Ree3 { 0-1 White resigns. } { [%clk 0:01:23] } (26. h3 Rc3 27. Qd4 Rxg3 28. fxg3 Qc5 29. Re4 Qxd4+ 30. Rxd4 Rc5 31. Ra4 a5 32. Rd4 { This is a won end game, White's pawns are too congested and the extra pawn is enough to win. } 32... g5 33. Rd8+ Kg7) 0-1