[Event "Casual Blitz game"] [Site "https://lichess.org/ZQhP4U5G"] [Date "2021.02.16"] [White "Luna_Lepus"] [Black "Locke79"] [Result "0-1"] [WhiteElo "1623"] [BlackElo "1596"] [TimeControl "180+0"] [Termination "Normal"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "B10"] [Opening "Caro-Kann Defense"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/Locke79"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/AA9OXNhE/sJZHK1Ag"] [Orientation "black"] 1. e4 { [%clk 0:03:00] } 1... c6 { [%clk 0:03:00] } 2. Nf3 { [%clk 0:02:59] } 2... d5 { [%clk 0:02:59] } 3. exd5 { [%clk 0:02:58] } 3... cxd5 { [%clk 0:02:59] } 4. d4 { [%clk 0:02:58] } 4... Bf5 { After reviewing this game I might be more hesitant to play Bf5 due to c4, games can get very messy with incorrect play. As it turns out c4 causes problems in general for me no matter what I choose, some less than others. The issue is c4 changes the structure in a way that's completely different than how most of my Caro games go. } { [%clk 0:02:59] } (4... Nc6 5. c4 Nf6 6. Nc3 Bg4 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8. Qb3 Bxf3?! (8... Nb6 9. Be2?! (9. d5 Bxf3 10. gxf3 Nd4 11. Bb5+ Nd7 12. Qa4 Nxb5 13. Qxb5) 9... Bxf3 10. Bxf3 { [%cal Gc6d4,Gd4f3,Gd4b3] }) 9. gxf3 { White gets the double attack, maybe taking on f3 isn't the best idea. } { [%cal Gb3d5,Gb3b7] }) (4... Bg4) 5. Bd3 { [%clk 0:02:57] } (5. c4 e6 6. cxd5 (6. Nc3 Bb4 7. cxd5 Qxd5) 6... Qxd5 7. Nc3 Bb4 8. Be2 Qa5 9. O-O Ne7 { This is the only line I feel is comfortable to play and maintain the pawn structure but it requires two Queen moves. }) (5. Bb5+ Nc6 6. Ne5 (6. O-O Nf6 7. c4 dxc4 8. Nc3 e6 9. Qa4 Rc8 10. Qxa7 Qd7 11. Qa4 Bd6 12. Qxc4 O-O 13. Rd1 Qc7) 6... Rc8 7. c4 e6 (7... a6 8. Bxc6+ bxc6 9. Nc3 (9. Qa4 e6 10. Nxc6? { [%cal Gd8d7] } 10... Qd7) 9... dxc4 (9... f6 10. Nf3 e6 11. Nh4 Bg6 12. c5 { [%cal Gg6f7] } 12... Ne7 { Feels bad }) (9... Nf6 10. O-O e6 11. c5 Nd7 12. Bf4 Nxe5 13. Bxe5 f6) 10. O-O { [%csl Gc4,Gc6,Ga6] } 10... e6 11. Qa4 { I still end up with the same issue of a broken Queenside and White has plenty of counter play. } { [%csl Gc4,Gc6,Ga6] }) 8. Nc3 dxc4 9. O-O Nf6 10. Qa4! { Allowing this line feels bad, too much pressure on c6 and a7. } 10... Bd6 (10... Qc7) 11. Nxc6 bxc6 12. Bxc6+ Kf8 { The computer says equal but I would disagree, it probably found some repetition down the road. }) 5... Bxd3 { This is just good for Black, the light square bishop can become a weakness to Nh4 at some point if I can't play Ne7. } { [%clk 0:02:57] } 6. Qxd3 { [%clk 0:02:57] } 6... e6 { [%clk 0:02:57] } (6... Nf6 7. Qb3 { [%cal Gd8c8] } (7. Bg5 Nbd7 8. O-O e6 { [%cal Gb2b3,Gc2c4] } 9. b3 h6 10. Bh4 Rc8 { [%cal Gb7b5] } (10... a6) (10... Qa5 11. c4 Rc8 { [%cal Gc4d5,Gf6d5,Gc8c2,Gf8d6,Ge8g8,Ge8c8,Gc8c3] }) 11. c4) 7... Qd7 8. Ne5 Qc8 9. Bf4 e6 10. Nd3 Nc6 11. c3) 7. O-O { [%clk 0:02:56] } 7... Nc6 { [%clk 0:02:56] } 8. Nc3 { [%clk 0:02:55] } 8... Bd6 { In this case bishop before knight so I can avoid the pin. } { [%clk 0:02:55] } 9. a3 { [%clk 0:02:49] } 9... a6 { Prevents Nb5 so I can play Qc7. } { [%cal Ga6b5] [%clk 0:02:54] } 10. Be3?! { I get over protection is a good idea but here the rook would be better on a semi open e file. } { [%clk 0:02:47] } (10. Re1 Nge7 11. Ne2 { [%cal Ge2g3] } 11... O-O 12. Bf4 Rc8 { [%csl Gc2][%cal Gc7c1] } (12... Qc7 { Less accurate as the trade moves the Queen twice, I could develop. })) 10... Qc7 { [%clk 0:02:53] } 11. Rfe1 { [%clk 0:02:46] } 11... Nge7 { [%clk 0:02:42] } (11... Rc8 12. Nxd5) 12. b4?! { A common idea in the Caro is to pressure the c file with the rooks and Queen. Playing b4 weakens the support for the knight on c3 and prevents anything from being kicked in the future. } { [%clk 0:02:45] } 12... O-O { [%clk 0:02:41] } 13. Ne2 { [%clk 0:02:42] } 13... b5 { [%clk 0:02:40] } (13... Rfc8 14. Rac1 Nb8 15. Ng5 Ng6 16. g3 a5 17. b5?! Qc4 18. Bf4 Be7 19. Qe3 Nxf4 20. Qxf4 Bf6 21. h4 { Spicy computer line. }) (13... Rac8 14. Rac1 b5 { Essentially the same position as the game but without committing the pawn before its necessary. }) 14. Ng3 { White has some ideas of what to do in the Caro since this knight maneuver is common. } { [%clk 0:02:39] } 14... Bxg3 { Semi questionable move but I have a reason. I could easily have kept the tension and stacked on the c file. } { [%clk 0:02:38] } (14... Rfc8 15. c3) 15. fxg3 { [%clk 0:02:34] } 15... Rac8 { [%clk 0:02:37] } 16. Bf4 { Equal position but allowing a tempo on the Queen while giving up the bishop even for stacked pawns isn't the best. } { [%clk 0:02:32] } 16... Qd7 { [%clk 0:02:31] } (16... Qb6 { More forcing move with an interesting line. } 17. c3 Ng6 18. a4 bxa4 19. Rxa4 Qb5 20. Qxb5 axb5 21. Ra6 Nxf4 22. gxf4 Nb8 23. Rb6 Rxc3 24. Rxb5 Rb3 25. Ne5 f6 26. Nf3 Na6 27. Rb6 Nxb4 28. Rexe6 Rb1+ 29. Ne1 Ra8 30. f5 h5 31. Kf2 Ra3 32. Rbd6 Kh7 33. Re7 Nd3+ 34. Nxd3 Rxd3 35. Rxd5 Rb2+ 36. Re2 Rb4 37. g3 Rbxd4 38. Rxd4 Rxd4) 17. Ne5?! { White starts to fall apart here with a series of moves. } { [%clk 0:02:31] } 17... Nxe5 { [%clk 0:02:29] } 18. dxe5 { [%clk 0:02:29] } 18... Qc6 { I regain control and pressure the c file. } { [%clk 0:02:28] } (18... Ng6 { [%cal Gg6e5,Gg6f4] } 19. Re2 Rc4) 19. Re2 { [%clk 0:02:24] } 19... Rc7 { [%clk 0:02:26] } (19... Nf5 20. g4 Qb6+ 21. Kh1 Qd4!! 22. gxf5 Qxa1+ 23. Bc1 Qxc1+ 24. Qd1 Qxd1+ 25. Re1 Qxe1#) 20. Rc1 { [%clk 0:02:21] } 20... Rfc8 { [%clk 0:02:25] } 21. Bg5 { [%clk 0:02:17] } 21... Nf5 { I want to get the knight to d4 and look to add a 3rd attacker to c2. } { [%clk 0:02:22] } 22. Bf4 { [%clk 0:02:12] } 22... Qc4 { [%clk 0:02:21] } (22... Qb6+ 23. Kh1 Rc3 24. Qd2 h5 25. Qd1 Rxa3) 23. Qxc4 { [%clk 0:01:59] } 23... Rxc4 { [%clk 0:02:21] } 24. h4 { [%clk 0:01:52] } (24. Rd2 Nd4) 24... Nd4 { There isn't much for White to do to defend this pawn. } { [%clk 0:02:20] } 25. Rf2 { [%clk 0:01:45] } 25... Rxc2 { [%clk 0:02:17] } (25... Nxc2 26. h5 Nxa3 27. Ra1 Rc3 28. Rf3 Rxf3 29. gxf3 Rc3 30. h6 gxh6 31. Bxh6 Rxf3 32. Kg2 Rc3) 26. Rcxc2 { [%clk 0:01:43] } 26... Rxc2 { [%clk 0:02:16] } 27. Rxc2 { [%clk 0:01:42] } 27... Nxc2 { [%clk 0:02:15] } 28. Bc1 { The game is won from here, White is going to be tied down to the a pawn while I get the center controlled. } { [%clk 0:01:40] } 28... f6 { [%clk 0:02:12] } 29. exf6 { [%clk 0:01:39] } 29... gxf6 { The central pawns are going to be too strong, the cut the King off from creating any counter play. } { [%csl Gf6,Ge6,Gd5] [%clk 0:02:12] } 30. Kf2 { [%clk 0:01:38] } 30... Kf7 { [%clk 0:02:11] } 31. Ke2 { [%clk 0:01:38] } 31... e5 { [%clk 0:02:10] } 32. Kd3 { [%clk 0:01:37] } 32... Nd4 { [%clk 0:02:09] } 33. Bb2 { [%clk 0:01:35] } 33... Nc6 { [%clk 0:02:03] } 34. g4 { [%clk 0:01:31] } 34... Ke6 { In an end game like this having an active King is the key but White isn't able to get any closer. } { [%clk 0:02:03] } 35. g3 { [%clk 0:01:30] } 35... e4+ { [%clk 0:02:02] } 36. Ke3 { [%clk 0:01:28] } 36... Ne5 { [%clk 0:01:56] } 37. Bxe5 { [%clk 0:01:19] } 37... Kxe5 { [%cal Ge5d4,Ge5f4,Ge4f3,Ge4d3] [%clk 0:01:54] } 38. h5 { [%clk 0:01:17] } 38... d4+ { Further pushing White back. White has no decent pawn moves, they all lose a pawn so the King is forced to move. } { [%clk 0:01:53] } 39. Kd2 { [%clk 0:01:15] } 39... Kd5 { [%cal Gd4e3,Ge4d3,Gd4c3,Ge4f3] [%clk 0:01:46] } 40. Ke2 { [%clk 0:01:13] } 40... Kc4 { [%clk 0:01:45] } 41. Kd2 { [%clk 0:01:11] } 41... Kb3 { White doesn't have a way to get to my back line and cause problems because the center pawn control. } { [%cal Ge4f3,Ge4d3,Gd4e3,Gd4c3] [%clk 0:01:43] } 42. Kc1 { [%clk 0:01:09] } 42... Kxa3 { 0-1 White resigns. } { [%clk 0:01:42] } 0-1