[Event "2025 CHESS ZONE NOVEMBER ACTION"] [Site "Chess.com"] [Date "2025.11.29"] [Round "01"] [White "FIRAT SAHINER"] [Black "Nicholas Karas"] [Result "0-1"] [WhiteElo "1670"] [BlackElo "2004"] [TimeControl "3600+5"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "B12"] [Opening "Caro-Kann Defense: Advance Variation"] [StudyName "CZN January 2026"] [ChapterName "FIRAT SAHINER - Nicholas Karas (Annotated game)"] [ChapterURL "https://lichess.org/study/KdBveovu/ZxhCL5Mx"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/stingo1964"] [Orientation "white"] 1. e4 { [%clk 0:59:50] } 1... c6 { [%clk 0:59:59] } 2. d4 { [%clk 0:59:29] } 2... d5 { [%clk 0:59:57] } 3. e5 { [%clk 0:59:30] } 3... Bf5 { [%clk 0:59:57] } 4. Bd3 { [%clk 0:59:26] } 4... Bxd3 { [%clk 0:59:38] } 5. Qxd3 { [%clk 0:59:29] } 5... e6 { [%clk 0:59:25] } 6. c3 { [%clk 0:59:27] } 6... c5 { This closed position is equal. The pawn structure is similar to a French Defense, but Black does not have the French's bad light-squared bishop, and therefore has no problems. } { [%clk 0:57:43] } 7. Ne2 { [%clk 0:57:28] } 7... Nc6 { [%clk 0:57:05] } 8. O-O { [%clk 0:56:31] } 8... Nge7 { [%clk 0:55:23] } 9. f4 { This move gives a slight advantage to Black by weakening the a7-g1 diagonal. } { [%clk 0:56:03] } 9... cxd4 { [%clk 0:49:59] } (9... Nf5 { A bold move suggested by Stockfish. A typical human player would probably be afraid of 10. g4, but the computer is fine with the sample line: } 10. g4 Nh4 11. f5 h5 12. fxe6 fxe6 13. gxh5 Rxh5 14. Nf4 Qg5+ { Now Black should sacrifice an exchange getting several pawns and active pieces. } 15. Qg3 Kd7 16. Nxh5 Qxh5 17. Bg5 Nf5 18. Qg2 cxd4 19. Nd2 Ne3 20. Bxe3 dxe3 21. Nb3 Nxe5) 10. Nxd4 { [%clk 0:53:09] } 10... Nxd4 { [%clk 0:51:30] } 11. cxd4 { [%clk 0:53:12] } 11... Qb6 { [%clk 0:50:52] } (11... h5!? { A thematic move to secure f5 for the black knight and, possibly, putting pressure against White's king later on. }) 12. Nc3 { [%clk 0:51:11] } 12... Nc6 { [%clk 0:42:26] } 13. Be3 { [%clk 0:49:14] } 13... Bb4?! { [%clk 0:38:33] } 14. f5 { White strikes in the middle to open the f-file and undermine Black's pawn structure. } { [%clk 0:48:28] } 14... Bxc3 { [%clk 0:36:33] } 15. bxc3 { [%clk 0:47:06] } 15... Qa6 { [%clk 0:34:50] } 16. Qd1 { [%clk 0:43:19] } 16... exf5 { Not much better would be } { [%clk 0:32:28] } (16... Ne7 17. fxe6 Qxe6 (17... fxe6? { Would be punished with } 18. Bg5 Nf5 19. Qh5+ g6 20. Qh3 h6 21. g4 Ne7 22. Bxe7 Kxe7 23. Rf6 { White either gets black king side pawns ... } 23... Rae8 (23... Rag8 { ... or adds to the attack from the opposite side after: } 24. Rb1 Kd8 25. Qf1 Qxf1+ 26. Kxf1 Kc8 27. Rf7) 24. Rxg6 Kd8 25. Rxh6 Rxh6 26. Qxh6) 18. Qa4+ Qc6 19. Qb4 Rc8 20. Bg5 Rc7 21. Rae1 Qe6 22. Qa4+ Qc6 23. Qa3 Qe6 24. Qxa7) 17. Rxf5 { [%clk 0:42:38] } 17... Ne7 { [%clk 0:31:39] } 18. Rf2 { [%clk 0:42:19] } 18... O-O { [%clk 0:30:15] } 19. h4?! { More precise is } { [%clk 0:39:01] } (19. Bg5 Ng6 20. Qd2 h6 21. Bxh6! { Black cannot take the bishop } { } 21... gxh6 { because of the very strong attack against Black king after } 22. Rf6 Qa3 23. Qxh6 Qxc3 24. Rd1 Qc2 25. Rdf1 Rae8 26. h3 Qe4 27. R1f5) 19... Qe6 { [%clk 0:27:14] } 20. Bg5 { [%clk 0:35:23] } 20... Rac8 { [%clk 0:21:25] } 21. Qf3 { [%clk 0:34:00] } 21... Rc7? { Not a good place for the rook as you can see in a couple of moves. } { [%clk 0:18:27] } 22. h5 { [%clk 0:32:54] } 22... h6 { White missed a great attacking opportunity here! } { [%clk 0:17:28] } 23. Bd2 { [%clk 0:26:21] } (23. Bf6 { will be winning here. Black cannot take the bishop } 23... gxf6 (23... Kh8 { or }) (23... Kh7 24. Qd3+ Kh8 { will be followed } 25. Qe3 Kh7 26. Raf1 { with the strong attack against black king. }) 24. Qg3+ Kh8 25. exf6 { Checkmate can be stopped with } 25... Nf5 { or } (25... Rg8 { bit } 26. Qxc7 { wins easily in both cases. })) 23... f5 { Stockfish suggests a passive defense for Black here: } { [%clk 0:16:02] } (23... Kh8 24. Raf1 Ng8 25. Qf5 Qe7 26. Rf3 Rc6 { with clearly better chances for white. }) 24. g4 { [%clk 0:25:11] } 24... Rcc8 { [%clk 0:14:37] } (24... f4 25. Raf1 b5 26. Qh3 b4 { loses a pawn but gives Black some counterplay. }) 25. g5 { [%clk 0:24:15] } 25... Kh7 { [%clk 0:07:55] } 26. Kh1 { [%clk 0:22:50] } 26... Rg8 { [%clk 0:05:55] } 27. Rg1 { [%clk 0:22:24] } 27... b5 { [%clk 0:04:10] } 28. Bf4 { [%clk 0:21:39] } 28... Rc6 { [%clk 0:03:15] } 29. g6+? { White stops his own attack here. Much better would be to keep the tension with } { [%clk 0:20:53] } (29. Rfg2 Rb6 30. Qe3 { Obliging Black to take on g5. } 30... hxg5 31. Rxg5) 29... Kh8 { [%clk 0:03:17] } 30. Qe3 { [%clk 0:20:43] } 30... Rgc8 { [%clk 0:02:53] } 31. Rc2 { [%clk 0:19:46] } 31... Ng8 { While the position is now equal, the initiative has passed to Black. Also good would be } { [%clk 0:02:54] } (31... b4 32. Rgc1 Rxc3 33. Rxc3 Rxc3 34. Rxc3 bxc3 35. Qxc3 Qa6 { threatening both ... Qf1+ and ... Qxa2 }) 32. Rgc1 { [%clk 0:19:06] } 32... Rc4 { [%clk 0:02:46] } 33. Kg2 { [%clk 0:18:49] } 33... Qc6? { [%clk 0:02:49] } 34. Qd3 { White could regain the initiative here with } { [%clk 0:18:31] } (34. e6! { followed by Qe5 either immediately or after protecting the pawn } 34... Re8 35. Re2 Qc8 36. Qe5 Rc6 37. Rce1 Rxc3 38. Qxd5 Nf6 39. Qxf5 { Is winning for white. }) 34... Ne7 { [%clk 0:02:47] } 35. Qd2 { [%clk 0:17:51] } 35... Ng8 { [%clk 0:02:49] } 36. Qd3 { [%clk 0:17:53] } 36... Qe6 { [%clk 0:02:49] } 37. Qe3?! { White could keep the advantage with } { [%clk 0:17:48] } (37. Rb2 a6 38. Bd2 Rf8 39. Rf1) 37... R8c6?! { Inaccuracy. Black could equalize with } { [%clk 0:02:51] } (37... b4 38. Qd3 a5) 38. Kf3?! { Last time for White to play } { [%clk 0:17:22] } (38. Rb2 a6 39. a3 Qe7 40. Rb4 { having some advantage. }) 38... b4 { [%clk 0:02:45] } 39. Ke2! { [%clk 0:17:26] } 39... Qc8 { [%clk 0:02:08] } 40. Kd2 { [%clk 0:17:20] } 40... Qa6 { [%clk 0:01:50] } 41. Qd3? { [%clk 0:16:06] } (41. cxb4 { White would be fine losing some pawns with } 41... Rxc2+ 42. Rxc2 Rxc2+ 43. Kxc2 Qxa2+ 44. Kd1 Qa4+ 45. Ke2 Qxb4 46. e6 { hiding the king on g3 eventually. } 46... Qb5+ 47. Kf2 Qb2+ 48. Kg3 Qb4 49. Kg2 Qb2+ (49... a5 { an active Black move will be punished with } 50. Bxh6! { The bishop is untouchable. } 50... gxh6?? { or } (50... Nxh6 51. e7) (50... Qb2+ 51. Qd2 Qa3 (51... Qxd2+ { Queen trade is hopeless for black } 52. Bxd2 a4 53. Bc1) 52. Bg5 a4 53. Qc2 { is much better for white }) 51. Qe5+) 50. Kg3 (50. Kh3 Qa1 51. e7 Nxe7 52. Qxe7 Qh1+ { with perpetual check. }) 50... Qb4 51. Bxh6 { Bishop sacrifice does not work here because of } 51... Nxh6 52. e7 Qb8+) 41... bxc3+ { [%clk 0:01:41] } 42. Rxc3 { [%clk 0:14:39] } 42... Qxa2+ { [%clk 0:01:31] } 43. R1c2?? { White would be worse but not losing after } { [%clk 0:14:27] } (43. R3c2 Qa4 44. Rxc4 dxc4 45. Qxf5 c3+ 46. Kd3 Qa2 47. Qf7 { with a complicated and sharp game. }) 43... Qa5!! { A textbook move. White is completely paralyzed. } { [%clk 0:01:31] } 44. Be3 { [%clk 0:12:20] } 44... Qb4 { [%clk 0:01:18] } 45. e6 { [%clk 0:11:50] } 45... Rxe6 { [%clk 0:01:06] } 46. Kc1 { [%clk 0:11:39] } 46... f4 { [%clk 0:00:48] } 47. Rxc4 { [%clk 0:11:12] } 47... dxc4 { [%clk 0:00:44] } 48. Qd2 { [%clk 0:11:10] } 48... Qa3+ { [%clk 0:00:41] } 49. Rb2 { [%clk 0:11:14] } 49... c3 { 0-1 Black wins. } { [%clk 0:00:36] } 0-1