[Event "2025 KCF All-Girls National Chess Championship, U18"] [Date "04/05/2025"] [Round "2"] [White "Chloe Stark"] [Black "Iris Mou"] [Result "0-1"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "B15"] [Opening "Caro-Kann Defense: Forgacs Variation"] [StudyName "2025 KCF All-Girls Nationals"] [ChapterName "Stark, Chloe – Mou, Iris"] [ChapterURL "https://lichess.org/study/LuRpburA/qJjvf1PN"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/ChessLifeOnline"] [Orientation "white"] { Annotations by JJ Lang } 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nf6 5. Nxf6+ exf6 6. Bc4 Bd6 { The way Black navigated this opening was very instructive. White seemed eager to trade pieces against her higher-rated opponent. But unforced trades often help the opponent's initiative, as we'll see shortly. } 7. Qe2+ Be7 8. Be3 O-O 9. Nh3 Bd6 10. O-O-O b5 11. Bd3 Be6 12. a3 { White gives her opponent a dangerous hook. } 12... b4 13. axb4?! (13. a4 { was safer. }) 13... a5! { On a dime, Black went from being a bit behind in development to having open and half-open files against White's king! } 14. Nf4 Bxf4 15. Bxf4 axb4 { The trade of pieces only helped Black's initiative, although it was hard to suggest a better move than 14. Nf4. } 16. Bxb8? { But this unforced trade removes Black's worst piece, improves Black's queen, and gives up the endgame advantage of the bishop pair. } (16. Rhe1 { is better. Let Black figure out how to conduct her attack. }) 16... Qxb8 17. g3 Qa7 { White has just tried to trade pieces and play simple chess, but now she's on the verge of being mated! } 18. c4?! { The position was tough to defend, but this weakening move accelerates the end. } 18... bxc3 19. bxc3 Qa1+ 20. Kd2 Ra2+ 21. Bc2 Rxc2+ 22. Kxc2 Qa2+ 23. Kd3 Bc4+ { White resigned. } 0-1