[Event "USCF/WS/25W05"] [Site "ICCF"] [Date "2025.03.26"] [White "Gladding, Lawrence"] [Black "Sloan, Nicholas"] [Result "0-1"] [WhiteElo "1800"] [BlackElo "2081"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "B12"] [Opening "Caro-Kann Defense: Advance Variation, Tal Variation"] [StudyName "Check is in the Mail - August 2025"] [ChapterName "Game 1"] [ChapterURL "https://lichess.org/study/NvweRqYq/IUhPESdg"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/jkfrench"] [Orientation "white"] 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. h4 h5 5. Bd3 Bxd3 6. Qxd3 e6 { 6. ...Qd8-Qa5+ is the modern continuation. } 7. Bg5 { B12: Caro-Kann: Advance Variation. } (7. Nf3 $14) 7... Qb6 8. Nd2 c5! 9. c4 { The position is equal. } 9... Qxb2 10. Rd1 Nc6 (10... Qxd4 11. Qb3 Qxe5+ 12. Ne2 $14) 11. Ne2 Nb4 12. Qf3 { White sacrificed a pawn } 12... Nc2+ 13. Kf1 Nxd4 14. Nxd4 Qxd4 15. Qb3 Be7! (15... Qxe5 16. Qb5#) 16. cxd5 exd5 17. Qxb7 Rd8 18. Re1 { Threatens to win with e5-e6. } 18... Qb4 19. Qc6+ $146 { Variations & Predecessor: } (19. Qxa7 Qb5+ (19... Bxg5 20. hxg5 Ne7 21. e6 $14) (19... Rh6 20. Rb1 Qd4 21. Kg1 Re6 22. Nf3 Qc4 23. Rb8 Bxg5 24. Nxg5 Qc1+ 25. Kh2 { ½-½ Ragger,M (2647)-Bluebaum,M (2673) Olympiad-44 Chennai 2022 (3.1) }) 20. Kg1 $14) 19... Kf8 { ...Bxg5 would now be deadly. } 20. Rb1 Qa5 21. Rh3 (21. Rb7 { keeps the balance. }) 21... Bxg5! $17 { Remove Defender } (21... Qxa2 22. Rhb3 f6 (22... Bxg5 23. hxg5 Ne7 24. Qc7 $18) 23. exf6 gxf6 24. Bf4 $16) 22. hxg5?? { Loses the game. } (22. Nb3 $17 Qb6 (22... Qxa2 23. Ra1 $15) 23. Qxb6 axb6 24. hxg5) 22... Ne7! $19 { Black is clearly winning. } (22... Qxd2 23. Qc7 Re8 (23... Qxg5 24. Rb8) 24. Rf3 $17) 23. Qb7 Qxd2 24. Qc7 (24. Kg1 Qxg5 25. Qc7) 24... Rc8 25. Qd6 Qxg5 (25... Qxa2 26. Rb8 Kg8 (26... Qa1+ 27. Ke2 $17) 27. Rxc8+ Nxc8 28. Qd8+ (28. Qxc5? { loses. } 28... Qa1+ 29. Ke2 Qxe5+ 30. Re3 Qf5 $19) 28... Kh7 29. Rxh5+ Kg6 30. Qxh8 (30. Rxh8 Qa1+ 31. Ke2 Qxe5+ 32. Kf1 Nd6) 30... Qb1+ 31. Ke2 Qe4+ 32. Kf1 Qd3+ 33. Ke1 Qc3+ 34. Kf1 Qc1+ 35. Ke2 Qc2+ 36. Ke1 Qb1+ 37. Ke2 Qc2+ 38. Ke1 Qe4+ 39. Kf1 Qb1+ 40. Ke2) 26. Rhb3 Rh6 27. Qd7 Rg6 28. Rg3 Qf5 { Weighted Error Value: White=0.65/Black=0.05 (flawless) Loses game: White=1 --- Mistake: White=2 --- OK: White=8 Black=8 Best: --- Black=4 Strong: --- Black=3 } 0-1