[Event "USATE 2016"] [Site "https://lichess.org/study/OH3is8Ig/XIpgaHWG"] [Date "2016.02.14"] [Round "4"] [White "Ostrovskiy, Aleksandr"] [Black "Pascetta, Daniel"] [Result "1-0"] [Annotator "Ostrovskiy, Aleksandr"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "B19"] [Opening "Caro-Kann Defense: Classical Variation, Lobron System"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/OH3is8Ig/XIpgaHWG"] [Orientation "white"] 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bf5 5. Ng3 Bg6 6. h4 h6 7. Nf3 Nd7 8. h5 Bh7 9. Bd3 Bxd3 10. Qxd3 e6 11. Bd2 Ngf6 12. O-O-O Be7 { Variations with opposite side castling in the Caro-Kann have completely overshadowed the old main line with 0-0-0, and have brought more dynamic play for Black. } 13. Kb1 O-O 14. Ne4 c5 { The second most popular variation (and the best scoring) but also extremely dangerous. } (14... Nxe4 15. Qxe4 Nf6 16. Qe2 Qd5 { The main line, centralizing the queen and preparing a potential Queen trade on e4 }) 15. g4! { This blunt approach is a typical strategy to highlight the drawbacks of the black king going short. } 15... Nxg4 { Otherwise g5 blows open files. In many similar positions with a g4 push, Black takes the pawn and tries to weather the storm by nullifying the g-file or striking in the center/queenside. } 16. Qe2 { Not hurrying with Rg1 ideas, but first improving the queen by clearing the d-file for the Rd1, x-raying the Ng4, x-raying the e6 pawn (in case of f5 from Black), and also defending f2. } 16... Ngf6 (16... Qb6 { This continuation has been the most popular. Now the majority of games have continued with: } 17. Ne5 Ndxe5 18. dxe5 f5 19. exf6 Nxf6 20. Rdg1 $44) 17. Rhg1 Kh8 18. dxc5 { White has equalized the material and mantains great attacking chances due to the g-file } 18... Qc7 $146 { In the only preceeding game Black continued with: } (18... Nxe4 19. Qxe4 Bf6 20. Bb4! Qc7 21. c6 bxc6 22. Bxf8 Rxf8 $16 { 1-0 (34) Navarrete Espi, S (2057)-Aranaz Murillo,A (2190)/ Linares 2010 (34) }) 19. Bxh6? { This move was very tempting, although the calm alternative was way stronger! } (19. Bc3 { Was a simple alternative. Black may prove to be unable to withstand White's kingside pressure: } 19... Nxc5 { Was my consideration during the game } (19... Rad8? 20. Rxg7! Kxg7 21. Rg1+ Kh7 22. Qd3! Nxe4 (22... Kh8 23. Qe3 Kh7 24. Neg5+ hxg5 25. Nxg5+ Kh8 26. Nxe6 { Is similar to the game, but better as there is no Qe5! }) 23. Qxe4+ f5 24. Rg7+ Kh8 25. Qe3 $18) 20. Nxc5! (20. Nxf6 Bxf6 21. Bxf6 gxf6 { Weakens Black's king, but with pieces being traded off it is not so easy to launch an attack }) 20... Qxc5 21. Ne5 { Black's extra pawn is immaterial here. }) 19... gxh6 20. Qd2 { Preferred over Qe3 to keep the Nd7 in sight } 20... Kh7? (20... Rg8! { Avoids any immediate accidents } 21. Qxh6+ Nh7 $13) (20... Ng8? { The Nd7 will not be taken! } 21. Rxg8+! Kxg8 22. Qxh6 { Rg1 next }) 21. Neg5+! hxg5 22. Nxg5+ Kh8 23. Nxe6 Qe5! { Black's only move.....which I admit embarrassingly escaped my attention when I played 19. Bxh6. I spent an hour on my next move, and the product of my calculation is displayed in the game and the supporting variations below. } 24. Qh6+! (24. Rde1? Qxe1+! (24... Qf5 { is actually also possible, intending } 25. Nd4 Ne4!) 25. Rxe1 fxe6 26. Qh6+ Nh7 27. Qxe6 { This seemed like a good option at first as I will pick up a piece and have a material advantage due to the plethora of pawns. However after: } 27... Ndf6! { The Be7 is immune! The resulting material imbalance is unusual, but not in my favor }) 24... Nh7 25. Rg7 (25. Rxd7?? Bf6 { Which defends the g7 square with tempo and prepares to capture the Ne6 }) 25... Qf5 { Unfortunately my opponent did not let me display the most impressive variation in this position } (25... Nf6 26. Ng5! (26. Rg5? { I had thought this move won at first, because } 26... Ng8 { but } (26... Ng4! { improves because the Qe5 is defended now! } 27. Rxe5 Nxh6 28. Nxf8 Bxf8 { Again a peculiar material imbalance but the three pieces are serious once they move out to better squares }) 27. Qxh7+! Kxh7 28. Nxf8+ Bxf8 29. Rxe5 { Results in a big material advantage }) 26... Qf5 27. Rd5! { An aesthetically pleasing move. Actually this move itself did not take me that long to discover, it was to realize the resulting position was winning for me! } (27. b3 { Is very cold-blooded and impressive. Despite the material advantage of two pieces, Black is helpless against the threat of Rd5! After } 27... Rad8 28. Rxd8 Bxd8 29. Nxf7+ Rxf7 30. Rxf7 { There is an "improved" transposition to the main line }) 27... Rad8! { I had foreseen this move and assumed it saved the game. It does not! } 28. Rxd8 Bxd8 29. Nxf7+ Rxf7 30. Rxf7 $18 { Black now loses a piece by force due to the dual threats of Qg7 and Rf8! } 30... Qg4 31. Rf8+ Ng8 32. Rxd8 Qg1+ 33. Qc1 { is a nice final point, no back rank! }) 26. Rdg1!! { Although I did not get to play the impressive variation displayed in the notes above, I was able to execute this quiet killer. The idea is to sever the Qf5-h7 defense with R1g6! I had gone into this variation intending to regain material. The final point I had to work out was } (26. Rxd7 Rfe8 27. a3!! { Simply making a luft! I am proud that the engine supports my calculations here. With no issues with back rank mates I am able to attack in peace } (27. Nd4?? Bg5!) 27... fxe6 28. Rxb7!) 26... Rg8 { Blundering into mate } (26... Nf6 { Was most tenacious, with the key point being } 27. R7g5 Qxg5 28. Nxg5! { Black is completely immobilized and getting mated. There is no stopping Nxh7! }) (26... fxe6 27. R1g6 Nf6 28. Rxh7+ Nxh7 29. Qg7#) 27. Rxg8+ Rxg8 28. Rxg8+ Kxg8 29. Qg7# { 1-0 White wins. } 1-0