[Event "Rated Rapid game"] [Site "https://lichess.org/njnqz4wZ"] [Date "2021.02.12"] [White "PoppingCheckmates"] [Black "SidArun"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "2686"] [WhiteTitle "NM"] [BlackElo "2326"] [TimeControl "900+5"] [Termination "Normal"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "B12"] [Opening "Caro-Kann Defense: Advance Variation, Tal Variation"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/Giannatos"] [StudyName "NACCL Week 4"] [ChapterName "NM PoppingCheckmates - SidArun"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/Tdjn2pfS/KQHd7Lc8"] [Orientation "white"] 1. e4 { This following game was played on board 2 of round 7 between NM Samuel Song (Deloitte) and NM Siddharth Arun (Charles River Associates). Both players had impressive scores and have USCF ratings over 2250, so certainly an important game for the standings. } { [%clk 0:15:00] } 1... c6 { [%clk 0:15:00] } 2. d4 { [%clk 0:15:03] } 2... d5 { [%clk 0:15:04] } 3. e5 { The Advance Caro-Kann, likely the most testing variation at the moment. } { [%clk 0:15:07] } (3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bf5 5. Ng3 Bg6 { is the old main line which is not as fashionable these days. }) 3... Bf5 { [%clk 0:15:07] } 4. h4 { [%clk 0:15:10] } 4... h5 { [%clk 0:15:11] } 5. Bg5 { [%clk 0:15:13] } 5... Qb6 { [%clk 0:14:55] } 6. Bd3!? { This is what I like to call the "Caveman Caro-Kann." FM Richard Francisco showed me this idea several years ago and I am always interested to know how much players know about it. } { [%clk 0:15:09] } 6... Bxd3 { [%clk 0:14:58] } 7. Qxd3 { [%clk 0:15:14] } 7... e6 { Declining to go into the complications is the main line. } { [%clk 0:15:02] } (7... Qxb2?! 8. e6 fxe6 (8... Qxa1 9. Qb3 Qxd4 10. Qxb7 fxe6 11. Be3 { is another good line for White, who will capture the Rook on a8 and have an excellent position with no material deficit. }) 9. Nf3 Nd7 10. O-O Qxa1 11. Qb3 O-O-O 12. Nc3 Qxf1+ 13. Kxf1 $18 { The material is imbalanced with roughly equal, however White's decisive advantage is due to Black's complete lack of development on the kingside. It is very difficult for Black to coordinate. }) 8. Nd2 { [%clk 0:15:12] } 8... Qa6 { a normal Caro-Kann idea - Black offers a Queen trade. } { [%clk 0:15:03] } 9. c4 { [%clk 0:15:14] } 9... Bb4 { [%clk 0:14:49] } 10. b3 { [%clk 0:15:16] } 10... Nd7 { [%clk 0:14:35] } 11. Ne2 { [%clk 0:14:36] } 11... Nb6?! { Black "wins" the c4 pawn, but at the cost of a few tempi - Black is still undeveloped and the King is stranded in the center. } { [%clk 0:13:20] } (11... Ne7 { has been played before a few times, including by IM Molina against GM Mareco. }) 12. O-O { [%clk 0:14:21] } 12... Bxd2 { [%clk 0:13:18] } 13. Qxd2 { [%clk 0:14:24] } 13... dxc4 { [%clk 0:13:20] } 14. bxc4 { [%clk 0:14:20] } 14... Nxc4 { [%clk 0:13:24] } 15. Qb4! { Black's dark squares are very weak. } { [%clk 0:14:24] } 15... Qb5 { [%clk 0:13:21] } 16. Qxb5? { White should likely have kept the Queens on. } { [%clk 0:13:36] } (16. Qc3) 16... cxb5 { [%clk 0:13:25] } 17. Rfb1 { [%clk 0:13:40] } 17... f6 { [%clk 0:10:28] } (17... a6 18. a4 { is a typical idea. White should regain the pawn. }) 18. exf6 { [%clk 0:13:37] } 18... gxf6 { [%clk 0:10:30] } 19. Bf4 { [%clk 0:13:41] } 19... e5 { [%clk 0:10:34] } 20. dxe5 { [%clk 0:13:42] } 20... fxe5 { [%clk 0:10:38] } 21. Bg5 { [%clk 0:13:46] } 21... Nd6 { [%clk 0:09:28] } 22. f4 { [%clk 0:11:02] } 22... exf4 { [%clk 0:06:49] } 23. Nxf4 { [%clk 0:10:31] } 23... Kd7 { [%clk 0:05:25] } 24. Rd1 $18 { Black is completely uncoordinated. Even though the Queens have been traded, Black's King will still face a brutal attack. } { [%clk 0:10:30] } 24... Kc6 { [%clk 0:03:09] } 25. Ng6 { [%clk 0:10:02] } 25... Rh7 { [%clk 0:02:42] } 26. Ne5+ { [%clk 0:10:04] } 26... Kc7 { [%clk 0:02:46] } 27. Rac1+ { [%clk 0:10:08] } 27... Nc4 { [%clk 0:02:47] } 28. Rd5? { White misses a win. } { [%clk 0:07:46] } (28. Nxc4 bxc4 29. Rxc4+ Kb6 30. Rb1+ Ka5 31. Bd2+! Ka6 32. Ra4#) 28... Kb6 { [%clk 0:01:14] } 29. Nxc4+ { [%clk 0:07:49] } 29... bxc4 { [%clk 0:01:17] } 30. Rxc4 { [%clk 0:07:53] } 30... a5 { [%clk 0:01:09] } 31. Bd8+ { [%clk 0:07:12] } (31. Be3+! { Everything is winning here, but this is a nice forced mate. } 31... Ka6 32. Rd6+ Kb5 33. Rf4 { The threat is Rb6# } 33... a4 34. Rb6+ Ka5 35. Rf5# { A very picturesque mate! }) 31... Rxd8 { [%clk 0:01:13] } 32. Rxd8 { [%clk 0:07:15] } 32... Ne7 { White has changed the course of the game from an attack to a decisive material advantage. At this high level, being up the "exchange" (Rook for Knight) in an endgame is usually enough to win. In this case, however, Black's pieces are too uncoordinated and this will actually cost Black a Knight. } { [%clk 0:01:15] } 33. Rd7 { [%clk 0:06:57] } 33... Rg7 { [%clk 0:01:14] } 34. Rcc7 { 1-0 Black resigns. } { [%clk 0:06:59] } 1-0