[Event "Rated Rapid game"] [Site "https://lichess.org/z1LpU8c5"] [Date "2022.03.11"] [White "dannver"] [Black "I-Luzhin"] [Result "0-1"] [WhiteElo "1730"] [BlackElo "2112"] [TimeControl "900+5"] [Termination "Normal"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "B13"] [Opening "Caro-Kann Defense: Exchange Variation"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/kyrongriffith"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/hMC22Fza/GxLgNdDd"] [Orientation "black"] { This round 4 game features Dannver Wu of Google as white against Sarah Budow of Thomson Reuters } 1. e4 { [%clk 0:15:00] } 1... c6 { [%clk 0:15:01] } 2. Nf3 { [%clk 0:15:01] } 2... d5 { [%clk 0:15:04] } 3. exd5 { [%clk 0:15:00] } 3... cxd5 { [%clk 0:15:06] } 4. d4 { [%clk 0:15:04] } 4... Nc6 { [%clk 0:14:59] } 5. Bb5 { [%clk 0:15:01] } 5... a6 { [%clk 0:14:54] } 6. Ba4?! { White should actually bail out and take the knight. This bishop turns out to be more of a liability for white than a strength as we will see in the game. } { [%clk 0:15:02] } 6... b5 { [%clk 0:14:49] } 7. Bb3 { [%clk 0:15:05] } 7... Bg4 { [%clk 0:14:48] } 8. O-O { [%clk 0:14:57] } 8... e6 { One of the reasons why the Caro-Kann is considered a better opening than the French (controversial statement!) is because of black's ability to develop the c8 bishop before pushing a pawn to e6. Here we see a dream position from the black side of the Caro where black has achieved the solid french structure but without the problematic c8 bishop. } { [%clk 0:14:40] } 9. Be3 { [%clk 0:14:37] } 9... Nf6 { [%clk 0:14:41] } 10. h3 { [%clk 0:14:21] } 10... Bh5 { [%clk 0:14:41] } 11. a4 { [%clk 0:14:19] } 11... Bd6 { Bd6 is a good move, ignoring white's last. Black recognizes that axb5 is not a big deal and simply continues developing. } { [%clk 0:14:32] } 12. axb5 { [%clk 0:13:44] } 12... axb5 { [%clk 0:14:35] } 13. Rxa8 { [%clk 0:13:48] } 13... Qxa8 { [%clk 0:14:38] } 14. Nbd2 { [%clk 0:13:10] } 14... O-O { [%clk 0:14:29] } 15. c3 { [%clk 0:12:38] } 15... Na5 { [%cal Ga5c4] [%clk 0:13:58] } 16. Bc2 { [%clk 0:12:13] } 16... Nc4 { [%clk 0:13:28] } 17. g4 { [%clk 0:12:08] } 17... Bg6 { [%clk 0:13:05] } 18. Bxg6 { [%clk 0:12:10] } 18... hxg6 { [%clk 0:12:56] } 19. Nxc4 { [%clk 0:11:42] } 19... bxc4 { It may not be immediately obvious to some, but black's position is significantly better here. Black's bishop is good while white's is bad (completely blocked in by its own pawns). Furthermore the backward pawn on b2 represents a permanent weakness. } { [%csl Gb2,Ge3,Gd6] [%clk 0:12:59] } 20. Ne5 { [%clk 0:11:31] } 20... Qb8 { A simple fork will net a pawn for black } { [%cal Gb8b2,Gb8e5] [%clk 0:12:35] } 21. Bc1 { [%clk 0:09:55] } 21... Bxe5 { [%clk 0:11:43] } 22. dxe5 { [%clk 0:09:58] } 22... Qxe5 { [%clk 0:11:47] } 23. g5 { [%clk 0:09:33] } 23... Nh5 { [%clk 0:11:25] } 24. f4 { [%clk 0:08:32] } 24... Qf5 { [%clk 0:11:01] } 25. Kh2 { [%clk 0:08:14] } 25... Rb8 { [%clk 0:10:40] } 26. Qe2 { [%clk 0:07:14] } 26... Rd8 { [%clk 0:10:06] } 27. Be3 { [%clk 0:07:08] } 27... Qe4 { Black is in no rush and can improve their pieces to the maximum before committing to any pawn breaks. } { [%clk 0:09:25] } 28. Qf2 { [%clk 0:06:42] } 28... Qd3 { [%clk 0:09:13] } 29. Ra1 { [%clk 0:06:08] } 29... Rb8 { [%clk 0:08:52] } 30. Bd4 { [%clk 0:05:58] } 30... Qe4 { White has actually managed to get a touch of activity, but unfortunately white's king is just too weak and black's king too safe to make anything tangible happen } { [%clk 0:08:30] } 31. Be3 { [%clk 0:05:35] } 31... e5 { [%clk 0:07:56] } 32. fxe5 { [%clk 0:04:51] } 32... Qxe5+ { [%clk 0:07:57] } 33. Kg2 { [%clk 0:04:37] } 33... Re8 { [%clk 0:07:56] } 34. Ra7?? { White miscalculates, but the game was lost already. } { [%clk 0:03:39] } 34... Qxe3 { [%clk 0:07:07] } 35. Qxf7+ { [%clk 0:03:01] } 35... Kh7 { Oops! Qxg7 is not checkmate unfortunately. } { [%clk 0:07:10] } 36. Qf2 { [%clk 0:02:34] } 36... Nf4+ { [%clk 0:06:45] } 37. Kf1 { [%clk 0:02:20] } 37... Qc1+ { 0-1 White resigns. } { An instructive game for Caro-Kann players! } { [%clk 0:06:46] } 0-1