[Event "USCF/WS/22VP13 (USA)"] [Site "ICCF"] [Date "2022.12.18"] [White "Hoback, Benjamin"] [Black "Wainscott, Chris"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "1844"] [BlackElo "1305"] [Annotator "Irons,Robert"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "B15"] [Opening "Caro-Kann Defense: Tartakower Variation"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/oZnH5FVa/CtFfC5xw"] [Orientation "white"] 1. d4 c6 2. e4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nf6 5. Nxf6+ exf6 { This continuation is recommended by IM Christoff Sielecki in his recent book Keep It Simple for Black, and he makes a compelling case for it. Were I to face this variation, I would choose the same basic plan Hoback chooses: support and advance the d-pawn. } 6. Be2 Bd6 7. Bf3 O-O 8. Ne2 Qc7 9. g3?! { This offers a hook for Back's f-pawn in case he decides to advance on the kingside. The intention is to support Bc1-f4, but I prefer the e3-square as the bishop's eventual home. } 9... Re8 10. O-O Bf5 11. Bf4 Nd7 12. c4 Bxf4 13. Nxf4 Re7?! $14 (13... Rad8 { is better than the text. }) 14. Re1 Rae8 15. Rxe7 Rxe7 16. Qd2 Nb6?! $16 { Either } (16... Qd8 $14 { or }) (16... g6 $14 { are better than the text. }) 17. b3 Be4 18. Bxe4 { Stockfish prefers 18. Bg4 but I like the text. } 18... Rxe4 19. f3!? (19. Rd1 Re8 20. h4 $16 { maintains the advantage. }) 19... Re8 20. a4 Qe7?! $14 (20... Nd7 21. Kg2 Qd6 { is better. }) 21. Kf2 Qd7 22. a5 Nc8 23. d5 { This is the right time for this advance. } 23... Ne7? (23... c5 24. Re1 Rxe1 25. Qxe1 Nd6 26. Qe3 b6 27. g4 Qc7 28. axb6 axb6 { keeps things fairly level. }) 24. d6 Nc8?! (24... Ng6 $16 { offers stiffer resistance. After this White's play is impressively accurate and effective. }) 25. c5 $18 b6 26. axb6 axb6 27. b4 bxc5 28. bxc5 Na7 29. Qa5 Nb5 30. Re1 g5? (30... g6 31. Rxe8+ Qxe8 32. Qd2 { and White is still in control. The text loses instantly. }) 31. Nh5 { The family fork on f6 is too much to bear. Stockfish says this position is mate in no more than 14 moves. } 1-0