Annotated Game #294: What the Caro-Kann is good for

This second-round tournament game shows off what the Caro-Kann is traditionally good for - a solid, semi-open game for Black that allows you to punish an overly-aggressive White player. This is exactly what happens during the game, featuring the Exchange Variation, although I over-complicate the final phase and miss forcing the win.

[Event "?"] [White "Class A"] [Black "ChessAdmin"] [Site "?"] [Round "?"] [Annotator "ChessAdmin/Dragon 3.2"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [Date "????.??.??"] [ECO "B13"] [PlyCount "82"] [GameId "2085142363553942"] 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. Bd3 Nc6 5. c3 Nf6 6. Bf4 g6 7. Nf3 Bg7 (7... Bf5 {is the main idea behind the ...g6 variation, although it is not obligatory.}) 8. Qc2 {this is not a logical place for the queen in the long term, with the diagonal blocked, although it does prevent ...Bf5.} Nh5 $11 {another key idea in this variation, chasing the Bf4.} 9. Be3 Qc7 10. Qb3 Nf4 {although the knight has moved multiple times, each time White is also forced to lose a tempo retreating, and the knight is at a better square. At this point, it is now best for White to exchange off the advanced knight.} 11. Bxf4 Qxf4 12. Nbd2 {the knight would be best on c3, but of course that is occupied.} Qd6 {with d5 pressured, this simple retreat is best.} 13. O-O O-O {the game is now very even.} 14. Qc2 {not very productive, going back to the blocked diagonal.} Bd7 {solid development.} (14... Rb8 {followed by a minority attack would be a good plan.} 15. a3 b5 $15) 15. Rfe1 Rfc8 {activating the rook and choosing the queenside for making future efforts.} 16. Qb3 e6 {again, solid play.} (16... Rab8 $5) 17. a4 {clearly interested in preventing the advance of my queenside pawns.} a5 {this is too optimistic. Now that the White a-pawn is advanced, I will not be expanding successfully on the queenside. There are several other calm possibilities.} (17... Rc7) (17... a6) (17... Rab8) 18. Qd1 Qc7 (18... e5 $5 {is now a possibility, but I had no particular desire to play an IQP position.} 19. dxe5 Nxe5 20. Nxe5 Bxe5 21. g3 h5 22. Bf1 $11) 19. Nf1 Re8 {more of a waiting move. Black has no real breakthroughs available, so playing neutrally is actually a good strategy.} 20. Ne3 Rab8 21. Ng4 Re7 22. Nge5 {White attempts to get something going on the kingside.} Nxe5 23. Nxe5 Bc6 24. Qf3 {White is slightly overpressing here, but I continued with the more solid option, after some thought.} Bxe5 (24... f6 $5 25. Ng4 Rf8 {shuts the center and kingside threats down thoroughly.}) 25. Rxe5 {the position is still completely even, but White can now think about attempting something on the h-file, combined with a bishop sac.} Kg7 26. Qg4 b5 {I thought for a while here and found the correct, active reaction.} 27. axb5 {White was very low on time here.} Bxb5 28. Bxb5 Rxb5 29. Qe2 $2 (29. Re2 $15) 29... Qb6 $19 {activity is again key, pressing against White's queenside weakness, while there is also a back rank problem for him.} (29... Qb8 {would be even better, allowing Black to triple up on the b-file with Alekhine's gun.}) 30. Ra2 Rb7 {Black is now winning.} 31. c4 {an active defense that allows me to make a bad choice.} dxc4 {played after some thought, with some time pressure on my side. This should still be enough to win.} (31... Rxb2 $1 {simplest is best.} 32. Rxb2 Qxb2 $19 {with a continuation likely such as} 33. h3 {needed luft for the king} (33. Qxb2 Rxb2 34. Kf1 a4 {and the outside passed pawn decides it.}) 33... Qxe2 34. Rxe2 dxc4) 32. Qxc4 Rb4 {still maintaining threats to the b- and d-pawns.} (32... Rc7 {I hallucinated that this would not work, although the line was admittedly difficult to visualize.} 33. Rc5 Rcxc5 34. dxc5 Rxc5 35. Qd4+ Kg8 36. Qd2 Qb4 $19) 33. Qc3 Rc7 $2 {played one move too late; I missed White's next, as well.} (33... Rxb2 $1 {simplest is again best.} 34. Rxb2 Qxb2 35. Qxb2 Rxb2 {and the back-rank mate threat allows Black to win.} 36. g3 a4 37. Ra5 Rb4 $19) 34. Rc5 $11 Rd7 35. h3 Rbxd4 36. Ra4 {now White eschews simplicity, but I miss the chance to complicate.} (36. Raxa5) 36... Qd6 (36... Qxc5 $5 37. Qxc5 Rxa4 38. Qe5+ Kf8 $17 {and Black has whatever winning chances are in the position.}) 37. Rxd4 Qxd4 38. Rxa5 Qxc3 39. bxc3 Rd1+ 40. Kh2 Rd2 41. Kg1 Rd1+ 1/2-1/2