Annotated Game #297: Opening evolution

The previous tournament I felt I had played rather poorly at the time, but I felt better about my performance at the board following the last series of games analysis; even the opening blunder in game 3 yielded something useful. I also scored reasonably well, and better than statistically expected. This next tournament saw more or less the reverse, although in this first-round game I do well to remember and apply some lessons from the previous Exchange Caro-Kann game, including following through with the ...Bf5 idea. In keeping with the recent post on pawn sacrifices, the 15...b5!? idea is worth highlighting.

[Event "?"] [White "Class B"] [Black "ChessAdmin"] [Site "?"] [Round "?"] [Annotator "ChessAdmin/Dragon 3.2"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [Date "????.??.??"] [ECO "B13"] [PlyCount "64"] [GameId "2108374627303490"] {[%evp 0,64,25,16,59,71,77,47,47,23,16,13,28,45,44,45,60,29,30,33,30,-18,12,-9,1,-16,-14,-14,10,-8,23,-22,6,-18,-10,-33,-31,-27,-26,-40,-33,-40,-50,-30,-41,-63,-56,-86,-92,-85,-70,-72,-57,-72,-54,-45,-45,-41,2,-5,-9,-6,-1,-8,0,0,0]} 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. Bd3 {the Caro-Kann Exchange Variation.} Nc6 5. c3 Nf6 6. Bf4 g6 7. Nd2 {although this is the third most-played move in the database, it is the first time I have seen it.} Bf5 {I saw no reason to not proceed with the main idea of the ...g6 variation.} (7... Nh5 {is the engine move, and a common idea in this structure, but has relatively few games in the database as tests.}) 8. Qe2 Bxd3 {White has passed up the chance to exchange and inflict some pawn structure damage on Black - which, however, would have some dynamic compensation. I therefore correctly exchange light-squared bishops. White's minor piece is still stronger and therefore a good target, while Black's is definitely "bad", constrained by the pawns on d5 and g6.} 9. Qxd3 Nh5 (9... e6 {it's also fine to develop straightforwardly, with the bishop potentially going to d6.}) 10. Ne2 Bg7 (10... Nxf4 {it's better to simply carry out the threat immediately. Black's unopposed dark-square bishop may be useful in the endgame.}) 11. Nf3 O-O 12. O-O Nxf4 {now I see nothing better and exchange anyway.} 13. Nxf4 e6 {a solid approach, solidifying control of d5 and removing the weakness on e7.} 14. Rfe1 Qc7 (14... Qd6 {is a better square for the queen, as the f8-a3 diagonal is more valuable.}) 15. Ne2 a6 {a waiting move, primarily.} (15... b5 $5 {is a useful idea in this and similar positions. The point being that} 16. Qxb5 Rab8 {and White's b-pawn cannot be defended, while the rook penetrates to the 2nd rank.} 17. Qa4 Rxb2 18. Rab1 Rfb8 19. Rxb2 Rxb2 $15) 16. Ng3 {actually a worse square for the knight.} Rac8 {activating the rook.} 17. a4 {preventing ...b5, but now the knight can leap into action.} Na5 18. Qc2 Nc4 19. Re2 (19. b3 $6 Nd6 $15 {with pressure down the c-file.}) 19... Nd6 {improving the knight and opening up the c-file for the heavy pieces.} (19... b5 {is also now possible.} 20. axb5 axb5 {with now ...Ra8 and ...b4 as follow-up ideas.}) 20. Ra3 b5 {now I actually do find the correct idea.} 21. axb5 axb5 {threatening ...b4} 22. Rb3 $17 {preventing the b-pawn advance but abandoning the a-file.} Ra8 23. h4 {a good idea, to start some counterplay with threats due to the h-pawn "can opener" idea.} Ra1+ {I saw nothing better and it is certainly an effective move.} 24. Re1 Rxe1+ {as usual, exchanging decreases the tension and favors the defending side.} (24... Rfa8 $1 $19 {also finally getting the other rook into play.}) 25. Nxe1 Rc8 {now the threats are lessened.} (25... Ra8) 26. Qd3 {pressuring the b5 pawn.} Qc4 $6 {again with the trading down.} (26... Rb8 {would be more effective, overprotecting the pawn and allowing a follow-up with ...Nc4.}) 27. Qxc4 bxc4 28. Rb6 $15 {now White's problems are largely solved, with a more active rook screening his weak b-pawn.} Nf5 {this simplifies down to a draw quickly.} (28... Bf8 $5) 29. Nxf5 gxf5 {forced, otherwise d5 becomes weak.} 30. f4 Bf6 31. g3 Kg7 32. Nf3 Rc7 {and we both recognize that no progress can be made.} 1/2-1/2