[Event "The Caro Kann Defence: Complete Repertoire: DO's and DON'TS - White's Perspective - Middlegame Plan #9"]
[Site "https://lichess.org/study/ZziYzSGs/xgVAJlza"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Do's and Don'ts - White's Perspective"]
[Black "Middlegame Plan #9"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/ShreksGonGiveItToYa"]
[ECO "B12"]
[Opening "Caro-Kann Defense: Modern Variation"]
[UTCDate "2022.11.09"]
[UTCTime "07:18:10"]
[Variant "Standard"]

1. e4 { [%csl Ge4][%cal Ge2e4] } 1... c6 { [%csl Gc6][%cal Gc7c6] } 2. d4 { [%csl Gd4][%cal Gd2d4] } 2... d5 { [%csl Gd5][%cal Gd7d5] } 3. Nd2 { B12 Caro-Kann Defense: Modern Variation [%csl Gd2][%cal Gb1d2] } 3... Nf6 $6 { Inaccuracy. dxe4 was best. I have come across this variation a few times. Normally, I just transpose into the main line variation. In this case, I figure that I will play an advanced variation. I don't see any benefit to leaving the pawn on e4. The Master's database, I see now, agrees with me. The only move played is 4.e5 [%csl Gf6][%cal Gg8f6] } ( 3... dxe4 { [%csl Ge4][%cal Gd5e4] } 4. Nxe4 { [%csl Ge4][%cal Gd2e4] } 4... Bf5 { [%csl Gf5][%cal Gc8f5] } 5. Ng3 { [%csl Gg3][%cal Ge4g3] } 5... Bg6 { [%csl Gg6][%cal Gf5g6] } 6. h4 { [%csl Gh4][%cal Gh2h4] } 6... h6 { [%csl Gh6][%cal Gh7h6] } 7. Nf3 { [%csl Gf3][%cal Gg1f3] } 7... Nd7 { [%csl Gd7][%cal Gb8d7] } 8. Bd3 { [%csl Gd3][%cal Gf1d3] } ) 4. e5 { [%csl Ge5][%cal Ge4e5] } 4... Nfd7 { Here in the master's database there is only the move Bd3 and Black won. [%csl Gd7,Rf4,Rd3][%cal Rf2f4,Rf1d3,Gf6d7] } 5. f4 $6 { Inaccuracy. Bd3 was best. This move made the most sense to me. It's a thematic move. The center is enroute to being closed, Black's pawn chain is going from f7-c4 and therefore mine should go c3-e5. With that in mine, My pawn break will be up f5! but why bring my knight out and have to move him? I just plainly play 5.f4 immediately and setup the lines of battle right now. It's not "flexible" but it shouldn't have anything inherently wrong with it. [%csl Gf4][%cal Gf2f4] } ( 5. Bd3 { [%csl Gd3][%cal Gf1d3] } 5... e6 { [%csl Ge6][%cal Ge7e6] } 6. c3 { [%csl Gc3][%cal Gc2c3] } 6... c5 { [%csl Gc5][%cal Gc6c5] } 7. Ne2 { [%csl Ge2][%cal Gg1e2] } 7... Nc6 { [%csl Gc6][%cal Gb8c6] } 8. O-O { [%csl Gg1][%cal Ge1g1] } 8... Be7 { [%csl Ge7][%cal Gf8e7] } 9. Nf3 { [%csl Gf3,Gd4][%cal Gc3d4,Gd2f3,Gf3d4,Gf2d4] } 9... a5 { [%csl Ga5][%cal Ga7a5] } ) 5... e6 { [%csl Ge6][%cal Ge7e6] } 6. Ngf3 { [%csl Gf3][%cal Gg1f3] } 6... c5 { [%csl Gc5][%cal Gc6c5] } 7. c3 { [%csl Gc3] } 7... b6 $6 { Inaccuracy. Nc6 was best. I believe my opponent wanted to trade lightsquared Bishops, thus marginally increasing the quality of his pieces while decreasing mine. [%csl Ra4,Rh4,Ga6,Gf1][%cal Rd1a4,Rh2h4,Gc8a6] } ( 7... Nc6 { [%csl Gc6][%cal Gb8c6] } 8. Be2 { [%csl Ge2][%cal Gf1e2] } 8... Be7 { [%csl Ge7][%cal Gf8e7] } 9. dxc5 { [%csl Gc5][%cal Gd4c5] } 9... Bxc5 { [%csl Gc5][%cal Ge7c5] } 10. Nb3 { [%csl Gb3][%cal Gd2b3] } 10... Bb6 { [%csl Gb6][%cal Gc5b6] } 11. Bd3 { [%csl Gd3][%cal Ge2d3] } 11... Nc5 { [%csl Gc5][%cal Gd7c5] } 12. Nxc5 { [%csl Gc5][%cal Gb3c5] } ) 8. Qa4 $6 { Inaccuracy. h4 was best. This move is kind of a multi-purpose move. The Queen controls the a6-square and as a cooincidental benefit, causes a little bit of annoyance along the a4-e8 diagonal. [%csl Gd7,Ga4,Ga6][%cal Ga4e8,Ga4a6,Gd1a4] } ( 8. h4 { [%csl Gh4][%cal Gh2h4] } 8... Be7 { [%csl Ge7][%cal Ge8e7] } ) 8... Be7 { [%csl Ge7][%cal Gf8e7] } 9. Bd3 { This structure kind of resembles the "symmetrical" pawn preponderance in the center chapter from Euwe's Middlegame book. The difference of course is that there are d4 and d5 pawns. Now, I know that his book almost certainly goes over this individually, and I have not read it yet, however, I think I can draw some conclusions from this. The superior space on the kingside and control over the f6 square offers White attacking chances, and I figure that I can create a battery of significant strength with Bb1 and Qc2. [%csl Ge6,Ge5,Gd4,Gd3][%cal Gf1d3,Gd3b1,Ga4c2] } 9... Bb7 $6 { Inaccuracy. a5 was best. [%csl Gb7][%cal Gc8b7] } ( 9... a5 { [%csl Ga5][%cal Ga7a5] } 10. Nf1 { [%csl Gf1][%cal Gd2f1] } 10... b5 { [%csl Gb5][%cal Gb6b5] } 11. Bxb5 { [%csl Gb5][%cal Gd3b5] } 11... Qb6 { [%csl Gb6][%cal Gd8b6] } 12. Ng3 { [%csl Gg3][%cal Gf1g3] } 12... Ba6 { [%csl Ga6][%cal Gc8a6] } 13. Bxa6 { [%csl Ga6][%cal Gb5a6] } 13... Qxa6 { [%csl Ga6][%cal Gb6a6] } 14. Ne2 { [%csl Ge2][%cal Gg3e2] } 14... O-O { [%csl Gg8][%cal Ge8g8] } 15. Qd1 { [%csl Gd1][%cal Ga4d1] } 15... Nc6 { [%csl Gc6][%cal Gb8c6] } 16. O-O { [%csl Gg1][%cal Ge1g1] } ) 10. O-O { Only after playing 10.0-0 did I realize the intent of Bb7. I assumed that Bc6 was coming, to evict the queen. [%csl Rg6,Gg1,Rh6][%cal Rh7h6,Ge1g1,Rg7g6] } 10... h6 $6 { Inaccuracy. g6 was best. Yes, this does control g5, which does seem like quite an aggressive outpost for White's knight. [%csl Gh6][%cal Gh7h6] } ( 10... g6 { [%csl Gg6][%cal Gg7g6] } 11. Rf2 { [%csl Gf2][%cal Gf1f2] } ) 11. f5 { [%csl Gf5][%cal Gf4f5] } 11... exf5 { [%csl Gf5][%cal Ge6f5] } 12. Bxf5 { [%csl Gf5][%cal Gd3f5] } 12... O-O { [%csl Gb7,Gg8][%cal Ge8g8] } 13. Bb1 $6 { Inaccuracy. Rf2 was best. I thought that this Bishop retreat was a good move, because the light-squares are looking week around the Black king. The Knight can't defend from f6 and the light-squared Bishop is off in lala-land on b7. [%csl Gb7,Gb1][%cal Gf5b1,Ga4c2] } ( 13. Rf2 { [%csl Gf2][%cal Gf1f2] } ) 13... cxd4 { [%csl Gd4][%cal Gc5d4] } 14. cxd4 { [%csl Gd4][%cal Gc3d4] } ( 14. Qc2 { After having played 14.cxd4 I thought that this was actually the superior move, because by taking the pawn first, I actually allow 14. ...Qc8! Which my opponent did not play. } ) 14... Re8 $5 { I see that he wants either an escape square or to bring the knight to aid in defense, but I thought that stopping the battery all together with 14. ...Qc8 is simply superior. [%csl Ge8][%cal Gf8e8] } ( 14... Qc8 $1 { White's attack is dead in the water. I can no longer create the battery with Qc2, and now I am forced to go back to positional play with maneuvering and the collection of smaller advantages. [%csl Gc2][%cal Gc8c2] } ) 15. Qc2 { [%csl Gc2,Gh7][%cal Gc2h7,Ga4c2] } 15... Nf8 { [%csl Ra3,Gh7,Gf8,Re6][%cal Gf8h7,Gd7f8,Re5e6,Ra2a3] } 16. e6 $6 { Inaccuracy. a3 was best. [%csl Ge6][%cal Ge5e6] } ( 16. a3 { [%csl Ga3][%cal Ga2a3] } 16... Nc6 { [%csl Gc6][%cal Gb8c6] } 17. b4 { [%csl Gb4][%cal Gb2b4] } 17... Rc8 { [%csl Gc8][%cal Ga8c8] } 18. Qd3 { [%csl Gd3][%cal Gc2d3] } 18... Rc7 { [%csl Gc7][%cal Gc8c7] } 19. Ra2 { [%csl Ga2][%cal Ga1a2] } 19... Qc8 { [%csl Gc8][%cal Gd8c8] } 20. Rc2 { [%csl Gc2][%cal Ga2c2] } 20... Nd8 { [%csl Gd8][%cal Gc6d8] } 21. Rf2 { [%csl Gf2][%cal Gf1f2] } 21... Rxc2 { [%csl Gc2][%cal Gc7c2] } 22. Bxc2 { [%csl Gc2][%cal Gb1c2] } 22... a5 { [%csl Ga5][%cal Ga6a5] } ) 16... fxe6 { [%csl Ge6][%cal Gf7e6] } 17. Ne5 { [%csl Rf6,Ge5,Rc6,Rd7][%cal Re7f6,Rb8c6,Rb8d7,Gf3e5] } 17... Bf6 $2 { Mistake. Nbd7 was best. I don't think I actually saw this line until after I played 17.Ne5 My idea was to sacrifice on f8 and win fantastically. [%csl Gf6][%cal Ge7f6] } ( 17... Nc6 $1 { I think there are actually many defenses to my idea! I can no longer sacrifice on f8. [%csl Gc6][%cal Gb8c6] } 18. Rxf8+ { [%csl Gf8][%cal Gf1f8] } 18... Kxf8 { [%csl Rg6,Rf3,Gf8][%cal Rd2f3,Rc2g6,Gg8f8] } 19. Qg6 { [%csl Gg6][%cal Gc2g6] } ( 19. Ndf3 $1 { It may be that this is the way forward instead. Another building move is required, because the sacrifice clearly doesn't work. [%csl Ge5,Gf3][%cal Gf3e5,Gd2f3] } 19... Nxe5 { [%csl Ge5][%cal Gc6e5] } 20. Nxe5 { [%csl Ge5][%cal Gf3e5] } 20... Bf6 { [%csl Gf6][%cal Ge7f6] } 21. Bd2 { [%csl Gd2][%cal Gc1d2] } 21... Bxe5 { [%csl Ge5][%cal Gf6e5] } 22. dxe5 { [%csl Ge5][%cal Gd4e5] } 22... Rc8 $6 { It's really hard to find a constructive move for Black here. [%csl Gc8][%cal Ga8c8] } 23. Qh7 { [%csl Gh7][%cal Gc2h7] } 23... Qe7 { [%csl Ge7][%cal Gd8e7] } 24. Bg6 { [%csl Gg6][%cal Gb1g6] } 24... Red8 { [%csl Gd8][%cal Ge8d8] } 25. Rf1+ { [%csl Gf1][%cal Ga1f1] } ) 19... Nxe5 { [%csl Ge5][%cal Gc6e5] } 20. dxe5 { how annoying! all my attacking pieces are gone and the only ones left are not developed very well. [%csl Gc1,Ge5,Gb1,Gd2][%cal Gd4e5] } ) ( 17... Nbd7 { [%csl Gd7][%cal Gb8d7] } 18. Nf7 { [%csl Gf7][%cal Ge5f7] } 18... Qc8 { [%csl Gc8][%cal Gd8c8] } 19. Qd3 { [%csl Gd3][%cal Gc2d3] } 19... Ba6 { [%csl Ga6][%cal Gb7a6] } 20. Qg3 { [%csl Gg3][%cal Gd3g3] } 20... Bxf1 { [%csl Gf1][%cal Ga6f1] } 21. Nxh6+ { [%csl Gh6][%cal Gf7h6] } 21... Kh8 { [%csl Gh8][%cal Gg8h8] } 22. Nf7+ { [%csl Gf7][%cal Gh6f7] } 22... Kg8 { [%csl Gf8][%cal Gh8g8] } 23. Nh6+ { [%csl Gh6][%cal Gf7h6] } ) 18. Ndf3 { [%csl Ra6,Gf3,Rd7][%cal Rb8d7,Gd2f3,Rb7a6] } 18... Nbd7 $6 { Inaccuracy. Ba6 was best. This move made me sad for my attack. With the knight's protecting each other in this manner there is no longer any sacrifice on f8 and now I'm just down a pawn. I had to come up with a way to increase pressure. [%csl Gd7][%cal Gb8d7] } ( 18... Ba6 { [%csl Ga6][%cal Gb7a6] } 19. Re1 { [%csl Ge1][%cal Gf1e1] } ) 19. Qf2 $4 { Blunder. Ng4 was best. The reason I think this move is Dubious is that my intent was to create a battery down the f-file, but Black's next move breaks up the battery, instantly. [%csl Gf2][%cal Gc2f2] } ( 19. Ng4 { [%csl Gg4][%cal Ge5g4] } 19... e5 { [%csl Ge5][%cal Ge6e5] } ) 19... Ba6 $1 { There goes the battery! [%csl Ga6,Gf1][%cal Gb7a6,Ga6f1] } 20. Re1 { [%csl Ge1][%cal Gf1e1] } 20... Rc8 $4 { Blunder. Bxe5 was best. I honestly thought that Black's best option was to diffuse my attack by trading everything on e5. [%csl Gc8,Rg4,Rg3][%cal Ga8c8,Re5g4,Rf2g3] } ( 20... Nxe5 { [%csl Ge5][%cal Gd7e5] } 21. Nxe5 { [%csl Ge5][%cal Gf3e5] } 21... Bxe5 { [%csl Re5][%cal Gf6e5,Re1e5,Rd4e5] } 22. dxe5 { This gives Black the protected passer and hides his e5 weakness, but I think it's superior to 22. Rxe5. [%csl Ge6,Ge5,Gd4][%cal Gd5d4,Gd4e5] } ( 22. Rxe5 { This is not a good position for White, in my judgement, because White doesn't actually have any real 'space'. White's pieces can't go to any squares, and White is down a pawn, AND black is ready to jump into action with Ng6 and Rc8 and what not. [%csl Ge6,Ge5][%cal Ge1e5,Ga8c8] } 22... Rc8 { [%csl Re1,Gc1,Gc8,Re3][%cal Ga8c8,Rf2e1,Rc1e3,Gc8c1] } 23. Be3 { [%csl Ge3][%cal Gc1e3] } ( 23. Qe1 ) 23... Nd7 { This is already starting to look very difficult for White. [%csl Gd7][%cal Gf8d7] } 24. Rh5 { [%csl Gh5][%cal Ge5h5] } 24... Rf8 $19 { [%csl Gf8][%cal Ge8f8] } ) ) ( 20... Bxe5 { [%csl Ge5][%cal Gf6e5] } 21. dxe5 { [%csl Ge5,Gf6,Gd6][%cal Gd4e5,Ge5d6,Ge5f6] } ) 21. Qg3 $2 { Mistake. Ng4 was best. I thought that perhaps I could win a pawn back and maybe Black will suffer from having a slightly weakened king. The game could have easily continued with a better move. [%csl Gg3,Gh6][%cal Gc1h6,Gf2g3,Gg3g8] } ( 21. Ng4 { [%csl Gg4][%cal Ge5g4] } 21... Qc7 { [%csl Gc7][%cal Gd8c7] } 22. a4 { [%csl Ga4][%cal Ga2a4] } 22... h5 { [%csl Gh5] } 23. Nxf6+ { [%csl Gf6][%cal Gg4f6] } 23... Nxf6 { [%csl Gf6][%cal Gd7f6] } 24. Qh4 { [%csl Gh4][%cal Gf2h4] } 24... Ne4 { [%csl Ge4][%cal Gf6e4] } 25. Be3 { [%csl Ge3][%cal Gc1e3] } 25... Qe7 { [%csl Ge7][%cal Gc7e7] } 26. Qxh5 { [%csl Gh5][%cal Gh4h5] } 26... Nh7 { [%csl Gh7][%cal Gf8h7] } 27. Bxe4 { [%csl Ge4][%cal Gb1e4] } 27... dxe4 { [%csl Ge4][%cal Gd5e4] } ) 21... Kh8 $4 { Blunder. Bxe5 was best. My opponent finally cracked under pressure. He tried to side step the pin so that I can't win the h6-pawn. [%csl Gh8][%cal Gg8h8] } ( 21... Nxe5 { [%csl Ge5][%cal Gd7e5] } 22. dxe5 { [%csl Ge5][%cal Gd4e5] } 22... Be7 $2 { This was my Plan, instead of taking with the knight, because I wanted to push the Bishop back to e7 and further uncoordinate his pieces. [%csl Ge7][%cal Gf6e7] } 23. Bxh6 $1 { Now it's hard for Black to defend thing, because his pieces are cut off from horizontal defense! [%csl Gh6,Gg7][%cal Gd8d7,Ge8e7,Gc1h6,Gg3g7] } ) ( 21... Bxe5 { [%csl Ge5][%cal Gf6e5] } 22. dxe5 { [%csl Ge5][%cal Gd4e5] } 22... Re7 { [%csl Ge7,Gg7][%cal Ge7g7,Ge8e7] } 23. Bxh6 { [%csl Gh6][%cal Gc1h6] } 23... Qe8 { This seems like the best setup for Black as his pieces begin to come to the aid of the king and White is going to have a hard time coming up with a way to add more pressure. Believe it or not the former all-star b1-Bishop seems to be the worse piece! he cannot go anywhere and he's blocking in the a1-Rook, which is very annoying, because one day (and it may be today) that rook's absence will be felt. White is playing down a rook once Black sorts out his piece coordination. [%csl Gc2,Ge4,Gh7,Gf5,Ge8,Gg6,Gd3][%cal Gd8e8] } 24. Bg5 { [%csl Ge7,Gg5][%cal Gh6g5,Gg5e7] } 24... Rf7 { [%csl Gf7,Gc1,Gc2][%cal Ge7f7] } 25. Nh4 $1 $14 { White may actually have something going for him here. This is 9ply into the future from the previous position so it's hard to forecast such depth, but it appears logical and navigable by the human mind (that is how I got here afterall, with just my brain). Once White uncorks his Rook He should be doing great since Black's King is so weak and White has so much space. [%csl Gh4,Gg6][%cal Gf3h4,Gh4g6,Gb1g6] } ) 22. Nf7+ { 1-0, LordRook 2215 - Lapetya 2213, Rated Rapid game, https://lichess.org/uwJ3eGLY, 2021.12.19 [%csl Gf7][%cal Ge5f7] } 1-0