Moscow Open 2014 Men's Premier Russian Cup

Caro-Kann Defense   

Kokarev, Dmitry - Gavrilov, Alexei  

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bf5 5. Ng3 Bg6 6. h4 h6 7. Nf3 Nd7 8. h5 Bh7 9. Bd3 Bxd3 10. Qxd3 e6 11. Bd2.

The alternative is developing the bishop to f4. The choice is purely a matter of taste. The matter can amount to just a matter of move order if after 11. Bf4 Qa5+ 12. Bd2 Qc7 and black prepares for a queenside castle.

11... Ngf6 12. O-O-O Be7 Black reveals his intentions—to carry out a battle with kings on opposite sides. This sharp interpretation of the Caro-Kann was brought into practice by B. Larsen in the late 70's, and is currently enjoying great popularity. 13. Kb1

Always useful no matter what turn life takes, this prophylactic move forces black to make clear his intentions. 

13... c5.  Not taking the time to castle, black strives to immediately free the position in the center.

The Game Kokarev -  I. Popov, Taganrog 2013 saw 13... O-O 14. Ne4 (recent experimentation is with the interesting pawn sacrifice - 14. Qe2 c5 [now 14.Qb6 is considered more sound] 15. d5! exd5 (or 15... Nxd5 16. Ne4 with g2-g4-g5 to follow) 16. Bxh6! (less accurate is 16. Nf5 Re8 17. Bxh6 Bf8!) 16... gxh6 17. Nf5 with a strong white attack for the sacrificed.) 14... Nex4 15. Qxe4 Nf6 16. Qe2 Qd5, and white declined the transition to a slightly better endgame arising after 17.Nе5 Qе4, choosing the original  17. Be3 Ng4 18. Bc1 Rad8 19. Ne5 Nxe5 20. dxe5 Qa5 21. Rdg1!? With a complicated fight. Conceding the central file, white saves the rook for a storm on the kingside.

14. Ne4 cxd4

More common is 14... O-O. In recent years hot debates have revolved around the pawn sacrifice  15. Nxf6 (or 15. g4!?) 15... Nxf6 16. g4!? with a sharp game.

15. Nxd4. ,It appears this natural move hasn't been played before.

There has been 15.Qxd4 or, or example, 15. Nxf6 Nxf6 16. Nxd4 Qd5! 17. Be3 O-O , Nadoritsky – So, Montreal 2012.   The change of move order made by Dmitry Kokarev has, as we shall see, a substantial significance.

15... O-O 16. Nxf6 Nxf6.

With hindsight we can recommend 16...Bxf6, but in this case white keeps the central tension.

 

17. Bxh6! An unexpected crushing sacrifice in what seems to be a calm position. 17... gxh6 18. Qg3+ Kh8 19. Nxe6! fxe6 20. Rxd8 Raxd8.

For the Queen black has more than enough material compensation, but his opponent's next move shows the danger of the arsenal of pawns. 21. Qe3! The point of white's scheme. 21... Ng8 22. f4 Rf5 23. g4 ЛRd5 24. a3 e5 One of the pawns will be lost, so black aims to break up the phalanx of white's kingside pawns. 25. fxe5 b6

26. Rh3 Black is in a difficult position. The problem is the activity of white's pawns, and in bare position of the black king. 26... Bg5 27. Qe4 Rd4 28. Qf5 Rf4 29. Qe6 Rd2 Then attempt to create counterplay by black only hastens his demise. 30. Rc3! The rook is headed to the weakened 8th rank. 30... Ne7 31. Rc7 Rf1+ 32. Ka2 Rff2 33. Rxe7 Bxe7 34. Qxe7 Rxc2

White is able to quickly liquidate his b2 weakness, after which the game is decided by the passed white pawns. 35. Qe8+ Kg7 36. Qg6+ Kf8 37. Qxh6+ Кf7 38. e6 Кe7 39. Qg7+ Кxe6 40. h6 Rh2 41. g5 Кf5 42. h7 1-0

 

           Bartel, Mateusz - Givon, Asaf            

 

В In the battle so far white has achieved a clear advantage. They have two pawns for the exchange, and an open position for black's king. It's important that the white knight has good support points at his disposal, while the opposing rook is bound to the defensive responsibilities. . 48. Qg5+ It's hard to believe, but after this practically forced to race to the opposite flank! 48... Кf7

Bad is 48... Кh8 owing to 49. Qf6+ Кg8 50. Qxd6.

49. Qh6 Кe7 50. Фg7+ Кd8 51. Qf6+ Кc7

Here 51... Qe7 is followed by the centralization 52. Qd4!

52. Qf7+ Кb8

52... Re7? 53. Nd5+-

 

It may seem that white has chased the king to a safe place! However, this is not the case as shown by the following move. 53. Nd5 The queen and knight duo have a dominating position, and the white pawns on a4 and b5 are ready to storm the king's fortress. 53... Rc8 54. Ne7 Rd8 55. a5 Qb4

56. b6 This continuation is good and fully adequate, but here a beautiful and original combination was possible, for the sake of which this game is being demonstrated:

56. Nc6+! bxc6 57. b6! axb6 58. a6! The effective pawn break has lead to an original mating net! The position is worth a diagram.

56... Qc5

More stubborn was 56... Qb5 57. Nd5 Qd7

57. Nd5 axb6 58. axb6 Rc8 59. e4 Qd4 60. Ne7 Qc4 61. Qf6 Re8 62. Qd6+ Кa8 63. Nd5 1-0