Standard #41: To Check or Not To Check? (French Tarrasch)

Hi!  I thought I would share an instructive tournament game I played at the Solon Summer Fireworks Tournament last weekend.  It was a rough tournament for me and yes, this game was a loss, but why?  My opponent was a kid named Kevin Yang, who played 14 moves of theory with me and took me head on in an open (and kinda scary) middle game.  

As the title might suggest, I eventually was faced with a critical choice.  I had two ways to win back a pawn.  One of the ways came with check and involved a trade of pieces.  The other way was a neat looking retreating move.  I remembered the saying, "A patzer sees a check, a patzer plays a check!"  Does that mean I shouldn't mindlessly check??  Well, yes, but it might still be the best move.  See if you can figure it out!  Unfortunately for me, I choose the wrong path and only one kept an advantage for white.

Some thoughts in the pgn but full analysis is computer checked in the video!  

-Stacia <3 

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