22nd Chess.com Thematic Tournament - Caro Kann (1601-1800)

1. e4 c6

The Caro–Kann, like the Sicilian Defence and French Defence, is classified as a "Semi-Open Game", but it is thought to be more solid and less dynamic than either of those openings. It often leads to good endgames for Black, who has the better pawn structure.

The opening is named after the English player Horatio Caro and the Austrian Marcus Kann who analysed it in 1886. Kann scored an impressive 17-move victory with the Caro–Kann Defence against German-British chess champion Jacques Mieses at the 4th German Chess Congress in Hamburg in May 1885.

Wikipedia link to caro kann, variations

My tournament games :

Game 1:  here opposite side casteling takes place, I castel K side and my opponent Q side. Both of us advance our pawns to opposite casteled king. However, white makes a mistake of taking my Q side pawns, and allows me to double my rooks on a-file with a tempo. Also he gives me a chance to sac my rook and win his Queen( tactial Theme : Skewer). Result is a Q + 4 P vs a R +3 P, a easy winning game for black. But i give up my Q for his R,and get a passed pawn on d-file. With Q on the board, win would have been easy, but i prefer for pawn endgame, Queen my d pawn , and eventually checkmate white. Tactical themes in this game : Skewer, Pin, Decoy, remove the defender, fork. Strategical Ideas : Opposite side casteling, pawn advance; passed pawn; 

Puzzle from game 1 :

End game practice from game 1:

Gane 2: Same opponent as game 1, B vs N endgame. Error costs me a extra pawn i had. Poor technique results in my bishop being restricted. But it is given a life by my opponent. Both Q one of our pawn. Not so good technique here also, and we both agree for a draw.

game 3:  Q side pawn push by my opponent, whereas i concentrate on developing my pieces. Lure him into taking my Knight, he falls into it and weakens his K side by pushing his K side pawns. He resigns after failing to see his Q and R being skewered by my Bishop.

Puzzle from game 3 :

Game 4: Same opponent as in game 3. Here he plays a better game. But gives me a pawn advantage by 23rd move. and resigns after wrongly exchanging his R for my N.

Game 5:  opponent forfeits on time.

Game 6: Importance of calculating two move variation demonstrated in this game. I loose a pawn early in the game because of overlook. But my opponent fails to capitalise on it, allows me to develop my pieces with a tempo. I win my pawn back with a knight fork. Failure to see tactical shots like pin, fork by my opponent gives me a upper hand and he resigns being heavily down in material

Puzzle from game 6 : i fail to see chance to win a piece here. Here is the puzzle of my missed chance.

Game 7 : Same as game 5

Game 8: Bayonet variation. Have no much idea about this opening, few inaccuracies by me in the opening. but opponent hangs his bishop, and i take advantage of it, and develop my rooks with a tempo. His king has lost casteling opportunity, and is stuck in middle. He resigns as his pieces are disconnected and cannot come to kings aid.

Puzzle from game 8

 This blog has been created on 7/2/14, but being submitted on 21/2/14. 8 games of mine are over, 2 are pending will be updating once game 9 and game 10 are over.

Game 9 and 10 opponent runs out of time !!. 

Here is the final standing of my group :

22nd Chess.com Thematic Tournament - Caro Kann (1601-1800)

view all pairings

My Group:

Group #75	1	2	3	4	5	6	Score	Tie Break
1.  manichessrookie (1708)	X	½  1	1  1	1  1	1  1	1  1	9.5	36.75
2.  dementy (1743)	0  ½	X	1  1	1  1	1  1	1  1	8.5	28.75
3.  qrayons (1785)	0  0	0  0	X	1  1	1  1	1  1	6	12
4.  RaiseYourPawns (1619)	0  0	0  0	0  0	X	1  1	1  1	4	4
5.  Dinca_George (1677)	0  0	0  0	0  0	0  0	X	1  1	2	0
6.  polete22 (1645)	0  0	0  0	0  0	0  0	0  0	X	0	0

good to lead without any losses :)