Intro: This was a daily game I just finished against a much lower rated opponent. I'm not sure how we even got matched as I am >1400 rapid and they have a rapid rating of around 950. I normally wouldn't analyze or post a beat down like this but I found this game to be interesting because I have never played this opening until now. I use daily games as a training tool and deeply analyze each move from move 1. I will start at move 2 here.
2. d3 d5
My initial reaction is what the heck is this. I started playing the Caro a few months ago, switched over from the sicilian as a response to e4. I thought this was just lower rated player badness but come to find out this is an actual opening.
3. f3? e5
I feel like playing f3 this early is just a mistake. However this turns out to be a book move. Many say "never play f3". I understand that sometimes it is a great move but usually that is when you have a good pawn structure and developed pieces and a plan! I play e5 to put pressure on the center and open up my dark squared bishop.
4. f4? exf4
What the heck? You shouldn't move the same piece twice let alone the same PAWN twice in the opening. Engine says this is best move however. I take this pawn because i saw a few aggressive traps that follow natural moves of this exchange.
5. Bxf4 Bd6
White takes back of course, and the engine says this is the best move. My plan was to throw my dark squared bishop on d6 for him to take it, so I could recapture with my queen and put her on a very active square against his vulnerable king.
6. Qf3 ? Bxf4
I have to admit, my opponent had me a little off balance, first by playing this opening and second by playing moves I did not expect him to play. I expected him to take my bishop which would lead to him getting blown off the board. My logic was, hey, I'll take because I'm black and Ill disrupt that strong london-sytem-esque dark squared bishop.
7. Qxf4 Nf6
Developing a knight. No danger from the pawn push e5 harassing my knight because I have so many counterplay options. I go for a lead in development as an advantage while harassing his early queen development. A queen positioned like this early is stressful in 3 minute blitz but in long time controls it is simply a mistake.
8. Qe5+ ?! Be6
Pointless check in daily chess?! Easily refuted with a developing move which gains me a tempo. Black has more developed pieces and plenty of pressure on the center despite this barely annoying check and pin.
9. exd5 Nbd7
White tries to threaten the pinned bishop and winning a pawn. Black punishes the too early developed queen by stealing tempo and gaining free development.
10. Qg5 Qa5+!
This was one of the critical moves of the game. I expected white to retreat to g3 with his queen. He is threatening the g7 pawn and thus the rook, however the 2 lined up knights would easily counter the take of g7 with Rg8; only one move for the mostly trapped queen following that. Qa5+! was a decisive move as it develops the queen to a dangerous square, pressures the attacking pawn on d5 which is now hanging. I could have traded queens here but no need to go to an endgame with a lead in development.
11. c3? Bxd5
c3 is a mistake. I think best move would probably be Qd2 to interpose and offer a queen trade, which I would not have taken. I am able to take the d5 pawn with my bishop and completely prevent the white light squared bishop from moving as it threatens the rook on h1.
12. Qe3+ ? Be6
Another pointless check in a long time control. Easily parried with Be6 and now black gain easily gain the initiative.
13. b4? Qc7
Another one dimensional move. Allows my queen to get to an even more dangerous square without sacrificing any brain power or time.
14. Nf3 O-O
Good developing move by white. He needs to get that king castled ASAP by this point due to the development disparity. Black sees the queen idling in front of that king, and prepares for a discovered attack rook pin threat with O-O. Plus getting the king safe.
15. Na3?? Rfe8
I think white just blundered here though the engine calls this an innacuracy. This move does absolutely nothing, and black has a chance to do pretty much anything he wants. Natural move is securing the file and threatening a nasty discovered attack on the enemy king wiht Rfe8. This was a major turning point in the game.
16. Be2 Ng4
White trying to make sure his queen doesn't get pinned while developing a piece... OK move. Things are still starting to look bleak for white. Ng4 threatens an attack on the queen, gets the knight to square where not easily kicked due to tempo advantage of black. No great discovered attack opportunities so I went the slow route.
17. Qg1 ?? a5
Computer calls this a mistake but I think it's just a flat out blunder. If you're moving your queen to the 8th rank behind pawns like this defensively you may as well resign. He can't castle now kingside, so black pushes a5 for a queenside attack.
18. b5?? Qd6
This is one of those moments where i did the evil emperor from star wars voice "yes, good , good." This was exactly what I wanted my opponent to do. The knight on a6 is hanging, and Qd6 threatens it, and it has no good squares to retreat to.
19. Nc4 Bxc4
Not a great move but there werent many to choose from. My bishop was ready to take, forcing a double pawn; c3 is now impossible to defend and white cannot castle kingside. This leaves white with pretty much only one "good" move.
20. dxc4 Qa3?
I missed a checkmate here, but Qa3 still wins.
21. Nd2 Qxc3
Mate coming soon. once that c3 pawn falls there are lots of options. That rook on a8 is threatened with check, and also a battery attack looms on the pinned bishop on e2.
22. Rd1
and the game is over by force, mate in 5.