round 3 match looked very strange with all of the pieces coming out
Supernationals round 3 and 4
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In the first game, you could have tried 11. c5 to prepare for 12. Bf4. This gains space and controls black's ideal diagonal for his bishop. It makes castling queenside more risky, however (but certainly defensible).
I agree with your friend that 13. Ne4 is more active.
14. Rh4 looks quite nifty, but it proves to be a liability. It also devotes your rook to controlling just one square. It would only make sense, in my opinion, if you knew you could open the h-file, and double rooks down it.
Move 18 is a critical point. You could have considered playing 18. Rdh1, or even the ambitious sacrifice 18. Bxh6!? gxh6 19. g5, which gives black a real headache.
Might have thought about 20. Nd4 (20...Rad8? 21. Nf5! Rxd3?? 22. Nxe7+), planning on coming to f5.
23...Bxc3 was a bad move from your opponent, as it releases the tension and the pressure on your position.
I would probably have played 24. Bxc3, accepted 24...Qe3+ 25. Qxe3 Rxe3, and played 26. g5. Your bishop aimed at the black kingside, the two pawns cracking open its defence, together with the two rooks also levelled at the king should be a big advantage.
Towards the end, I think black had quite strong chances of winning, but you capitalised on his mistakes well.
Thanks for the comments! I remember seeing c4 somewhere, maybe I should take another look at the Exchange Caro.
About 18. Rdh1: How come this is better than the immediate g5? It seems like I would play g5 anyways after Rdh1 and it leaves my Rook with more flexebility (it might go to g1 or something).
I see the point of everything else, thanks! I should have considered those moves during the game.
Apr 9, 2009
0
#5
Hi its only a name, but to help you looking up in opening books etc, the line you played is more commonly called the main-line Bf5 CaroKann.
These are the next two games of my tournament. There were three games that day, so I was expecting an exciting, difficult day. However, I was lucky enough to only have to play two real games that day, because my fourth-round opponent gave me a "gift point"! I played a 1300 in the third round and had a pretty long, interesting struggle and I was lucky to prevent an upset! I'm posting the final three, and in my opinion best, games tomorrow.