2017 3 Tables Chess - February Round 2 Robert Faust, 2003 - Anton Taylor, 1917 Caro-Kann Korchnoi Variation (B13)

3 Tables Chess - February Round 2 
Robert Faust, 2003 - Anton Taylor, 1917
Caro-Kann Korchnoi Variation (B13)

1. e4 c6 2. Nf3 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nf6 5. Nxf6+ exf6 6. d4 Be6 7. Bd3 Bd6 8. O-O O-O 9. c3 Re8 10. Qc2 g6 

This position is a little past what is covered in the chessbase database. However, the previous moves contain many of the common ideas in this (exf6) line. White seems pleased to make very little headway against Black's setup and from this position the most likely outcome is usually a draw if neither side overreaches. If anyone can claim a slight advantage it is white because he has useful squares for all his pieces. Black on the other hand will have to perform some interesting maneuvers with his knight to get it to a square where it will even participate in the game. If not for this perhaps Black would be better with his more centralized forces. 11. Bd2 Bd5 12. Ne1 f5 13. c4 Be4 14. g3 Nd7 15. Rd1 Nf6 After this move I felt I had made a bit of an improvement in my position. As it turns out Rd1 becomes more useful in most variations than I had though and again the position is equal. 16. f3 Bxd3 17. Qxd3 Nxd3 was what I expected and is slightly better because it controls f4. 17. ... Nh5 18. Kg2? I don't understand the reasoning behind this move and the evaluation shifts to a black advantage after my reply ... but white is still not sunk. 18. ... f4 19. g4 Ng7 20. Nc2 Komodo recommends that black play either h4 or Qg5 here and while both moves seem strong I could not see a clear winning path. While it looks scary there seems to be no move that has no answer from white. The game is trying hard to deteriorate into a draw. 20. ... a5 21. Rde1 Qg5 22. Rxe8+ Rxe8 23. Re1 Rxe1 24. Bxe1 Ne6 White wants to play d5 but it leads to nothing. 25. h4 Qd8 26. Qe4 Be7 27. Kh3 Bf6 28. Bf2 Qb6 29. b3 a4 30. Qd3 axb3 31. axb3 Qa5 This starts a slightly dangerous series of queen maneuvers but it is the only way to play for a win here. 32. Be1 Qa2 33. g5 Bg7 34. Bf2 Qb1 35. Kg2 I thought here for a long time. There is no way to convert this to a win for black. He must satisfy himself with getting rid of the d-pawn and trading down into a drawn Queen and Pawn endgame.

35. ... Bxd4 36. Bxd4 Nxd4 37. Qxd4 Qxc2+ 1/2-1/2