2017 Land of the Sky XXX Round 3 Dhruv Rajaganesh, 1599 - Anton Taylor, 1916 Caro-Kann: Exchange (B13)

2017 Land of the Sky XXX Round 3
Dhruv Rajaganesh, 1599 - Anton Taylor, 1916
Caro-Kann: Exchange (B13)

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. Bd3 Nc6 5. c3 Nf6 6. Bf4 Bg4 I was unaware that this move was actually part of the mainline in the exchange (a large sample). It seemed logical to me as well as aggressive and developing. I expected the response Qb3 (which turns out again to be the mainline).7. f3? 

This move turns out to be the start of a bad trend. White's best piece is the Bishop on d3 so placing pawns on the light squares is definitely the wrong way to play. 7. ... Bd7 8.h3?? This move makes the white position critical. Black is nearly winning after this move. 8. ... e6? a possible and thematic sacrifice is 8... e5 9. dxe5 Nh5 10. Bh2 Qh4+ 11. Kf1 Ng3+ 12. Bxg3 Qxg3 13. Ne2 Qxe5 

That's not the best play for white but illustrates clearly the advantage of playing e5! ... e6 throws away an advantage. 9. Ne2 Nh5 10. Be3 Bd6 11. O-O O-O 12. Qc2 f5 13. f4? Nf6 After white seals off the bishop and creates an advanced outpost Black hurries to put a piece there. 14. Nd2 Rc8 15. a3 Ne4 16. Nf3 Qe8? A mistake that I regret immediately. It is an interesting idea but ultimately is just a wasted move because of the reply. 17. Ne5 Na5 18. Rf3 Ba4 19. Qb1 Nb3 20. Bxe4 dxe4 21. Rg3 Nxa1 22. Qxa1 Bb5 23. Qe1 Qh5 24. Kf2 Bxe5 25. dxe5 Bxe2 26. Qxe2 Qh4 27. Qe1 Rfd8 28. Kf1 Qh5 29. Bd4 Qe8 30. Qe2 Qa4 31. Qh5 Rxd4 32. cxd4 Rc1+ 33. Ke2 Qc2+ 34. Ke3 Qd3+ 35. Kf2 Rf1++ 0-1

This game was a much needed victory after two straight losses. This game stopped the bleeding long enough for me to mentally recover for the remaining two rounds on the following day. I'm not ashamed to say that I at chocolate the night after this game. I ate my sorrows.