2017 On The Move Round 1 Matt Gurley, 1746 - Anton Taylor, 2027 Caro-Kann: Advnace Variation (B12)

2017 On The Move Round 1
Matt Gurley, 1746 - Anton Taylor, 2027
Caro-Kann: Advnace Variation (B12)

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. Be3 Bf5 6. Nf3 cxd4 7. cxd4 e6 8. Nc3 Bb4 9. Rc1 Nge7 10. Bd3 O-O 11. O-O Bg4?? After a few moves moving "out of book" by both sides I commit a huge error allowing the thematic Bxh7 bishop sacrifice that would have shortly won the game for white had he seen the possibility. Fortunately he did not. 12. h3 Bh5?? Bf5 was forced preventing the Bishop sac. Once more my opponent misses it. 13. a3 Ba5? Same reasons as the last several moves. the sac is up in the air and needs addressed. 14. Ne2 Bxf3 15. gxf3 Nf5 Ng6 is a little more accurate but this move works as well for an even yet unbalanced position with possibilities. 16. Ng3? Nxd4 is playable, probably winning, but VERY sharp. A computer makes the move quickly but a human would have to put in a lot of work to ensure that he both keeps the extra pawn and doesn't die to the given initiative of a capture. 16. ... Nxe3 17. fxe3 Qh4 18. Kg2 f6 19. f4 fxe5 20. fxe5 Rxf1 21. Nxf1 Rf8 22. Qg4? This allows a combination. Rf2+ 23. Kg1 Qxg4+ 24. hxg4 Rxb2 25. Rb1 Rxb1 26. Bxb1 Bc3 I knew this move was the error in my position even as I played it. I could find no forcing line and often in such positions I blindly move minor pieces around. Much better is b5 getting the pawns going. White can't swing his king over to that side of the board for fear of the h-pawns march as well, "dancing at two weddings". Black is winning here. 27. Ng3 Na5? b5 28. Ne2 Bd2 29. e4 Be3+ 30. Kg2 Nc6 amazingly this is the passive move that really cooks black. dxe4 is the saving move. 31. exd5 Nxd4 32. Nxd4 Bxd4 33. dxe6 Bxe5? 33. ... g6 preserves the h-pawn. 34. Be4? Bxh7+! and the bishop is immune due to the pawn queening threat. 34. ... Bd6 35. a4 b6 36. Bc6 Kf8 37. Kf3 Ke7 38. Bd7 g6? This is the result of poor calculation, low time (end of a G/30), and playing just on a few principles without considering the whole position. The best plan is Bc7-d8 mixed with moves like Kd6 and black holds his own game together by keeping the white king from assisting the passed pawn and can freely attack the queenside with his extra pawn and maybe force a bishop sac that loses. 39. Ke4 h5 40. gxh5 gxh5 41. Kf5 h4 42. Kg4 Bg3 43. Bc8 Kf6 44. Bd7 a6 45. Kh3 Ke7 46. Kg4 Kd6 47. Kh3 a5 48. Kg4 b5 49. Bxb5 Kxe6 50. Bc6 Kd6 1/2-1/2 draw finally agreed.