Spanton (1808 Fide/1998 ECF) - Edward Jackson (1435 Fide/1893 ECF)
Caro-Kann Exchange
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.Bd3 Nc6 5.c3
As grandmaster Nigel Davies points out in his DVD on the Queen's Gambit Declined Exchange Variation for ChessBase, there are strong similarities between the Exchange Variation of the QGD and the Exchange Variation of the Caro-Kann, the main difference being the pawn-structure is reversed. In other words, in the former White has the possibility of a minority attack on the queenside while Black's counterplay often lies on the kingside, while in the latter Black has the possibility of a minority attack on the queenside while White's counterplay often lies on the kingside.
5...Nf6 6.Nf3
Bobby Fischer used to play 6.Bf4.
6...Bg4 7.Nbd2 e6 8.0-0 Be7
The more-active 8...Bd6 is much-more popular in ChessBase's 2021 Mega database, but the text has also been played by GMs.
9.Re1 0-0 10.Nf1 Bh5!?
An interesting manoeuvre by which Black avoids giving up the bishop-pair, as would be the case after, for example, 10...Qc7 11.Ng3 and 12.h3.
11.Ng3 Bg6 12.Bg5 a6 13.Bxg6 hxg6
 |
| How should White proceed? |
*****
*****
*****
*****
14.Ne5?!
The engines dislike this, preferring something like 14.h4!? or 14.Qe2. The problem with the text is it helps Black bring about exchanges that diminish the possibility of a white kingside attack.
14...Nxe5 15.dxe5 Nd7 16.Bxe7 Qxe7 17.Qd4 b5
The start of a thematic minority attack - the engines reckon Black is slightly better.
18.Rad1 Rfc8 19.f4?!
Defending an e pawn that probably did not need reinforcing, and at the same time weakening the white kingside. The engines suggest 19.Nf1 or 19.b3!?
19...Qc5?!
The engines much prefer 19...Rc4 or 19...a5. It seems they reckon an exchange of queens makes White's defence easier.
20.Ne2 a5 21.a3 Rab8 22.Rc1
Black is only slightly better after 22.Qxc5 Nxc5, according to the engines.
22...Qc4!? 23.Qe3
It is too late to exchange queens as 23.Qxc4? bxc4 leaves White chronically weak on the b file. The engines give the interesting 23.b4!?, with chances to hold as the apparently weak c pawn is relatively easy to defend.
23...Nc5 24.Nd4 Nb3 25.Nxb3 Qxb3 26.Qd2 Rc4 27.g3
White may be holding on after the engines' 27.Re3!, one point being 27...Rxf4 can be met by 28.c4 Qa2 29.cxd5 Qxd5 30.Qxd5 exd5 31.Rc5 with good drawing chances. However 27...Qa4 keeps a black advantage.
27...Rbc8 28.Re3 b4 29.axb4 axb4 30.Rd3 Ra8 31.Kg2
Possibly slightly better is 31.Qc2 Qa2 32.b3 Rc5 33.Qxa2 Rxa2 34.c4, but White still has the upper hand, according to the engines.
31...Ra2 32.cxb4??
32.Rc2 keeps the game going. After the text White faces catastrophic loss of material.
32...Rxb2 0-1
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