Caro-Kann Tartakower
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nf6 5.Nxf6+ exf6 6.Bf4!?
The main moves are 6.Bc4, 6.Nf3 and especially 6.c3.
6...Bd6 7.Qd2 Bxf4!? 8.Qxf4 Qa5+ 9.Qd2 Qxd2+ 10.Kxd2
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| How would you assess this queenless middlegame? |
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White has the better pawn-structure for any ending, but the white king is a little uncomfortable in the middle of the board. Komodo14.1 reckons the position is equal but Stockfish15.1 gives White a slight edge.
10...0-0 11.Nf3 Bg4 12.Be2 Rd8 13.c3 c5 14.Rad1!? Nc6
Not 14...Bxf3?! 15.Bxf3 cxd4?? 16.Bxb7 etc.
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| How should White proceed? |
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15.Kc1?!
Almost certainly better is 15.Ke1, protecting the bishop, which is important, as will be seen. Also fine, according to the engines, is 15.h3!?, eg 15...Bxf3 16.Bxf3 cxd4 17.Bxc6 bxc6, when they reckon both 18.Rhe1 and 18.Kc2 give complete equality.
15...Bxf3?
Black is better after 15...cxd4 as 16.Nxd4? fails to 16...Rxd4!, which would not work after 15.Ke1.
16.Bxf3 cxd4 17.Bxc6 bxc6 18.Rxd4 Rxd4
JD offered a draw.
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| Objectively, should White accept the draw offer? |
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No - the rook-and-pawn ending is in White's favour and is certainly easier for White to play, even though after ...
19.cxd4 Rd8
... the engines reckon White only has a slight edge.
... the engines reckon White only has a slight edge.
20.Rd1 Kf8 21.Kc2 Ke7 22.Kc3 Rd5 23.Kc4 h5 24.Rd3 Kd6 25.b4 a5 26.a3 a4!?
Possibly better is 26...axb4, although White gets a passer on the rook's file with 27.a4!?
27.Rd2 g5
The engines reckon Black is equal after 27...Rf5 or 27...h4, although the game goes on.
28.Kd3 Rf5 29.Rc2 g4?
This lets White get the rooks off. The engines reckon Black is only slightly worse after 29...Rf4.
30.Ke4 Rd5 31.Rc5 f5+ 32.Kd3 Rxc5
If Black does not exchange, White has Ra5.
33.bxc5+!?
Both recaptures win.
33...Kd5
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| How does White finish the game? |
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34.Kc3?
Any reasonable pawn move wins easily, eg 34.f3 or 34.h4, much as happens in the game, but the text allows a draw.
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| Black to play and draw |
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34...f4?
Black draws with 34...Ke4, eg 35.Kc4 f4 36.d5!? cxd5+ 37.Kb4 d4 38.c6 d3 39.Kc3 g3! 40.hxg3 fxg3 41.fxg3 Ke3, after which both sides queen and the position is equal. White must avoid going after the a4 pawn with 35.Kb4?, eg 35...Kxd4 36.Kxa4 f4 (36...Kxc5 also wins) 37.Kb4 h4 38.a4 g3 39.hxg3 f3 (a well-known tactic, which also works with 39.fxg3 h3) etc.
35.f3 f5 36.h4 Ke6 37.Kc4 g3 38.Kb4 Kd5 39.Kc3 Ke6 40.Kc4
Simple triangulation has made the win easy.
40...Ke7 41.d5 Kd7 42.d6 1-0
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