Caro-Kann
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Bc4!?
This is third-most popular in ChessBase's 2025 Mega database, behind 4.f3!? and especially 4.Nxe4.
4...Nf6 5.f3 Bf5!?
The main line in Mega25 runs 5...exf3 6.Nxf3, reaching a position perhaps more likely to arise from a Blackmar-Diemer Gambit, ie 1.d4 d5 2.e4!? dxe4 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.f3 exf3 5.Nxf3 c6? 6.Bc4, with Stockfish17 and Dragon1 reckoning 6...Bf5 gives Black the upper hand. However, in the BDG move-order Black usually prefers 5...Bg4, or some other alternative to 5...c6!?
 |
| With Black having defended the e4 pawn, how should White proceed? |
*****
*****
*****
*****
6.g4!? Bg6 7.g5!? Nd5 8.Nxe4 e6
 |
| How would you assess this position, which occurs 16 times in Mega25? |
*****
*****
*****
*****
Material is level and both players have developed two pieces. White has more space, but the most significant aspect of the position is White's hole-ridden kingside. Dragon1 reckons the game is completely equal, but Stockfish17 gives a slight edge to Black.
9.Ne2 Be7 10.N2g3!?
This may be a novelty, and is not liked by the engines, which suggest 10.0-0!?
10...Nd7 11.Bb3!? Qc7 12.h4 c5 13.dxc5?
Opening lines when your king is unlikely to find safety anytime soon is a recipe for disaster.
13...Nxc5 14.Bxd5 exd5 15.Qxd5 Nxe4 16.Nxe4 0-0!?
 |
| Black is a pawn down, but winning (Dragon1) or has at least the upper hand (Stockfish17) |
*****
*****
*****
*****
17.Be3?
Better is 17.Bd2.
17...Rad8 18.Qb3 Bxe4 19.fxe4 Qg3+
If White's light-square bishop were on d2, this check would not be possible, and White would have equalised. However, after 17.Bd2 Black has better lines, eg 17...Rac8 18.Qb3 Qxc2 19.Qxc2 Rxc2 20.Bc3 Re8 with a big lead in development and no longer a pawn down.
20.Bf2 Qg2 21.Rh3?!
Probably better, but still losing, is 21.Rg1 Qxe4+ 22.Kf1.
21...Qxe4+
Even stronger is the engines' 21...Bb4+!, winning the exchange as 22.Kd2? allows mate in two.
22.Kf1
Not 22.Re3?? Qh1+ 23.Ke2 Qxa1 24.Rxe7 Qd1+ 25.Ke3 Rd2 26.Qc4 (forced) Rxc2 27.Qd3 (forced) Qxd3+ 28.Kxd3 Rxf2.
22...Qg4?
Only 22...Bb4 keeps a winning advantage, according to the engines. Their chief continuation runs 23.a3 Ba5 24.Kg1 Rd2 25.Re1 Qc6 with multiple threats, eg 26.c3? loses to 26...Bb6 27.Rf1 (27.Bxb6? Qg2#) Re8 28.Rh2 Qf3 etc.
23.Re1 Rd1
DO offered a draw in my time.
 |
| How would you assess this middlegame? |
*****
*****
*****
*****
Material is level, but with all the heavy pieces on the board, king safety is paramount. Dragon1 gives Black the upper hand, while Stockfish17 reckons Black only has a slight edge. In any event, Black's position is easier to play.
24.Qf3 Qc4+ 25.Qe2 Rxe1+ 26.Kxe1 Qc6!?
Indirectly defending e7.
27.Kd1 Bd8!?
This retreat is the engines' top choice.
28.Rd3 Qh1+ 29.Be1 f6!?
This is playable, but makes the position very sharp again.
30.Qe6+ Kh8 31.Qf7!?
 |
| How should Black proceed? |
*****
*****
*****
*****
31...Rg8
Clearly 31...Rxf7?? 32.Rxd8+ Rf8 33.Rxf8# is out of the question, but Black has two other ways to hold: a) 31...Qf3+ 32.Rxf3 Rxf7, although Dragon1 (but not Stockfish17) reckons White has a slight edge after both 33.Rd3 and 33.h5; b) 31...Qxe1+!? 32.Kxf1 Ba5+ 33.b4! Bxb4+ 34.c3 Rxf7 35.cxb4 g6.
32.g6?!
The game should probably have finished something like 32.Re3 Bb6 33.Re8 Qf4+ 34.Kd2 Qf4+, when the white king cannot escape perpetual check.
 |
| Black to play and gain at least a slight edge |
*****
*****
*****
*****
32...h6??
Also losing is 32...hxg6? 33.Qxg6 Rf8 (forced - White threatened 34.Qh5#) 34.Rd7. But the engines reckon 32...Bb6 keeps the position equal, while 32...Ba5! 33.c3 Qe4 gives Black the upper hand (Dragon1) or at least a slight edge (Stockfish17).
33.Qxg8+ 1-0
I returned to competitive chess last autumn following a 4½ year break because of the covid restrictions and find the BDG viable at club level as a surprise weapon against - say up to around 1750 rating players and even above this level when chosen against particular opponents. Game notes frequently state that black is better until he/she cannot cope with the pressure and blunders. The other scenario is black falling into time trouble and accepting a suitably time draw offer against a much lower graded opponent. I am in my 70s and recently faced a junior who is probably aged no more than about 13 or 14 years and rated in the mid 1800s - in excess of 200 rating points above me at the present time. I used the BDG and was able to secure a slight advantage throughout the game and forced a draw just before reaching 40 moves.
ReplyDeleteWhatever advantage black may have according to the computers, white almost certainly will be far more familiar with the positions that arise while black is likely to be starting from scratch! At my level, it is far better to be playing a position where you are slightly worse, but know the correct plans, than one where you are theoretically level or slightly better and are starting from scratch.
I very much agree, especially about playing openings one knows over theoretically better ones. Have you any BDG books you would recommend? I only have Gary Lane's - quite a few years old now.
DeleteThe Blackmar-Diemer Gambit by Christoph Scheerer. Everyman Chess. A large volume softback comprising 336 pages. Published 2011. Emil Josef Diemer 1908-1990. A Life Devoted to Chess by Alan Dommett. The Book Guild Ltd. Hardback comprising 124 pages and 126 main games. Published 2003. I also have the Gary Lane publication and Blackmar-Diemer keybook. Rev. Tim Sawyer. Thinker's Press. Softback comprising 137 pages and 700 games. Some light notes but limited explanation of ideas. Published 1992.
DeleteNB. I have changed email address. How do I notify you for future reference?
Yes, I had forgotten about Scheerer's book; a friend has it (impressive-looking - the book, not the friend), and I know about the Sawyer book, but not the Dommett one.
DeleteEasiest way to contact me is via my main email: timspanton@hotmail.co.uk