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Sunday, March 31, 2013

Caro-Kann Exchange 4.Bf4 Nc6 5.c3 Bf5 6.Qb3 Qd7-TWIC 956

TWIC 956
GM Sasikiran played a wonderful and natural game, exploiting the light squares in round 3 of the 29th Open Cappelle la Grande. 

Afek,Y (2310) - Sasikiran,K (2677)
Caro-Kann Exchange 4.Bf4 Nc6 5.c3 Bf5 6.Qb3 Qd7 7.Nf3 e6 [B13]
29th Open Cappelle la Grande FRA (3.43), 25.02.2013

Position 1
White is suffering. The king is wandering in the center and Qa3/Nb3 are out of play. What do you recommend for black?

Black to Play
20.Rae1

Caro-Kann 4.c4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Nf3 Be6-TWIC 956

TWIC 956
Piscopo pushed hard but was ultimately not rewarded for enterprising play in round 2 of the recent 29th Open Cappelle la Grande.

Piscopo,P (2403) - Kharitonov,Alexandr (2536)
Caro-Kann 4.c4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Nf3 Be6 [B13]
29th Open Cappelle la Grande FRA (2.28), 24.02.2013

Position 1
The early middlegame has produced and interesting position. What do you recommend for white?
15.Rxe6(a positional exchange sacrifice with pawn structure compensation)
15.Ng5(harassing the bishop)
Something else

White to Play

14...Rfe8

Caro-Kann Advance 3...Bf5 4.Nf3 e6 5.Be2 Ne7-TWIC 956

TWIC 956
GM Wesley So played an enterprising queen sacrifice and was ultimately rewarded in a very tense game at the recent Reykjavik Open 2013.

So,W (2684) - Dziuba,M (2602)
Caro-Kann Advance 3...Bf5 4.Nf3 e6 5.Be2 Ne7 [B12]
Reykjavik Open 2013 Reykjavik ISL (9.2), 26.02.2013

Position 1
The position is sharp and looks quite chaotic. What do you recommend for white now?

White to Play
37...Qg5

Thursday, March 28, 2013

Caro-Kann 4…Bf5;11.Bd2-TWIC 959

TWIC 959
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bf5 5.Ng3 Bg6 6.h4 h6 7.Nf3 Nd7 8.h5 Bh7 9.Bd3 Bxd3 10.Qxd3 e6 11.Bd2(diagram)
Schandorff recommends 4..Bf5 in his book on the Caro-Kann.



11.Bd2




In the feature game GM Kokarev methodically massages black down in a model RB-RB ending.

Kokarev,Dm (2627) - Popov,Iv RUS (2623)
Caro-Kann 4…Bf5; 11.Bd2[B19]
Dvorkovich Mem 2013 Taganrog RUS (9.1), 23.01.2013


Position 1
White has the better structure to work with. White do you recommend for white now?


White to Play


30..Rd7


Position 2
The long endgame massage has been going well for white, but black has had some defensive success too. The kingside pawns have been liquidated and the defensive front has been narrowed. What do you suggest for white now?

White to Play
54..ab


Caro-Kann 4…Nd7 5.Ng5 Ngf6-TWIC 959

TWIC 959
4…Nd7 5.Ng5 Ngf6 6.Bd3 e6 7.Qe2 Bd6 8.N1f3 h6 9.Ne4 Nxe4 10.Qxe4 Qc7(diagram)

10...Qc7

IM Lakdwala recommends 10..Qc7 in The Caro-Kann Move by Move(Everyman 2012).

The Caro-Kann Move by Move

The feature game shows Hawkings on the black side winning methodical technical ending. White gave up the bishop pair too readily and black later broke up white's kingside pawns and won a nice RR-RR ending.

Eggleston,D (2343) - Hawkins,Jo (2511) 
Caro-Kann 4…Nd7 5.Ng5 Ngf6 
6.Bd3 e6 7.Qe2 Bd6 8.N1f3 h6 9.Ne4 Nxe4 10.Qxe4 Qc7 [B17]
e2e4 Brighton Masters 2013 Brighton ENG (5), 18.02.2013


Position 1
Black has the better structure but white has the c-file and the active Rc7. What do you recommend for black now?

Black to Play

25.d4


Monday, March 25, 2013

French Advance 5.Nf3 Bd7 6.Be2-TWIC 958

TWIC 958The Advance 6...Nge7 7.0-0 Ng6(diagram)
Here is the latest from the Dallas FIDE Open.

7...Ng6

This way of defending the advance give black some nice maneuvering possibilities.

Negi,P (2639) - Sadorra,J
French Advance 5.Nf3 Bd7 6.Be2 [C02]
UTD Turner GM Invitational 2013 Richardson USA (7), 11.03.2013


Position 1
Black is looking to convert his extra P with the least amount of fuss. What do you recommend?

Black to Play
24.Be4

French Winawer 4.ed ed-TWIC 958

TWIC 958
The Exchange Winawer 5.Bd3(diagram)
This line is not so harmless and avoids massive theoretical battles.

5.Bd3

Mueller,Kars (2529) - Braun,A (2556)
Winawer 4.ed ed[C15]
Bundesliga 2012–13 Hamburg GER (11), 16.03.2013

Position 1
White is a clear pawn up and the technical conversion phase. What do you recommend for white now?

White to Play

28...Rhg8