My Recent Game - Back to 1950+ Elo

Black to move and win

The above position was from my recent game. I reached 1950+ Elo again and closing in 2000 Elo. The competition is more difficult at this level as players are better and faster. The game started with 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 { B13 Caro-Kann Defense: Exchange Variation } cxd5 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. c3 Bg4 6. Bd3 e6 7. O-O Nbd7 8. h3 Bh5 9. Be2 Bd6 10. Qb3 Qb8

I achieved an equal position after ten moves. I'm prepared to castle and take the h7-b1 diagonal with my Bishop. Ideas of pushing my b-pawn is in the air. In a three-minute blitz game, activity and mobility is important. 11. Bg5 O-O 12. Nbd2 Bg6 13. Rac1 Ne4 14. c4 Nxg5 15. Nxg5 h6 16. Ngf3 dxc4

I gave up the center but my idea was to have a target in the isolated d-pawn. 17. Nxc4 Bf4 18. Rcd1 Rc8 19. Bd3 Bxd3 20. Qxd3 Nf6 21. Nce5 Nd5

The d5 square is an ideal outpost for the Knight. It eyes the b4 and f4 squares giving me the choice to attack on either sides. 22. g3 Bxe5 23. Nxe5 Qd6 24. Qf3 Qe7 25. Rfe1 Rc7

The move Rc7 counters White's threat of Qxd5 (after Nd3), adds another protection to the f7-square and prepares to double rooks in the c-file. 26. Nd3 Rac8 27. a3 a5 28. a4 b6

The moves a5 and b6 guards key squares b4 and c5 from White's Knight. 29. Kg2 Qd7 30. Ne5 Qxa4

White blundered the a-pawn while going after f7. 31. Rc1 Qe8 32. Rxc7 Rxc7 33. Nd3 Qe7 34. Ne5 Qd6 35. Rc1 Nf6 36. Rxc7 Qxc7 37. h4 Nd5 38. g4 f6

White's hope was to launch a King-side attack so I had to remove his Knight from the key square e5. 39. Ng6 Qc4 40. Qe4 Qc6 41. g5

White was rushing to attack and didn't see Black's threat. Black to move and win.

41...Ne3+

Same idea but better was Nf4 winning the Knight on g6 after the exchange of Queens but White blundered anyway. 42. fxe3?? {Kf3 so as not to lose the Queen} Qxe4+ 43. Kf2 Qxg6 44. Ke2 fxg5 45. hxg5 hxg5 46. Kd2 g4 { White resigns. } 0-1

Game Link https://lichess.org/GLgAXkbK/black