Download PGN of September ’24 1 e4 ... games
>> Previous Update >>
Caro-Kann Advance 4.Nd2 e6 5.Nb3 Nd7 6.Nf3 Ne7 7.Be2 h6 [B12]
In the first game, Carlsen, M - Maghsoodloo, P we see an Advance variation with 4.Nd2 but later it went into more familiar lines where both sides were developing slowly. Black decided to mix a few ideas by pushing pawns on both sides but White managed to get an edge with 13.Bd3:
             |
For a long time White had the better development, more space and more activity but because of the closed center Black was not doing so badly, even with his King in the centre. It went into an endgame where White was trying to win but Black defended well and managed to escape with a draw.
Heimisson, H - Vidit, S was a positional line similar to game 1. Black was playing solidly and White was trying to open the game, but when he did it was at the wrong moment and with the tactic 23...c4! Black managed to win a pawn:
|
|
White won it back and was defending well but in the end he missed something and Black managed to win.
Caro-Kann Advance 4.Bd3 Bxd3 5.Qxd3 e6 6.Ne2 [B12]
Adams, M - Paichadze, L was also in the Advance, but this time with 4.Bd3 which has the reputation of being a quiet line:
|
|
Just like in the first game Black left his King in the centre for a long time and White was trying to find a way to attack. White did get a chance to create a winning attack but missed it and was forced to defend a worse endgame. He did and it ended in a draw.
Caro-Kann Advance, Short Variation 5...c5 6.Be3 Qb6 7.Nc3 [B12]
Albornoz, C - Giri, A was in a Short Variation with 5...c5. Soon the game deviated from the main lines and reached a new position. Black decided to castle long and was hoping to create something on the other side:
|
|
White had an open b file but played cautiously and at some point both sides could not see how to improve and so it ended in a draw.
Navara, D - Rodrigue, S was another Short Variation in the same line and White went for the rare 8.Bb5:
|
|
Soon the game become very tactical and White offered a piece but when Black took it 17.d5 followed and with some nice combinations White won the game. A very good attacking game.
Caro-Kann Advance, Short Variation 5...Nd7 6.0-0 a5 7.Ne1 [B12]
Van Foreest, J - Moroni, L was again in the Short Variation but already after 8 moves there was a new position:
|
|
White found an interesting plan and after 14.h4 he gained an edge. Even if it was a very closed position White slowly took control of all the important diagonals and squares and when he opened the Queenside, where the black king was hiding, he created a strong attack and won the game.
Exchange Variation 4.Bd3 Nc6 5.c3 Qc7 6.h3 [B13]
Moving away from the Advance, Predke, A - Gukesh, D it was in the Exchange Variation with 4.Bd3:
|
|
Both sides were maneuvering a lot with their knights , trying to get some outposts in the centre and Black opted for long castling. It went into an endgame where White decided to sac a pawn for some activity but later the challenger for the title slowly managed to win the game.
Caro-Kann Defence, Korchnoi Variation 9...h6 [B15]
Yakubboev, N - Wageih, K featured Korchnoi's 5...exf6 and later went into a quiet position where White castled short. Later he played a novelty when he gave a pawn with 15.d5:
|
|
White managed to get great compensation after Black maybe did not play the best moves. Still, the compensation was only enough for a small edge but Black played too optimistically and allowed White to push his passed pawn all the way and White won. An interesting positional game.
Till next month, Marian
>> Previous Update >>
Please post you queries on the 1 e4 ... Forum, or subscribers can email me at support@chesspublishing.com.