(516) Bentley,John L (2163) - Harborne,Matthew (2081) [B12]
4NCL/Div3/3CS2 vs. SLO2 Telford ENG (7.3), 12.04.2003
[Annotations by Charlie Linford]
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.Nf3 e6 5.Be2 c5 6.0-0 Nd7 7.c4 The Advance Variation against the Caro-Kann is usually an aggressive choice, and white appears to have deliberately slow-played his first couple of moves before trying this idea, which contains a few problems for the unwary. 7...dxc4 8.Nc3 cxd4 9.Qxd4 Bc5 10.Qxc4 The white queen looks over worked out here, but unless black can take advantage of it white will be able to create some problems. 10...Ne7 11.Rd1 Rc8 12.Qb5?! A4 looks the more natural square for the queen, as the threat to the b-pawn is easily dealt with. 12...Qc7 13.Bf4 Bc2! Diagram
Now her majesty is in some trouble. Already white should bail out with 14.Rxd7 Qxd7 15.Rc1!?14.Rd2 a6 15.Qc4 b5 16.Nxb5 Forced - other moves would have lost even more material. 16...axb5 17.Qxb5 17.Qxc2 was better, as white has a bit of play for the exchange. 17...Be4 Not bad, but 17...Qa7! followed by retreating the bishop to a4 would have been icing on the cake. 18.Rc1 Bc6? 18...Nd5 was the move here - now white gets back in the game. 19.Rxc5! Bxb5 20.Rxc7 Rxc7 21.Bxb5 Nd5? Diagram 21...Rc1+ was best, although white may even be able to claim an advantage with two connected passed pawns for the exchange. The text falls foul of yet another tactic.22.Rxd5! exd5 23.e6 Rb7 24.exd7+ Ke7 White now has three pieces and two pawns for two rooks - quite an unusual material situation, but with his bishop pair and passed pawns white is winning. 25.a4 Ra8 26.Kf1 Rxb5 Giving back an exchange was the only feasible course of action, but black is still lost. 27.axb5 Ra4 28.Be3 Kxd7 29.Bc5 Ra5 30.Nd4 Kc7 31.b4 Ra2 32.Nc6 Ra8 33.Na5 Not a premature resignation, unless black reckons he could have held four pawns against knight and three. 1-0
