Chess - The Scotsman 21/07/12

By PAUL MOTWANI
Published on 21/07/2012 00:00

THERE are few chess openings that I have enjoyed playing with White or Black as much as I have enjoyed the Caro-Kann, 1 e4 c6.

It’s extremely solid, reliable and flexible for Black, but White also has many different ways to handle it. Though, I very much doubt that the Caro-Kann will ever actually be refuted, there are lots of sneaky little opening twists which can easily unsettle even rather strong players if they are not sufficiently well prepared. That’s basically what happened in the following cracking miniature between GM Aleksandr Lenderman and IM Steven Zierk in a recent national US open tournament. White’s 17th move is an absolute stunner that many computer programs do not spot immediately. Enjoy!

White: A.Lenderman; Black: S.Zierk. Opening: Caro-Kann Defence

1 e4 c6 2 c4 This can make for a refreshing change from 2 d4. 2...d5 The opening gets a completely different flavour with 2...e5 3 Nf3 d6 4 d4 Nd7, as in Hamdouchi-Battaglini from France’s top team championship this year. 3 exd5 cxd5 4 cxd5 Nf6 5 Nc3 Nxd5 6 Nf3 Nc6 7 Bb5 a6 Black should probably prefer fast and simple development with 7...e6 8 0-0 Be7, as recommended on page 165 of IM Jovanka Houska’s excellent Everyman book, Play the

Caro-Kann – check out www.everymanchess.com for more details. 8 Bxc6+ bxc6 9 0-0 Nxc3 An instructive variation is 9...g6 10 Qa4 Bb7 11 Re1 Bg7 12 d4 0-0 13 Nxd5 cxd5 14 Qb4! with a double attack against black’s loose bishop and pawn at b7 and e7 respectively. 10 bxc3 e6 11 d4 Bd6 12 Ng5!? An interesting way to play for the initiative. Now 12...0-0 13 Qd3! would be unpleasant for Black, and 12...h6 13 Ne4 also favours White. 12...Be7 13 Qh5 Bxg5 13...g6 14 Qh6 is hardly appealing for Black. 14 Bxg5 Qd5 15 Rfe1 0-0? Black can be forgiven for not realising that this perfectly plausible-looking move actually loses! 16 Re5 Qd6 16...Qd7 or 16...Qc4 would meet with the same killing response from White... 17 Bf6!! Threatening 18 Qg5. 17...gxf6 17...h6 18 Rg5 hxg5 19 Qxg5 g6 20 Qh6 is also “curtains” for Black. 18 Re3 e5 Also hopeless is 18...Qf4 because of 19 Rf3 Qe4 20 Rg3+ Kh8 21 Qh6 or 19...Qd2 20 Rg3+ Kh8 21 Qh4!. 19 Qh6! Kh8 20 dxe5 Qd8 21 Rd3!! Black resigned, in view of 21...Qxd3 22 Qxf8# or 21...Bd7 22 Rad1 or 21...Qe7 22 exf6 or 21...Qe8 22 Qxf6+ Kg8 23 Rg3+.