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One of the things that I really enjoy is to play chess when travelling, especially when on holiday at a picturesque location! Those of you who follow my channel will know that I bring along my Chessnut Air to use as an electronic chess board, either to play against an online opponent, or to record an over-the-board match.

During the Anzac Day long weekend just past, my family and I stayed at an AirBnB in the beachside village of Bundeena, south of Sydney and nestled within the Royal National Park.

And so, on a sunny morning, coffee in hand, I played the following game!

My opponent played an unusual a6-line of the Caro-Kann Defense, which scuttled my approach of the von Hennig Gambit! No matter, I decided to open the centre to steer the game down tactical attacking lines! However, being distracted by the cameras and screen recording (making sure that nothing had glitched) led me to play perhaps with a slight timid temperament – I missed several opportunities that I had created to attack.

Nonetheless, in the early middlegame, I gained a very nice concession from Black, winning their rook and taking away their right to castle. However, I failed to correctly consolidate the gains by not wanting to trade queens.

With (18. Rd1!) and a rook-queen battery down the fully open d-file, I re-established a commanding lead of better than [+4]… only to blunder it [+4 → -4] in the most silly of ways a few moves later with (22. Kd2??), allowing Black to pin my queen to the king! 🫠

I was annoyed at myself, but I wasn’t going to let it get me down! The sun was shining, and the beach was calling! Furthermore, I felt that I still had a chance; Black had their queen, and I had a rook pair. Moreover, Black’s only other remaining piece was their knight on b8, which had yet to develop. As the knight is not a long-range piece, in the immediate term, it’s influence will not be felt.

And I found a way! I allowed/ignored Black’s queen to capture my kingside pawns. This opened the g-file for my rook, and I played a tricky tactic that I am proud of in this game. A thing to note is that a solitary queen cannot checkmate a king by herself. While the queen was capturing my pawns, Black was not developing their knight, and it gave me just enough time to coordinate an attack on Black’s king with my rook pair and bishop!

I’m especially pleased with (30. Rg1!), a devious trap! If Black played the natural looking (30… Kxg7) and captured what seemed to be a hanging rook, then (31. Bf5+), a discovered check and I win Black’s queen! Black saw through the trap, but the only good move in the position was the very sketchy looking (30… fxg6), which seemed to expose Black’s king to a devastating battery attack from White’s rooks.

Black either didn’t find or didn’t believe in this move, and instead, moved their queen out of the potential attack. This was a mistake/blunder, with Stockfish returning the evaluation to equal [0.00]. However, I now had the initiative, and the position was much easier to play for White.

I had a series of checks, forcing Black’s king onto the d-file. And then with (33. Rd1+), Black’s king had only two legal moves. Both seemed to force Black to trade their queen for one of White’s rooks, though there was one difficult to see line where Black manages to avoid doom by the skin of their teeth. Black needed to play (33… Kc5), which seems to march the king into a skewer against their queen (34. Rc7+). However, Black actually had (34… Nc6), which just manages to block the check and maintain a difficult equality.

However, I suspect that Black had expected to lose their queen and quickly traded their queen for one of my rooks (33… Ke3?? 34. Rd3+! Qxd3 35. cxd3), and we entered a simple endgame where I had rook and bishop vs Black’s knight. My approach was clear; aim to trade Black’s knight for my bishop and mop up Black’s split pawns with my rook. And that’s exactly what happened. My rook captures Black’s a-pawn and then flies to the h-file, hunting their undefended final pawn. Black resigned, good game, GG!

Game: https://www.chess.com/game/live/107827978923

[Event "Live Chess"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2024.04.25"]
[Round "-"]
[White "vitualis"]
[Black "Klinch994"]
[Result "1-0"]
[CurrentPosition "8/8/7R/7p/8/3Pk3/8/1K6 b - -"]
[Timezone "UTC"]
[ECO "B15"]
[ECOUrl "https://www.chess.com/openings/Caro-Kann-Defense-2.d4-d5-3.Nc3-a6"]
[UTCDate "2024.04.25"]
[UTCTime "23:51:15"]
[WhiteElo "1313"]
[BlackElo "1254"]
[TimeControl "900+10"]
[Termination "vitualis won by resignation"]
[StartTime "23:51:15"]
[EndDate "2024.04.26"]
[EndTime "00:20:48"]
[Link "https://www.chess.com/game/live/107827978923"]
[WhiteUrl "https://images.chesscomfiles.com/uploads/v1/user/3711094.f52a0759.50x50o.ab18600a8723.png"]
[WhiteCountry "17"]
[WhiteTitle ""]
[BlackUrl "https://images.chesscomfiles.com/uploads/v1/user/278760775.90c54814.50x50o.5094333d6dbf.png"]
[BlackCountry "231"]
[BlackTitle ""]

1. e4 {[%clk 0:15:04]} 1... c6 {[%clk 0:15:06.2]} 2. d4 {[%clk 0:15:09.6]} 2...
d5 {[%clk 0:15:15]} 3. Nc3 {[%clk 0:15:14.9] Caro-Kann Defense} 3... a6 {[%clk
0:15:01.1] An unusual line in the Caro-Kann $1 In my mind I thought that this
couldn't be an optimal move, but these waiting type moves aren't necessarily
easy to play against $1} 4. exd5 {[%clk 0:14:30.9][%c_arrow
f1d3;keyPressed;none;from;f1;opacity;0.8;to;d3;persistent;false][%c_highlight
d3;keyPressed;shift;opacity;0.8;square;d3;persistent;false] I normally like
playing the von Hennig Gambit, but this a6-line nullifies the possibility. I
decided to exchange to open the centre. Stockfish thinks that this is suboptimal
[+0.6 $37 +0.2], but I prefer more open games.} 4... cxd5 {[%clk 0:15:08.6]} 5.
Nf3 {[%clk 0:14:09.7]} 5... Bg4 {[%clk 0:15:15.6] My opponent did confuse me a
bit by first playing slow, and then playing aggressively with a \"Ruy López\"
bishop $1} 6. h3 {[%clk 0:14:06.9]} 6... Bxf3 {[%clk 0:15:21.9]} 7. Qxf3 {[%clk
0:14:13.5][%c_arrow
f3d5;keyPressed;none;from;f3;opacity;0.8;to;d5;persistent;false,c3d5;keyPressed;none;from;c3;opacity;0.8;to;d5;persistent;false][%c_highlight
d5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d5;persistent;false] I'm happy with this
exchange $1} 7... Nf6 {[%clk 0:15:26.4]} 8. Bg5 {[%clk 0:14:03.3] Thought: remove
the f6-knight and then capture the d5-pawn $1} 8... Qb6 $4 {[%clk
0:15:30.9][%c_arrow
e7e6;keyPressed;none;from;e7;opacity;0.8;to;e6;persistent;false,d8b6;keyPressed;none;from;d8;opacity;0.8;to;b6;persistent;false][%c_highlight
e6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e6;persistent;false,b6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;b6;persistent;false][%c_effect
b6;square;b6;type;Blunder;persistent;true] I thought that this was probably not
good for Black as Qxb2 will likely be bad... [+2.7] however, as we shall see, I
don't manage to capitalise on this as I was feeling too hesitant in the game $1}
9. O-O-O {[%clk 0:13:29.3][%c_arrow
g5f6;keyPressed;none;from;g5;opacity;0.8;to;f6;persistent;false][%c_highlight
f6;keyPressed;shift;opacity;0.8;square;f6;persistent;false] The move is
\"okay\", but Bxf6 immediately is best} 9... e6 {[%clk 0:15:12.8]} 10. Re1 $2
{[%clk 0:12:53.5][%c_arrow
e1e6;keyPressed;none;from;e1;opacity;0.8;to;e6;persistent;false,e6e8;keyPressed;none;from;e6;opacity;0.8;to;e8;persistent;false,g5f6;keyPressed;none;from;g5;opacity;0.8;to;f6;persistent;false][%c_highlight
e6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e6;persistent;false,f6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f6;persistent;false][%c_effect
e1;square;e1;type;Mistake;persistent;true] As before, I was too hesitant and
Stockfish evaluates that this position is equal [0.00]. The pin is useful, but a
bit too slow. Trading the bishop for the knight immediately is best.} 10... Be7
{[%clk 0:15:04.6]} 11. Bxf6 {[%clk 0:12:25.2]} 11... Bxf6 $2 {[%clk
0:15:10.7][%c_effect f6;square;f6;type;Mistake;persistent;true][%c_arrow
g7f6;keyPressed;none;from;g7;opacity;0.8;to;f6;persistent;false][%c_highlight
f6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f6;persistent;false] Though Black makes a
mistake back [+2.4]. gxf6 is best.} 12. Nxd5 {[%clk 0:12:19.1] I win the
d-pawn $1} 12... Qxd4 $2 {[%clk 0:14:59.9][%c_effect
d4;square;d4;type;Mistake;persistent;true][%c_arrow
f6g5;keyPressed;none;from;f6;opacity;0.8;to;g5;persistent;false][%c_highlight
g5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;g5;persistent;false] An aggresive
counter-capture, with a battery down the dark square diagonal $1 Perhaps
surprisingly, this is a mistake as Black has no checkmate as my king can run $1
[+5.7]} 13. Nc7+ $6 {[%clk 0:12:13.1][%c_effect
c7;square;c7;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true][%c_arrow
d5f6;keyPressed;none;from;d5;opacity;0.8;to;f6;persistent;false][%c_highlight
f6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f6;persistent;false] In this case, Black's
f6-bishop is \"worth more\" than Black's a8-rook as it is active, where the rook
is not. Nonetheless, White is still winning [+5.7 $37 +3.8].} 13... Kf8 {[%clk
0:14:48.6]} 14. Nxa8 $2 {[%clk 0:11:52.1][%c_effect
a8;square;a8;type;Mistake;persistent;true][%c_arrow
f3b7;keyPressed;none;from;f3;opacity;0.8;to;b7;persistent;false][%c_highlight
b7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;b7;persistent;false] Tunnel vision, and a
mistake $1 I actually considered Qxb7, which of course, prevents Qxb2, but then
chickened out [0.00].} 14... Qxb2+ {[%clk 0:14:53.9]} 15. Kd1 {[%clk 0:11:41.4]}
15... Qa1+ $2 {[%clk 0:14:41.8][%c_effect
a1;square;a1;type;Mistake;persistent;true][%c_arrow
b2b1;keyPressed;none;from;b2;opacity;0.8;to;b1;persistent;false][%c_highlight
b1;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;b1;persistent;false] Black's own tunnel
vision along the long diagonal [+2.4]. The problem with Qa1+ is that the queen
is stick in the corner, losing mobility.} 16. Ke2 $1 {[%clk 0:11:46.5][%c_effect
e2;square;e2;type;GreatFind;persistent;true][%c_highlight
e2;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;e2;persistent;false] Notice that somehow,
the White king is safe $1} 16... Qxa2 {[%clk 0:14:40.7]} 17. Qd3 $2 {[%clk
0:11:21.4][%c_arrow
f3b3;keyPressed;none;from;f3;opacity;0.8;to;b3;persistent;false][%c_highlight
b3;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;b3;persistent;false][%c_effect
d3;square;d3;type;Mistake;persistent;true] I was again too hesitant to trade
queens even though I considered Qb3 and this was a mistake [0.00]. Trading
queens is best as White has a material advantage and after the queens are off
the board, Black no longer has an attack.} 17... Ke7 $2 {[%clk
0:14:37.1][%c_effect e7;square;e7;type;Mistake;persistent;true] Although this
moves makes sense, Black is trying to activate their rook, this move is a
mistake $1 [+4.3]} 18. Rd1 $1 {[%clk 0:09:40][%c_effect
d1;square;d1;type;GreatFind;persistent;true][%c_highlight
d1;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;d1;persistent;false] Black now faces a
major threat down the d-file with the rook-queen battery. This also effectively
paralyzes Black's knight and rook, which have to remain in place to defend the
d7 and d8 squares respectively $1} 18... Be5 {[%clk 0:14:06] And now, their bishop
also must defend the d6-square $1} 19. Nb6 {[%clk 0:08:04.3] Finally, I managed to
evacuate my knight from the corner and reactivate it $1} 19... Qb2 {[%clk
0:12:28.7]} 20. Nc4 {[%clk 0:08:02][%c_arrow
c4e5;keyPressed;none;from;c4;opacity;0.8;to;e5;persistent;false,c4b2;keyPressed;none;from;c4;opacity;0.8;to;b2;persistent;false][%c_highlight
e5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e5;persistent;false,b2;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;b2;persistent;false]
And the knight is immediately useful with it's mobility $1} 20... Qb5 {[%clk
0:12:26.4]} 21. Nxe5 {[%clk 0:06:52.8]} 21... Qxe5+ {[%clk 0:12:34]} 22. Kd2 $4
{[%clk 0:06:19.3][%c_arrow
d3e3;keyPressed;none;from;d3;opacity;0.8;to;e3;persistent;false][%c_highlight
e3;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e3;persistent;false,d2;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d2;persistent;false][%c_effect
d2;square;d2;type;Blunder;persistent;true] I very silly blunder that I saw not
long after I made it $1 I knew I should trade queens, but felt a bit precious
about it. I lost sight of continuity that I now longer controlled the d8 square
after this move as obviously, the king breaks the battery $1 🫠 [-4]} 22... Rd8 $1
{[%clk 0:12:25.1][%c_highlight
d8;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;d8;persistent;false][%c_effect
d8;square;d8;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] And of course, Black finds it $1} 23.
Qxd8+ {[%clk 0:06:08.1]} 23... Kxd8 {[%clk 0:12:31.8]} 24. Kc1+ {[%clk
0:06:03.3]} 24... Ke7 {[%clk 0:12:34.8] And at this point, I took stock of the
situation. I knew I was in a losing position, but, I still had the rook pair for
Black's queen. Black's king is quite exposed. So, there's still a chance and we
need to counterattack $1} 25. Bd3 {[%clk 0:05:38.4] Connect the rooks, with an
attack on the h7-pawn} 25... Qg5+ {[%clk 0:12:29.1]} 26. Kb1 {[%clk 0:05:39.2]
With Black focussed on their queen, again, I have a chance $1 The Black queen
cannot give checkmate by herself, and my king is surprisingly safe from checks $1}
26... Qxg2 {[%clk 0:12:36.1]} 27. Rhg1 {[%clk 0:05:42.5][%c_arrow
g1g7;keyPressed;none;from;g1;opacity;0.8;to;g7;persistent;false][%c_highlight
g2;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;g2;persistent;false,g7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;g7;persistent;false]
Skewer Black's queen against the g7-pawn. This breaks up Black's queenside pawn
majority, good for me $1} 27... Qxh3 {[%clk 0:12:33.8]} 28. Rxg7 {[%clk
0:05:28.6]} 28... h6 {[%clk 0:12:36.5]} 29. Bg6 {[%clk 0:05:07.4] A very tricky
move $1 Place pressure on the pinned piece $1} 29... Kf6 $1 {[%clk
0:11:48.9][%c_effect f6;square;f6;type;GreatFind;persistent;true][%c_highlight
f6;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;f6;persistent;false] Black's best response,
forking my rook and bishop with their king $1 However, the follow up is difficult
for Black...} 30. Rg1 $1 {[%clk 0:04:00.3][%c_effect
g1;square;g1;type;GreatFind;persistent;true][%c_highlight
g1;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;g1;persistent;false] A very tricky move $1 If
Black carelessly captures the g7-rook (Kxg7), then White has Bf5+, a discovered
check down the g-file, with the bishop cleanly capturing Black's queen on h3 $1
Black has a single good move in the position, which is fxg6, but the OPTICS of
the move is bad as Black's king is will be attacked by my rook battery.} 30...
Qc3 $4 {[%clk 0:10:06.6][%c_effect
c3;square;c3;type;Blunder;persistent;true][%c_highlight
c3;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;c3;persistent;false,g6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;g6;persistent;false][%c_arrow
f7g6;keyPressed;none;from;f7;opacity;0.8;to;g6;persistent;false] Black believes
they have more latitude that what exists, and moves their queen out of the
potential discovered attack, but this is a blunder. The position is notionally
equal [0.00], but it's much easier to play for White $1} 31. Rxf7+ {[%clk
0:03:46.1]} 31... Ke5 {[%clk 0:10:15.6] Forced move} 32. f4+ {[%clk 0:03:43]}
32... Kd4 {[%clk 0:10:16]} 33. Rd1+ {[%clk 0:03:30.9]} 33... Ke3 $4 {[%clk
0:10:20][%c_arrow
d4c5;keyPressed;none;from;d4;opacity;0.8;to;c5;persistent;false,d4e3;keyPressed;none;from;d4;opacity;0.8;to;e3;persistent;false][%c_highlight
c5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;c5;persistent;false,e3;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e3;persistent;false][%c_effect
e3;square;e3;type;Blunder;persistent;true] Black probably thought that they
could at least trade their queen form my rook, but this is a blunder [+5.3]. The
even more dubious-looking move Kc5 is the only good line.} (33... Kc5 {Black
needed to see this line to save their queen $1 It looks like Black's king is
marching into a skewer...} 34. Rc7+ {[%c_arrow
c7c5;keyPressed;none;from;c7;opacity;0.8;to;c5;persistent;false,c5c3;keyPressed;none;from;c5;opacity;0.8;to;c3;persistent;false][%c_highlight
c5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;c5;persistent;false,c3;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;c3;persistent;false]}
34... Nc6 {But the knight comes to the rescue at the last moment $1... [0.00]})
34. Rd3+ $1 {[%clk 0:03:36.4][%c_effect
d3;square;d3;type;GreatFind;persistent;true][%c_highlight
d3;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;d3;persistent;false]} 34... Qxd3 {[%clk
0:10:28.6]} 35. cxd3 {[%clk 0:03:42.6]} 35... Nc6 {[%clk 0:10:28.3]} 36. Rxb7
{[%clk 0:03:36.1] I did feel relief at this point in the game as I should be
completely winning. Simple approach, trade the bishop for the knight if
possible, and then remove all of Black's pawns. King and rook is winning.} 36...
Kxf4 {[%clk 0:10:36.8]} 37. Rb6 {[%clk 0:03:24.7]} 37... Ne5 {[%clk 0:10:40.6]}
38. Rxe6 {[%clk 0:03:17.6]} 38... Nxg6 {[%clk 0:10:37.2]} 39. Rxg6 {[%clk
0:03:22.3] Black's king cannot defend either their a- or h-pawns. It's all
over.} 39... Ke3 {[%clk 0:10:45.9]} 40. Rxa6 {[%clk 0:03:21.5]} 40... h5 {[%clk
0:10:53.1]} 41. Rh6 {[%clk 0:03:27.5][%c_effect
b1;square;b1;type;Winner,e3;square;e3;type;ResignBlack] Emotional damage. Proof
of unavoidable checkmate., GG $1} 1-0