Test your tactics

Here's a sharp tactical game for anyone who wants to test their tactics. I'll present it in short but frequent bursts to give anyone interested a chance to practice some sharp analysis.

The game was not played be me, nor was it played on this site. More details may spoil some fun. 🙂

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.Nc3 Qb6



First exercise: now assess 5.Bd3

By-the-way, I don't claim that every question will have a single right answer. There will be equally good or better options to some of the moves I give.

i would get my other knight out...

I like Bd3. There doesn't appear to be a way to win any material here and that's probably your best positional move, aside from maybe Nf3.

Originally posted by Varenka
First exercise: now assess 5.Bd3

I don't play the Caro-Kann too often, so I wouldn't know, but I don't see anything wrong with Bd3; a trade would bring out the queen, but that could be used to white's advantage or disadvantage depending on play.

Qxd4 is the critical line.
.. I think white probably gets just enough compensation for the pawn after

1. Bd3 Qxd4
2. Nf3 Qg4

Most Caro-Kann players would avoid the messy line Qxd4 and probably play Bxd3.

There is an interesting line though; am I sad? I took out my board to have a look at this.

Bd3 Qxd4
Nf3 Qg4
h3 Qg2
Rg1 Qxh3
Bf1 Qh5
Rg5 looks good for white

nice one

don't take the queen out for a walk

Thanks for the replies. I won't drag this out by debating every move. People can judge for themselves whether they missed something or not, and whether or not the games moves are best.

So, what happened next was...

5. Bd3 Qxd4 6. Nf3 Qg4 7. h3 Qh5



Whether right or wrong, Black has grabbed the d4 pawn. Thoughts on White's next move?

g4 would be my move, although weakening king side. it is putting black queen under threat and white takes bishop, once again threatening black queen, if not winning it.

Originally posted by bellian
g4 would be my move, although weakening king side. it is putting black queen under threat and white takes bishop, once again threatening black queen.

g4 is bad the bishop just takes the pawn, white can't recapture because of the pin on the rook. Maybe I am missing something though, will have another look.

yes i was wrong

I think white should castle threatening to now play g4, black's response could be:

... Bxd3
cxd3

Now you have a strange position where black is under-developed and moves like Ne2 are threatening to severely to restrict the queen, and maybe eventually trap her. If I was playing the black pieces I would be looking for a bolt-hole for the queen, perhaps via f5.

The problem is that this takes time and white could try an idea like Re1 and e6: with the development lead white should blast things wide open!

Originally posted by Varenka
Thanks for the replies. I won't drag this out by debating every move. People can judge for themselves whether they missed something or not, and whether or not the games moves are best.

So, what happened next was...

5. Bd3 Qxd4 6. Nf3 Qg4 7. h3 Qh5

[fen]rn2kbnr/pp2pppp/2p5/3pPb1q/8/2NB1N1P/PPP2PP1/R1BQK2R[/fen]

Whether right or wrong, Black has grabbed the d4 pawn. Thoughts on White's next move?

White usually castles here...I'm curious to see how white does because black usually does very well in this line