[Event "Port Erin"] [Site "masterchessopen.com"] [Round "0"] [White "Luther, T."] [Black "Allen, K."] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B12"] [Opening "Caro-Kann: 3.Nd2 dxe4"] 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 ( 3.Nc3 { transposes to the game after } 3...dxe4 4.Nxe4 { . } ) 3...dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nd7 5.Qe2 Ndf6 { Black is already playing something new because, as I said above, the standard development involves ...Ng8-f6. None of the suggestions in these notes are mentioned in standard reference books such as Nunn's 'Chess Openings', so there is no obvious continuation that can be adopted. The bottom line is that Black now has to decide how best to continue without resorting to a memory test of book moves. } ( 5...e6 { is solid but a little passive because the bishop on c8 will now take some time to activate. For instance, } 6.Bf4 Ngf6 7.Nf3 ( { after } 7.Nxf6+ Nxf6 8.O-O-O Bd6 9.Be5 Qe7 10.Nf3 { the position is equal, J.Aabling Thomsen-B.Nielsen, Vanlose 2005 } ) 7...Nxe4 8.Qxe4 Nf6 9.Qd3 Be7 10.Bg3 ( { maybe } 10.Be2 { is worth considering, and if } 10...Nd5 { then } 11.Bd2 { intending c2-c4 to oust the knight from d5 with a slight edge } ) 10...O-O 11.Be2 b6 12.Ne5 Bb7 13.Bf3 Qc8 14.O-O { gave White a small initiative in Kr.Georgiev-T.Liverios, Estia Nea Smyrni 1978. } ) 6.Nf3 { White brings another piece into the game and waits to see if Black chooses a decent plan of development. } ( { Instead, V.Knox-P. Wells, British Championship, Southport 1983, continued } 6.Nxf6+ Nxf6 7.Nf3 Bg4 8.Be3 ( { or } 8.c3 Qd5 9.Bf4 Bxf3 10.gxf3 O-O-O 11.Rg1 { with roughly equal play } ) 8...Qd5 9.c4 Bxf3 10.gxf3 Qa5+ 11.Bd2 Qc7 12.O-O-O g6 13.Kb1 Bg7 14.f4 ( 14.Bh3 O-O 15.Bg5 Rfd8 16.Qe3 { is level } ) 14...Qd7 15.Bg2 O-O 16.h4 Rab8 ( { not } 16...h5 17.Ka1 Qxd4 ) 17.h5 b5 18.hxg6 hxg6 19.c5 Qxd4 20.Be3 Qc4 21.Qd2 Qe6 22.Ka1 b4 23.f5 Qxf5 24.Bxc6 b3 25.a3 Ng4 26.Bd7 Qc2 27.Bd4 Ne5 ( 27...e5 { was correct } ) ) 6...Nxe4 7.Qxe4 Nf6 8.Qh4 { Sliding the queen across to h4 is a natural idea because it could put Black off from castling kingside, afraid of a possible attack. } ( { It is to his credit that Allen responds well, so I would consider } 8.Qe5 e6 ( { to prepare ...Bd6, but } 8...Bg4 { is more sensible, when } 9.Be2 { offers equal chances } ) 9.Bf4 Be7 10.Bd3 O-O 11.O-O { , which gave White the edge due to Black's passive pieces in G.Lane-Morsa, Internet 2006. } ) 8...Bf5 9.c3 e6 10.Bc4 Be7 11.Qf4 { Luther is cautious about having his queen chased around the board so moves it again. It is fair to say that Black has equalized, but at what cost on the clock. } ( { Alternatively, } 11.O-O Ne4 12.Qf4 Bd6 13.Qe3 Nf6 ( 13...O-O 14.Bd3 Nf6 15.Bxf5 exf5 16.Qg5 { is slightly better for White } ) 14.Ne5 { offers equal chances. } ) 11...h6 12.Ne5 Qc7 13.h3 Bd6 14.Qe3 Nd5 15.Qe2 O-O-O 16.O-O g5 { I have to be realistic and declare that White has allowed the position to drift, so that he is now on the defensive. } 17.Re1 Rhg8 18.Bd2 Rg7 19.Rad1 Nf4 20.Bxf4 ( { Instead } 20.Qf3 { , threatening Bxf4, is fine for White, who keeps his options open while the g-file remains closed. } ) 20...gxf4 21.Qf3 Rdg8 22.Bf1 Kb8 23.b4 Bxe5 24.dxe5 f6 25.exf6 Rf7 26.Rd4 e5 { This looks like a classic time-trouble mistake, and the rest of the game seems to indicate that Black had to rush his moves. } {#r} 1-0