Tim McGrew and Vishal Garg decided to play a blindfold game. Anthony Shiver played out the moves on a board to keep both players honest, and I recorded the game and some of the
players' more interesting comments.
1.d4
d5
2.e4??
Yes, I realize there is practical value to the Blackmar-Diemer Gambit. Still, I object on principle... and also because of my abysmal score against it.
2...c6
2...dxe4
3.Nc3
c6
is an alternative route from the Blackmar-Diemer Gambit to the Caro-Kann. I've
played this many times as Black.
3.Nc3
dxe4
4.f3
This move is an attempt to stay within Blackmar-Diemer Gambit territory.
Instead 4.Nxe4
leads to the main lines of the Caro-Kann. Tim can rarely be tempted into
playing the main line of any opening!
4...e3
Vishal wisely declines the pawn. I don't know if returning the pawn like this is objectively good, but it strikes me as a reasonable practical choice against a McGrew.
Usually, being a pawn up against any member of that family means you are losing,
and probably soon!
5.Bxe3
Nf6
6.Bc4
Bf5
7.Nge2
e6
In many of these Caro-Kann lines where Black plays his bishop to f5, White will try to hunt the bishop down with pawn moves on the kingside. The present game is no exception.
8.g4
Bg6
9.Nf4
At this point, Tim commented that he was still in book. Vishal had been out of book since move two.
9...Bd6!?
White would be very happy if Black played ...h6 or ...h5 in the near future, since a subsequent Nxg6 would force an ugly recapture with the f-pawn. This bishop move at least gives Black a way of avoiding such a disaster.
10.h4
Bxf4
11.Bxf4
h5
This good move prevents White from gaining too much space on the kingside and gives the light-squared bishop some breathing room.
12.Qe2
Nbd7
13.g5
Nd5
14.Bxd5
cxd5
15.Nxd5
In a strange twist of fate, Tim is the one who ends up a pawn ahead, while Vishal has some compensation in the form of pressure on the c-file.
15...Rc8
16.Nc3
0-0
17.0-0?
17.Ne4
would keep Black's compensation to a minimum. 17.0-0-0
was the move Tim later wished he had played, although the king is a bit more exposed on the queenside. I wonder if both players were already forgetting about the bishop on g6. I had not forgotten, of course, since I was watching the game on a board!
17...Qb6
18.Ne4
Qxb2
Black has many tempting possibilities here.
18...Qxd4+
is also reasonable, while 18...e5
19.Bg3
exd4
20.Bf2
Qxb2
21.Rfb1
Qxc2
looks very pleasant for Black.
19.Rab1
At this point Vishal exclaimed "I knew I missed something!" I'm not sure what he meant, since he still has the better position.
19...Qxa2
20.Rfc1
Nb6?!
Black allows White to gain some dangerous chances against the advanced queen.
20...Qd5
or 20...Qa4
immediately would be better tries.
21.Rb3?!
Rc6?!
Black is still better here, I think, but the silicon monster points out a better path. At this point Tim said "Mike, you can go back and give 17.0-0 a question mark."
Here 21...Nd5
22.Be3
b6-+
is a stronger line, suggested by Fritz.
22.Qd1
Rfc8
23.c3!
With the queen on d1, White can play this advance. Now Black does need to worry about his queen being trapped.
23...Qa6
24.Ra1
Na4
Vishal calmly proclaimed "I think my position holds together here......maybe? (If nothing else, I think that knight move was forced.)"
Sorry, Vishal, but it wasn't even the best move!
24...Qc4
25.Nd6
Rxd6
26.Bxd6
Nd5
looks good for Black. In return for the exchange, Black has light-square
strength and a strong knight on d5.
25.Nc5
Nxc5?
25...Rxc5
26.dxc5
Qc6
looks much better, with a solid position for Black. Again he has good
compensation for the exchange.
26.Rxa6
Nxa6
27.Rxb7
Rxc3
28.Rxa7?!
Perhaps this is too greedy.
28...Nb4
29.Kg2
Rc2+
30.Kg3
R2c4
30...Nd5!?
is better.
31.Ra4
Nc2
31...Bc2!? looks good.
32.Rxc4
Rxc4
33.d5
exd5
Perhaps 33...Rd4!?
34.Qxd5
Rd4
35.Qa8+
Kh7
36.Qf8?
Tim pointed out later that Be5 would have set up Qf8 on the next move, and Black would be helpless to stop the threats.
Vishal resigned here. Perhaps this was premature, as the heavily reduced material might give Black some drawing chances. However, this was no doubt a very intense game and it's easy to forgive Vishal for resigning. Perhaps 36...Rd5, preventing the Be5 threat, puts up sufficient resistance. Then Vishal can bring his knight to f5 and it's hard to see how White makes progress.
1-0