R2 Sol Cruz vs Corpin

Valentine Cup
MERALCO, Pasig City, PHL

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 
The Exchange Variation of the Caro Kann Defense.


3... cxd5 4. Bd3 
Lasker vs Tartakower in 1923
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1264562 
Fischer vs Czerniak in Nathania 1968
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1044279 
Fischer vs Petrosian in Beograd 1970

http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1044326

Kasparov vs Morgulev in USSR 1977
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1069681 
Morozevich vs Grischuk in Prague 2002
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1250539 
Yifan vs Mkrtchian in World Ch 2008
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1504423 
Svidler vs Motylev in Bundesliga 2012
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1643385 

The most popular move though is 4. c4 - Panov-Botvinnik Attack.


4... Nc6 5. c3 Nf6 6. Ne2 

The main line is 6. Bf4.

6... e6 7. O-O Bd6 8. Bf4 O-O 9. Nd2 Re8 10. Bxd6 Qxd6 11. Ng3 
Rybka offers 11. f4 then 12. Nf3, to prevent the opening of the e-file which Black controls by Re8.

11... e5 12. dxe5 Nxe5 13. Bf5 Qb6 14. Nb3 a5 15. Qd4 Qc7 16. Rfe1 Bxf5 17. Nxf5 Nc6 18. Qd3 Qf4 19. Nbd4 Ng4 20. Qg3 Qxg3 21. Nxg3 Nxd4 22. cxd4 Kf8 23. Rxe8+ Rxe8 24. Rc1 Nf6 25. Kf1 Ne4 26. f3 
In this minor piece ending where White has control of the c-file, simplification through 26. Nxe4 is the key to winning; if Black captures with 26... dxe4, then White has a passed pawn on the d-file which is the goal of endgame play, and if Black captures with 26... Rxe4, White activates the R via 27. Rc5 and the rest is a matter of technique.

26... Nd2+ 27. Kf2 b6?? 28. b3 a4 29. Rd1 Nxb3 30. axb3 +- a3 31. Ra1 Ra8 32. Ra2 
The correct strategy is to make use of the extra piece; 32. Nf5 or 32. Nf1.

32... b5 33. Nf5 
Fix the weakness by 33. b4.

33... b4 34. Ne3 Rd8 35. Nc2 Rb8 36. Ne3 Rd8 37. Nc2 Rb8 38. Ke2 Ke7 39. Kd3 Kd6 40. Nxb4?
Rhal blundered in time trouble, but is still winning with his new passed b-pawn.

40... Rxb4 41. Rxa3 Rb6 42. Kc3 h5 43. Ra5 h4 44. b4 

44... Kc6 45. Rc5+ Kd6 46. b5 +-

46... g5 47. g3 hxg3 48. hxg3 Rb8 49. Rc6+ Kd7 50. Kb4 Ra8 51. Kc5 Ra3 52. Rd6+ Kc7 53. Rxd5 Rxf3 54. Rxg5 Rf1 55. Rg7 Rc1+ 0-1