Missed opportunities

Hennie Schaper - TheSquishKing (USA)

Caro-Kann Defence

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. f4 e6 5. Nf3 a6 6. Be2 c5 7. c3 Nc6 8. 0-0 cxd4 9. cxd4 Nge7 10. a3 Bg6 11. Nc3 Nf5 12. g4 Nh4 13. Nxh4 Qxh4

This looks dangerous for white, but it is actually quite safe. And what is even more remarkable: it is a won position, if only I had seen it. It's pretty basic and I really kicked myself for not spotting 14. f5 which wins the trapped bishop for a pawn.

14. Be3 Be4

Presenting me with another opportunity that I did not see and therefore did not take. This one is harder to spot though. With Nxe4 followed by d5 white opens up the centre with strong threats against the black king.

15. g5 Bf5 16. Bf3 h5 17. Ne2 Bg4

An interesting and pretty unusual position. I had the feeling that I should be able to trap the black queen with my bishops and spent lots of time thinking through potential lines, but to no avail. 

18. Bf2 Qh3 19. Bg2 Bxe2 20. Bxh3 Bxd1 21. Rfxd1 g6 

Well, that de-escalated quickly. This position is roughly equal: the bishops pair is less effective than usual given the pawn structure. I offered a draw around here, but black played on (granted, he did have far more time left than I did by now).

22. Rac1 Be7 23. Rc2 0-0 24. Rdc1 Rac8 25. Bf1 Rc7

And once again I did not profit from a black mistake. Bxa6 wins a pawn. Obviously.

26. Bd3 Rfc8 27. Kf1 Kf8 28. Ke2 Ke8 29. Ke3 Kd7 30. Be1 Na7 31. Rxc7+ Rxc7 32. 32. Rxc7+ Kxc7 33. a4 b5 34. Ba5+ Kc6 35. axb5+ Nxb5

A pretty balanced end game (indeed, the post-mortem computer analysis rates this as dead even). Black now offered a draw and I accepted. 1/2 - 1/2.