This may have been my only win against Mark of the night, which made it the most memorable. But I was interested also in the unusual defense he employed.

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5

A previous game of ours began 3. exd5 cxd5 4. Bd3 Nf6!? 5. Bf4?! (5. c3) 5... Bg4!= with me going on to lose, so I was out for revenge.

 

3... Bf5 4. h4 Qc8!?

"Have you seen this before?" Mark asked. It was new to me, and not considered in my article on the "Caveman Caro-Kann."

 

5. c4!

This seems the most logical remedy. The Black Queen will not be so comfortable on the c-file, as shown in two games with this line that I found.

5. Be2 has also b een played, but without as much success. Why insist on creating a weakness on your kingside with g4 when you don't have to?

 

5... dxc4!?

But this move is new, and an interesting idea. I found two games in this line, but neither offers much to go on: 5... e6 6. Nc3 h6! (6... h5 7. Be3?! Be7 8. Rc1! Qd8 9. Nf3 Nh6 10. Bg5 Bg4 11. Be2 (11. Qb3) 11... Nd7 12. Bxe7 Qxe7 13. g3?! (13. Qb3) 13... g6?! 14. Ng5 Bxe2 15. Qxe2 Nf5 16. Nf3 Nb6 17. cxd5 exd5 18. O-O O-O and play was not great from there on but eventually 1-0 in Schramm,B-Mehlhorn,D/Templin 2004 (60)) 7. Bf4!? I understand the desire to embarrass the Queen by playing Rc1 as soon as possible, but there is no hurry -- and you usually don't know for sure where this Bishop belongs right away. 7... Bb4?! 8. Qb3 Bxc3+ 9. bxc3 (9. Qxc3! is probably even better) 9... Ne7 10. Nf3 Nd7 11. h5!? Qc7 12. Be2 O-O I guess Black's king really isn't safe on either side... 13. Bd2 Kh8 14. Nh4 Bh7 15. cxd5 cxd5 16. g4 Nc6 17. g5 hxg5 18. Bxg5 Kg8 19. Rg1 Kh8 20. Qd1 Rac8 21. Rc1?! (21. Rh1) 21... f6! 22. exf6 Nxf6 23. f4 (23. Ng6+!) 23... Ne4 24. Ng6+ Kg8? (24... Bxg6 25. hxg6 Nxg5 26. fxg5 Qf4 (26... Qh2!?) ) 25. Nxf8 Rxf8 26. Bg4?? (26. h6!) 26... Nxg5! 27. fxg5 Qf4?? (27... Qh2) 28. Qd2 1-0 Niebling,F-Ladstetter,J/Schwaebisch Gmuend 2002.

 

6. Bxc4 Be6!?

This looks logical, since Black thus offers to exchange his "bad bishop" for White's "good bishop." But Black is losing a lot of time, the exchange is not forced, and White is usually fine with exchanging Bishops in this line since his Knights are more important players.

 

7. Bxe6

The exchange isn't forced, but it is not bad and I doubt White has better.

a) 7. Bd3 Bf5!?

 

b) 7. Be2 Bd5!?

7... Qxe6 8. Nf3

8. Ne2!?

 

8... Qg4!?

This seems too adventurous. Better 8... Na6 9. O-O Qd7 10. Nc3 e6 11. Ne4 Nc7 seems more natural, working to control the light squares, though White's space advantage and play on dark squares makes him a lot more comfortable.

 

9. O-O

Fritz likes 9. Qb3 b6 10. e6!?

 

9... e6 10. Qb3 b6 11. Nc3 Ne7 12. Re1 Nd5 13. Re4!? Qg6

13... Qf5? 14. Ng5! Nxc3 15. bxc3 Qg6 16. Rf4

 

14. Nxd5 cxd5

14... exd5 15. Re2 Be7 16. e6!? fxe6?! 17. Bg5

 

15. Qb5+ Nd7 16. Qc6 Rb8?!

16... Rd8! 17. Re2 Be7 (17... h6) 18. Bg5 Bxg5 19. Nxg5 O-O 20. Rc1

 

17. Rf4!? Kd8??

Mark's "pattern of error" is that he always completely disregards ideas about king safety in pursuit of counter-attack or the initiative. Better 17... Be7 18. Bd2 Rd8 19. Rc1 O-O 20. Qa4 though White looks better, with the idea of Rc7 and attacking the queenside pawns -- but that Rook at f4 looks funny; also possible is 17... h6!?

 

18. Ng5!

Caveman tactics! Fritz also suggests 18.Rxf7!? followed by Ng5, but not 18.h5 -- with the idea of playing Rxf7 after 18.h5?! Qxh5 19.g4? Qg6 20.Nh4 Qmoves 21.Rxf7 Be7...

 

18... Rc8 19. Nxf7+ Qxf7 20. Qxc8+ Kxc8 21. Rxf7 Kd8 22. Bg5+ Ke8 23. Rf3 Nb8 24. Rc1

and he resigned with major material losses or mate in the offing.

1-0