<<Part 5

Welcome to the Gray Cardinal variation!

I remind we are discussing the following variation: 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. ed cd 4. N f3 Nf6 5. B f4 B g4. We understood that after 6. h3 Black loses always when the bishop retreats except of the pair forced variation. However, in these variations, Black has the only move while White owns wide range of good options throughout most of the game. Therefore, a human is unlikely to hold a draw in these variants.

In case of 6… B f5 the save variation is the following: 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. ed cd 4. N f3 Nf6 5. B f4 B g4 6. h3 B f5 7. g4 Be4 8. g5 N fd7 9. N c3 Q a5 10. B g2 N c6 11. 0-0 B x f3 12. B x f3 e6 13. N x d5 ed 14. c4 N b6 15. R e1 + B e7 16. B d2 Q a4 17. Q x a4 N x a4 18. cd N x d4 19. B d1 N x b2 20. d6 N e6 21. de N x d1 22. R axd1 h6 23. gh gh 24. f4 R g8+ 25. K h1 N c5 26. B b4 b6 27. f5 f6 28. R d6 R c8 29. R x f6 R c7 30. B x c5 bc 31. R fe6 c4 32. K h2 R h8 33. f6 R c8 34. R g1 K f7 35. R a6 R hg8 36. R c6 R b8 37. R g4 c3 38. K g3 c2 39. R x c2 K x f6 40. R e2 R x g4+ 41. hg K f7 42. K h4 K e8 43. R e6 R b2 44. K h5 R h2 + 45. K g6 a5 46. a4 R h4 47. K f5 R h3 48. K g6 R h4 49. K f5 R h1 50. R e5 R c1  =>  and we come to the position where Black is able to make a draw though this is not easy:

We want to understand why the save moves for Black are forced in the middlegame of this variation. In previous part, we have clarified the question why 16… Q a4 is the only move for Black in this sequence of moves. Now let us understand why 18… N x d4 is forced move. To do this, we consider its alternatives – N d8, K d7, K f8, N e5 and R c8.

Let us assume Black responds 18… N d8.

The idea of this move more an abstract one then anything concrete. The knight controls a radius around d8 to prevent the d pawns to pass to the promotion square. Any time it is ready to twist, for example, along the d8 – e6 – c7 route and to resist the forces that help to walk to the promotion square.

In this case, White takes a control of 7-th line with rooks firstly: 19. R ac1 0-0 20. R x e7 N x b2 21. R cc7. Now White sets a trap for the rook.: 21... Rb8 22. h4 Na4 23. B b4 g6 24. R e5 b5 25. B x f8 K x f8  =>  and White wins a material and gets the passed d pawns in a dangerously close to the promotion square. White should win here. Then the game may continue: 26. d6 N b6 27. R x b5 N e6 28. B g4 N x c7 29. d x c7 R a8 30. R x b6 ab 31. c8=R+ R x c8 32.B x c8  =>  and White gets an extra bishop.

22... N d3 does not save. After 23. R e3 N b2 24. B b4  =>  Black loses the material anyway.

If 21... N a4 then 22. B b4 K h8 23. g6 hg 24. R e4 f5 (If 24... R g8 then 25. R h4 #) 25. R h4+ K g8 26. B x f8 N f7 (If 26... K x f8 then 27. R h8 #)  =>  and the poor rook is caught again. If 23... fg then the passed pawns are unstoppable: 24. d6 R g8 25. d7 h6 26. B g4 h5 27. B e6 N x e6 28. R x e6 N b6 29. B e7 N d5 30. R x b7 N x e7 31. R x e7 K h7 32. R b5 R gd8 33. R be5 a6 34. R e8 g5 35. d5 h4 36. d6 a5 37. a4 K g6 38. R x a5 R x e8 39. de=Q+ R x e8 40. d7 R e1+ 41. K g2 R d1 42. R a7 K f6 43. a5 K e7 44. a6 R a1 45.R a8 K x d7 46. a7 K c7 47. R g8 R x a7 48. R x g7+ K b8 49. R x a7 K x a7  =>  and White wins.

If 19... N x b2 then 20. R c7 0-0 21. R e x e7 N a4 22. B b4 a5 23. B d6 R a6 24. R ed7 R a8 25. B x f8 K x f8 26. d6 N b6 27. B x b7 R b8 28. R e7  =>  and White wins a material as well as their pawns in a dangerous close to a promotion point. Besides White controls the 7-th line with the rooks. White should win here. If 24… R e8 then 25. R c8 f5 26. R x d8 R x d8 27. R x d8 +  =>  and Blak is destroyed.

If 19...K f8 then 20. R c7 B d6 21. R d7 h6 22. g6 fg 23. B e4 N f7 24. B x g6 N g5 25. K g2 K g8 26. R x d6 R f8 27. R e8 R x e8 28. B x e8 N f7 29. R d7  => . White exchanged a last active rook of Black. White has a material advantage and the passed pawns. The position is open and White has the two bishops. So, White’s position is winning absolutely. The game may continue: 29... K h7 30. B x f7 N b6 31. R x b7 R d8 32. B f4 N x d5 33. B e5 N f6 34. B e6 R f8 35. f4 K g6 36. R x a7 N e8 37. R a8  =>  and Black is destroyed. If 23...B e7 then 24. B x g6. Now if Black saves the bishop it loses: 24… B f6 25. R e8 #  => . Again, If Black saves the bishop playing 23... B b8 then it loses 24. B x g6 N b6 25. R x d8 #.

Another option for Black to move its king in a center: 18...K d7. However, a king in center is good in the endgame but only not in the case of an open position where an opponent has the two bishops: 19. dc+ bc 20. R ac1 R ac8 21. B g4+ K d8 22. B x c8 B x g5 23. B x g5+ K x c8 24. R x c6+ K b7 25. d5  =>  and Black is destroyed.

Yet another option for Black to put its king to the f8 square where Black’s king defends the bishop that is attacked by White’s rook: 18...K f8. If so 19. dc+ bc 20. R ac1 R ac8 21. B g4+ K d8 22. B x c8 B x g5 23. B x g5+ K x c8 24. R x c6+ K b7 25. d5  =>  and White gets a big material advantage and much better position.

The idea of 18… N e5 is to give a knight instead of bishop does not help.

In this case, Black gives the center under the total control of White and, in addition, creates for White a passed pawn that is dangerously close to the promotion point: 19. de B d8 20. d6 0-0 21. b4 B b6 22. B x b7 R ab8 23. B a6 B d4 24.R ac1 R fd8 25. e6 fe 26. R x e6 R f8 27. B e3 B x e3 28. fe N b6 29. a3 R bd8 30. K g2 K f7 31. R e7+ K g6 32. R c6 K x g5 33. e4 h5 34. e5 g6 35. B c4 R f4 36. R ec7 R e4 37. e6 N x c4 38. R x c4 R x e6 39. d7 R a6 40. R c3 K f6 41. R 3c6+ R x c6 42. R x c6+ K e7 43. R x g6 K x d7 44. R g7+ K c6 45. R x a7  =>  and Black is destroyed. If Black decides to do without sacrificing pawns, this does not change the situation: 21... R b8 22. R ac1 N b2 23. B e2 b5 24. R c2 N c4 25. B x c4 bc 26. R x c4 R b7 27. a4 h6 28. g6 R d7 29. R c6 R e8 30. f4 fg 31. e6 R b7 32. a5 g5 33. a6 B b6+ 34. B e3 B x e3+ 35. R x e3 R x b4 36. d7 R b1+ 37. K g2 R b2+ 38. K f3  =>  and the Whites' advantage is undeniable. If Black grabs into a material with teeth then this is a way to a catastrophe: 24... N a4 25. a3 a6 26. B g4 N b6 27. R c6 R e8 28. B f4 g6 (due to zugzwang) 29. d7 R e7 30. e6 R a8 31. ef+ K x f7 32. R f6+ K g7 33. R x e7+ B x e7 34. R x b6 a5 35. R x b5 ab 36. ab  =>  and Black is destroyed.

Let us consider 22… b5.

In this case the game may continue: 23. B g4 N b6 (to control the important c1 square) 24. R c5 a6 25. e6 fe 26. B x e6+ K h8 27. R e4 R f3 (due to zuzwang) 28. B e3 R f8 29. R f5 R x f5 30. B x f5 B x g5 31. B x g5  =>  and the battery of two bishops supporting the passed pawn is ready to take another black piece from the rest of the defense. If 30... K g8 then 31. g6 B f6 32. gh+ K h8 33. B x b6 g6 (If 33... R x b6 then 34. R e8 #) 34. B x g6 R x b6 35. R e8+ K g7 36. h8=Q+  =>  and White wins. If 27... R b7 then 28. R f5 R x f5 29. B x f5 K g8 30. R e8+ K f7 31. R x d8  =>  and White wins again.

If 27... N c4 then 28. B f4 B b6 29. d7 R bd8 30. R c8 a5 31. h4 R x c8 32. dc=Q R x c8 33. B x c8  =>  and Black is destroyed. If 28... R b6 then 29. d7 N d6 30. R d4 N b7 31. B d5 N x c5 32. bc R g6 33. R e4 B x g5 34. K h1 h6 35. R e8  =>  and White wins. In case of 31... N d6 White wins too: 32. B b3 N f5 33. R e4 h6 34. R e8 K h7 35. R x f8  => . 32... N f7 does not help: 33. R e4 K g8 34. R e8 h6 35. R c8 h5 36. R e x d8 R x d8 37. R x d8+  => . 31… h6 does not help too: 32. B x b7 R x b7 33. g6 R a7 34. R c8 B e7 35. d8=Q K g8 36. Q x e7 R x e7 37. R x f8+ K x f8 38. R d8+ R e8 39. B d6+ K g8 40. R x e 8 #  => .

If 23... B b6 (Black wants to connect the rooks) then 24. d7 N b2 25. e6 fe 26. B x e6+ K h8 27. R e2 N c4 28. B c3 R bd8 29. h4 R f4 30. R d1 R x h4 31. B x c4 R f4 (If 31...R x c4 then 32. R e8+ R x e8 33. de=Q#) 32. B b3  =>  and Black is destroyed. If 29… a6 then 30. h5 R f4 31. R d1 h6 32. g6 R ff8 33. B f7 a5 34. R e8 R d x e8 35. de=Q R x e8 36. B x e8 ab 37. B x b4  =>  and Black is destroyed.

In case of 18... R c8 the game may continue: 19. dc bc 20.R ac1 K d8 21.B g4 R c7 22. B f4 B b4 23. B x c7+ K x c7 24. R e2 N b6 25. R ec2 K b8 26. R x c6  =>  and White wins too much material and gets a winning position.

We considered the best alternatives to 18… N x d4 and saw that Black loses in all these cases. Thus, we understand that 18… N x d4 is the only move. Now Let's now make it clear why 19… N x b2 is the only move. First most natural options are to hide the king in a safe place either in the queen side or in the king side. Therefore, let us consider a short castling and a long castling as alternative to 19… N x b2 .

Let us analyze the short castling firstly: 19… 0-0

White’s plan to take controls of the 7-th line with the two rooks and move a passed pawn to the 7-th row. Then White is able to use a good rooks’ interaction and danger from the immediate vicinity of the promotion square of a passed pawn to win some material and to get a winning position. In this variation, the game may continue: 20. R x e7 N x b2 21. B g4 N c4 (because B c3 threat) 22. B f4 N b6 23. d6 N d5 24. R d1 N e2+ 25. R x e2 N x f4 26. R e7 b5 27. h4 N g6 28. R b7 N e5 29. B h3 N f3+ 30. K g2 N x h4+ 31. K g3 N g6 32. R c1 h6 33. gh gh 34. R cc7 R ad8 35. d7 N e7 36. R x b5 f5 37. R bc5 h5 38. R x a7 R f6 39. a4 R g6+ 40. K h2 R d6 41. B x f5 N x f5 42. R x f5 R 6xd7 43. R x d7 R x d7 44. R x h5 R d4 45. R a5  =>  and White with the two extra pawns wins this easy. If 24... N x e7 then 25. de R fe8 26. R x d4  =>  and White wins a material. The implementation is not simple, but here is one of the options: 26… R x e7 27. B f3 R c8 28. K g2 b6 29. h4 g6 30. a4 R ce8 31.B c6 R f8 32. B b5 R a8 33. B a6 R ae8 34. f3 R a8 35. K h3 K g7 36. B d6 R e3 37. K g3 R e1 38. B b4 R g1+ 39. K f2 R h1 40. B e7 R a1 41. R f4 R a2+ 42. K g3 R e8 43. B b4 R c2 44. B c4 K h8 45. B x f7 R e3 46. B c4 R e8 47. B e7 R x c4 (If 47... R x e7 then 48. R f8+ K g7 49. R g8 #) 48. B f6+ K g8 49. R x c4 R f8 50. R c7 R f7 51. R c8+ R f8 52. R c7 R f7 53. B e7 R f5 54. R x a7 R e5 55. B f6 R e6 56. R g7+ K f8 57. h5  =>  and Black is destroyed.

Now let us look what happens if Black plays the long castling in 19-th move: 19… 0-0-0

In this variation, control of the 7-th horizontal also plays a decisive role in the first stage: 20. R x e7 N b6 21. R c1+ K b8 22. R cc7 K a8 23. R x b7 N c8 24.R x f7 N b5 25. R x b5 N d6 26. B f3 N x b5 27. d6+ K b8 28. R b7+ K c8 29. R x b5 R x d6 30. B f4  =>  and Black is destroyed. If 24... R x d5 then 25. B f4 N e6 26. R b8#.  => If 25...N d6 then 26. R x a7+ K b8 27. R fb7+ K c8 28. B g4+ N 4f5 29. B x d6 R x d6 30. B x f5+ R e6 31. B x e6+ K d8 32. R a8#.

If 24... N d6 then 25. R x a7+ K b8 26. B f4 N f5 27. R fb7+ K c8 28. B a4 h6 (If 28... N x b7 then 29. R a8#) 29. B c6 hg (If 29... N x b7 then 30. R a8#) 30. R a8#  => .

If 22... N f5 then 23. R x b7+ K a8 24. R x a7+ K b8 25. B f4+ K c8 26. R ec7+ K b8 27. R cb7+ K c8 28. R b8#  => . If 25... N d6 then 26. R eb7+ K c8 27. B g4+ R d7 28. B x d6 K d8 29. R b8+ N c8 30. R x d7+ K e8 31. R x c8#  => .

In my opinion, 20… N c5 is the most stubborn resistance. The idea of this move is to block the c line for the rook’s attack. In this case, the game may continue: 21. B g4+ K b8 22. B f4+ K a8 23. R d1 R x d5 24. R x f7 h5 25. gh gh 26. B x h6 a5 27. B e3 N ce6 28. R e7 R dd8 29. K f1 R hg8 30. B h5 b6 31. B g4 K b8 32. R d2 R d6 33. R x d4 N x d4 34. B f4 R d8 35. h4 K a8 36. B x d6 R x d6 37. R d7  R x d7 38. B x d7 K b8 39. b4 N f3 40. h5 N g5 41. ba ba 42. B e8 N h7 43. K g1 K a8 44. h6 K b8 45.B b5 N g5 46. B e8  =>  and Black is in a very difficult situation. If 23... N b5 then 24. d6 R hf8 25. R d5 b6 26. R x c5 bc 27. B f3+ K b8 28. R b7+ K c8 29. d7+ R x d7 30. R b8#  => .

It makes sense to play 19... N c5. The knight hurries to the e6 square to block the e line from the rook's attack. Thus, Black makes a solid block as the e6 knight is defended by the d4 knight in this case.

In this case, the numerous active White pieces make all sorts of Black's pieces pinnings and, in the end, this allows White to win a pawn and to get a winning endgame: 20. d6 N ce6 21. de K x e7 22. B b4+ K d7 23. B g4 R hd8 24. R ad1 K e8 25. B c3 K f8 26. K f1 K g8 27. a4 N c6 28. B x e6 fe 29. R x d8+ R x d8 30. R x e6 K f7 31. R e4 a6 32. h4 g6 33. R f4+ K e8 34. R f6 R d1+ 35. K g2 N e7 36. R b6 R d7 37. K f3 N f5 38. K g4 N e7 39. a5 N d5 40. R b3 R e7 41. f4 K f7 42. B d4 K e6 43. K f3 K f5 44. B e5 R d7 45. R d3 K e6 46. R d4 N e7 47. K e4 N c6 48. R x d7 K x d7 49. B c3 K e6 50. B d2 N e7 51. K d4 N f5+ 52. K c5 K d7 53. B e1 N e7 54. B d2 N c8 55. B c3 N d6 56. K b6 K c8 57. K c5 N f5 58. B e1 K d7 59. K d5 h5 60. gh N x h6 61. B f2 K e7 62. B d4 N g4 63. B c3 K d7 64. B d4 K e7 65. B c3 K d7 66. K c5 K c7 67. B g7 N e3 68. B f6 K d7 69. B g5 N f5 70. b4 N d6 71. K d5 N f7 72. f5 gf 73. B f4 K e7 74. h5 K f6 75. h6 K g6 76. K c5 N x h6 77. K b6 N g4 78. K x b7 N f2 79. K x a6 N d3 80. b5 N b4+ 81. K a7 K h5 82. b6 N d3 83. B h2 f4 84. B x f4 K g4 85. b7 K x f4 86. b8=Q+  =>  and White wins.

If 27... N b3 then 28. R x d8+ R x d8 29. R x e6 fe 30. B x e6+ K h8 31. B x b3  =>  and White wins a material.

There might be 27… a6

In this case, the game may continue: 28. B a5 R e8 29. B b6 N c6 30. R d7 R ab8 31. b4 N x b4 32. B x e6 R x e6 33. R x e6 fe 34. B d4 g6 35. R g7+ K f8 36. R x h7 N c6 37. B f6 (White is about to promote one of the h - g pawns into a queen. Now, in desperation, Black pushes its b pawn to promote into a queen.) b5 38. h4 b4 39. h5 gh 40. g6 K e8 (the king saves itself from a mate) 41. R c7 K f8 42. f3 b3 43. R h7 K e8 44. R h8+ K d7 45. R x b8 N x b8 46. g7 Nc 6 47. g8=Q  =>  and White promotes its pawn into a queen again.

Among other options that one is not so bad - 31... R e7.

I’d comment this move in the following way: “Obviously, Black will not make progress on the queenside. Perhaps playing defensively will save Black from material losses. In this case, White has strong counterarguments”. Thus, the game may continue: 32. R dd1 R c8 (If 32... N x b4 then 33. B c5 N x c5 34. R x e7 and Black wins a material) 33. b5 N b8 34. R e3 R ee8 35. B f3 R e7  => . Now the rook is chained to the defense of the b pawn and the b8 knight is not destined to enter the game. Obviously, the game is over. To formally confirm this, let’s assume that Black can come to terms with its difficulties and try to create its own game somehow: 36. B a5 ab 37. ab R d7 38. R x d7 N x d7 39. B x b7 R c5 40. B c6 N e5 41. B b6 R c1+ 42. R e1 R x e1+ 43. K x e1 K f8 44. B h1 N c4 45. B a7 N d6 46. b6 N c5 47. K e2 K e8 48. B b8 K d7 49. B x d6 K x d6 50. K e3 N d7 51. b7 K c7 52. K d4 K d6 53. B d5 K c7 54. B e4 N b8 55. h4 g6 56. K c4 K d7 57. B h1 K d8 58. K c3 K d7 59. K d4 K c7 60. B g2 N d7 61. f4 K d8 62. B c6 N b8 63. B d5 K e7 64. K c5  =>  and White wins though Black held up well. If 37... g6 then 38. R ed3 N c5 39. R c3 R ee8 40. R dc1 N bd7 41. B x b7 N x b7 42. R x c8 R x c8 43. R x c8+ K g7 44. B c3+  => and Black is destroyed. If 38... R ce8 then 39. B c3 b6 40. B f6 R c7 41. B g4 N f8 42. R d8 R x d8 43. R x d8 N d7 44. B x d7 R x d7 45. R e8 R d5 46. B e7 f5 47. R x f8+ K g7 48. R f6 h6 49. R d6 R x d6 50. gh+ K x h6 51. B x d6  =>  and White wins again. In case of 37... f6 White imposes the following scenario: 38. gf gf 39. B d5 R ce8 40. B b4 K f7 41. B x e7 R x e7 42. R de1 K g7 43. B x e6  =>  - yes f6 is not the best idea. If Black does not want to take its knight out of play: 33... N b4. In this case, White has prepared the following trap: 34. R e4 N c2 35. ba ba 36. B e2 R a8 37. R c1 N a3 38. B c5  =>  and the knight is caught.

If 29... N b3 then 30. a5 g6 31. R e3 N bc5 32. b3 R ac8 33. R d5 K f8 34. B d1  =>  and Black is in zuzwang. If 30... N bc5 then 31. b4 N a4 32. R d7 N x g5 33. R x e8+ R x e8 34. R x b7  =>  and Black is not able to avoid the material losses again.

If 28... R db8 then 29. B b6 N c6 30. B x e6 fe 31. R x e6  =>  Black loses a material again with ugly pieces location. The situation is not much better in case of 28... R dc8. White can do the same moves: 29. B b6 N c6 30. B x e6 fe 31. R x e6  =>  and the game ends with the same moves and with the same result – Black stays without a pawn and its pieces has ugly positions and are not so active as White’s pieces are.

If Black does not want to spend so many tempos to hide the king and takes over space instead. Also Black prevents a4 and plays 26… b5 then 27. B a5 R e8 28. B b4+ K g8 29. B c3 R ed8 30. R e4 N c6 31. R x d8+ N c x d8 32. f4 g6 33. B f6 a5 34. R e5 N c7 35. B f3 R c8 36. R c5 N de6 37. R c6  => . Let us look what happens if Black thinks that it’s pieces defend each other reliably and, therefore, Black need not care of its defense but do any other useful actions, for example, to push its pawns forward: 37...b4 38. B e5 a4 39. B g4  =>  and Black is not able to avoid the material losses. If Black plays more careful 37... K f8 then 38. B e5 K e7 39. R c1 a4 40. h4 b4 41. B d1  => . However, sooner or later Black fall into zuzwang and begin to lose material: 41... K f8 42. B x a4 R a8 43. B b3 N e8 44. R c4 K e7 45. K e2 N d6 46. R x b4 N c7 47. R a4  =>  and Black is destroyed.

However, in the 20-th move Black may block the e line with the d6 knight instead of the c5 knight: 20... N de6.

In this case the game may continue: 21. de K x e7 22. B c3 K f8 23.R e3 N f4 24. B e5 N ce6 25. B b3 h6 26. B d6+ K g8 27. R x e6 N x e6 28. g6 h5 29. f4 fg 30. R e1 R e8 31. B x e6+  =>  and White gets the two active bishops for an undeveloped rook. White should win here, for example, 31... K h7 32. R e2 b6 33. K g2 a6 34. a3 K h6 35. R e5 R d8 36. B b4 a5 37. B c3 R hf8 38. K f3 R d3+ 39. K e4 R d6 40. h4 R d1 41. B h3 R h1 42. R e7 R f6 43. B e6 R x h4 44. B x f6 gf 45. R f7 R h1 46. R x f6 R e1+ 47. K d5 K g7 48. R f7+ K h6 49. b4 h4 50. R f8 K g7 51. R g8+ K f6 52. R f8+ K g7 53. R f7+  =>  and Black is totally destroyed.

If 25... N g6 then 26. B d6+ K e8 27. B a4+ K d8 28. R d1 K c8 29. R c3+ N c7 30. R x c7+ K d8 31. B g3#  => . If 28... a6 then 29. B g3+ K e7 30. R d7+ K f8 31. B b3 b5 32. B x e6  => . Now the White’s rooks invade to the 7-th line inevitably. After that Black can’t bring its pieces out of the 8-th line or Black loses one of the pieces. If Black leaves its pieces in the 8-th line (not to lose any piece) it is checkmated inevitably: 32... fe 33. R x e6 K g8 34. R b6 N f8 35. R e7 N g6 36. R c7 K f8 37. R bb7 K e8 38. h4 N f8 39. f4 N d7 40. R x d7 a5 41. B f2  =>  and White is about to win. If 39... K d8 then 40. f5 R c8 41. R x g7 R c2 42. R b8+ R c8 43. B c7+ K e8 44. R x c8#  => . If 39... h5 then 40. f5 a5 41. B f2 K d8 42. B b6 R c8 43. R d7+ K e8 44. R e7#  => .

If White plays 24... N fe6 to deprive White of the ability to take control of the f7 and e6 squares that White may do by moving B b3 then 25. b4 N d7 26. B d6+ K g8 27. B b3 N df8 28. R d1 R d8 29. f4 h6 30. g6 fg 31. B x f8 R x d1+ 32. B x d1 N x f8 33. R e7 b5 34. B b3+ K h7 35. R x a7 h5 36. h4 K h6 37. R a8 K h7 38. R b8 g5 39. fg K g6 40. R x b5 N d7 41. R d5  =>  and the two connected passed pawns allows White to win without any problems.

Also 23... N x g5 might be an option.

In this case the game may continue: 24. f4 N ge4 25. B b4 K g8 26. B c2 a5 27. B a3 b5 28. b4 ab 29. B x b4 f5 30. B x c5 N x c5 31. R e5 N d7 32. B b3+ K f8 33. R x f5+ K e8 34. R x b5 R f8 35. R e1+ K d8 36. B e6 K c7 37. R d1 R fd8 38. R bd5 N f6 39. R x d8 R x d8 40. R x d8 K x d8 41. B c4  =>  and White gets a winning endgame. If 25... a5 then 26. B a3 f5 27. R x e4 fe 28. B x c5+  =>  and the two active bishops against an undeveloped rook in the open position decide the outcome of the game.

If 24... N ge6 then 25. b4 N d7 26. B b3 N d8 27. R ae1 N c6 28. b5 N d8 29. R e8 #  => . If 27... N e6 then 28. f5 N g5 29. h4 N f3+ 30. R x f3  =>  and White wins a material. If 28... N f4 then 29. R e7 N f6 30. R x f7+ K g8 31. R x f6+ N d5 32. B x d5#  => . If 28... N c7 then 29. R e7 R d8 30. R x f7+ K g8 31. R f6+ N d5 32. B x d5#  => .

If 27... N f6 then 28. K h1 N e6 29. f5 N f4 30. Re7 Ne6 31. R x b7 N d8 32. R c7 h5 33. b5 R b8 34. R x a7 Kg8 35. a4 R c8 36. B b2 h4 37. B x f6 gf 38. R e8+ K g7 39. R x h8 K x h8 40. B d5 R c1+ 41. K g2 R d1 42. R d7 N b7 43. R x b7 R d2+ 44. K h1 R x d5 45. a5 R x f5 46. a6 R f1+ 47. K g2 R a1 48. R x f7  =>  and Black is destroyed.  If 33... R h6 then 34. R ee7 N e8 35. R x f7+ N x f7 36. R x f7+ K g8 37. R x g7+ K f8 38. R f7+ K g8 39. R x a7+ K f8 40. B b4+ N d6 41. R x a8+  =>  and Black loses too much material. Or other edition of the previous variation: 40... R d6 41. B x d6+ N x d6 42. R x a8+  => .

If 26... R e8 then 27. R d1 N f6 28. f5 N g5 29. B d4 b6 30. R c3 N fe4 31. R c7 N x h3+ 32. K g2 N hg5 33. B a4 R a8 34. B c6 R b8 35. B e5 K g8 36. R d4 R f8 37.B x e4 N x e4 38. R x e4 h5 39. b5 R e8 40. R e1 R d8 41. K h1 R d5 42. B c3 R x f5 43. R g1 K h7 44. R x g7+ K h6 45. R c6+ f6 46. R g1 R f8 47. B d2+ K h7 48. R c7+ K h8 49. R gg7 R e8 50. R x a7  =>  and Black is destroyed. If 35... N f6 then 36. R x a7 R c8 37. R c7 R b8 38. a4 h6 39. R b7 R x b7 40. B x b7 K e7 41. B d6+ K d7 42. a5 ba 43. B b8+ K e7 44. B d6+ K d7 45. ba R e8 46. B f4+ K e7 47. R e1+ N ge4 48. a6 R d8 49. a7 g5 50. B d6+ K x d6 51. R d1+ K e7 52. R x d8 K x d8 53. a8=Q+  =>  and Black is destroyed again. If 35... h5 then 36. R cd7 R c8 37. R d8+ R x d8 38. R x d8+ K e7 39. R x h8  =>  and White wins a rook. If 30... R e7 then 31. h4 N ge4 32. R c8+ N e8 33. B b2 b5 34. h5 N g3 35. R dd8 a6 36. K f2 N x f5 37. B c2 N h6 38. B d4 N g4+ 39. K g3 f5 40. B c5 N f6 41. K g2 g5 42. R c7 N g8 43. R b7 K g7 44. B x e7 K h6 45. R x e8 N x e7 46. R e x e7 K x h5 47. R b6  =>  and Black is totally destroyed.

The escape of the king to the queen side at the 22-th move does not help: 22... K d6 23. B f3 K c7 24. B a5+ K b8  => . It turns out that the a8 rook is locked instead of the h8 rook. Black’s position should soon be destroyed.

There is another option for Black at the 19-th move that is to save a bishop and to give a knight to White instead of a bishop. This option is 19… K f8 – the king escapes from pinning and defends the bishop.

The operation of replacing a change coin - a bishop with a knight - may look like this: 20. R e4 N x b2 21. d6 B x d6 22. R x d4 B c5 23. R d5 B b6  => . In result, White has the three active pieces vs the two active pieces of Black and owns an advantage of two bishops. While Black has a rook locked in the corner. White should win here. In this situation, the game may continue: 24. B b3 R d8 25. B b4+ K g8 26. R x d8+ B x d8 27. R e1 g6 28. R e8+ K g7 29. B c3+ f6 30. R x h8 K x h8 31. gf h5 32. f7+ K h7 33. f8=Q  =>  and White promotes a pawn into a queen.

Opening other window for the king does not help: 24... h6 25. g6 fg 26. R e1 K g8 27. R h 5+ K h7 28. R x h6+ gh 29. R e7#  => . If 26... a5 then 27. B f4 R e8 28. R f5+ (to open the b bishop with a tempo and with a tactics preparation) gf 29. B d6+ R e7 30. B x e7+ K e8 31.B a3+ K d7 32. B x b2  =>  and White wins the knight. If 27... R c8 (Black thinks it avoids the R f5 threat) then 28. R f5+ gf 29. B d6#  => . If 25… a5 (to avoid B b4+) then 26. R d7 K e8 27. R x b7 fg 28. R e1+ K d8 29. R ee7 R a7 30. R x a7 B x a7 31. R x a7  =>  and Black is destroyed. If 27… B a7 then 28. gf+ K f8 29. R b1 N d3 30. B x a5 B c5 31. B c4 R x a5 32. R b8+ K e7 33. R x h8  =>  and White wins a rook and its pawn is ready to be promoted into a queen. If 31… N e5 then 32. R b8+ K e7 33. R 1b7+ K f6 34. R x h8 R x h8 35. B c3 R c8 36. B x e5+ K x e5 37. R b1 B e7 38. R e1+ K d6 39. R e4 R c5 40. a4 R a5 41. R e6+ K d7 42. R g6 B f8 43. R a6 R g5+ 44. K f1 R c5 45. B a2 h5 46. R a7+ K c6 47. R a8 B e7 48. f8=Q B x f8 49. R x f8  =>  and White promotes its pawn into a queen. If 27... B d4 then 28. R e1+ K d8 29. R ee7 B f6 (29... fg 30. R ed7+ K e8 31. R x d4 and White wins a bishop) 30. R ed7+ K c8 31. R bc7+ K b8 32. B f4 B g5 33. B d6 B d8 34. R c1+ B c7 35. R cxc7  =>  and Black’s king is in a mate net.

The attempt to connect the rooks is very naïve: 24... g6 25. B b4+ K g7 26. B c3+ K g8 27. B x b2  =>  and White wins the knight.

If 22… B a3 then 23. B b3 (White forces b5 to save the knight) b5 24. B c1 h6 25. R d7 hg 26. R x f7+ K e8 27. B x b2 B x b2 28. R e1+ K d8 29.B e6 B f6 30. B g4 (to block the h rook from development through the h4 square) a6 31. K g2 R e8 32. R d1+ B d4 33. R x d4#  => . If 31... g6 then 32. R b7 R g8 (due to zuzwang) 33. R d7+ K c8 34. R c1+ K b8 35. R cc7 R h8 36. R b7+ K c8 37. R e7+ K d8 38. R bd7+ K c8 39. R d6+ K b8 40. R b6#  => . If 32... B c3 (the bishop goes to the a5 square to connect to the king defense) then 33. R d7+ K c8 34. R ee7 B a5 35. R a7+ K d8 36. R ed7+ K e8 37. R x a8+ B d8 38. R a x d8#  => . If 31... R b8 then 32. R d7+ K c8 33. R c1+ B c3 34. R x c3#  => . If 30… R b8 then Black is checkmated in the same way: 31. R d7+ K c8 32. R c1+ B c3 33. R x c3#  => .

There might be 29… B c3. Again, the bishop goes to the a5 square to connect to the king defense.

In this case, the game may continue: 30. R e2 B a5 31. B f5 B c7 (to close the c line from the rook attack) 32. R x g7 g4 33. R ee7 g3 34. R x c7 gf+ 35. K f1 K e8 36. B g6+ K f8 37. R cf7+ K e8 38. R x a7+ K f8 39. R gf7+ K g8 40. R x a8#  => .

Is it possible to save the game at 32-th move in this variation? Let us see. If 32... R f8 then 33. R d2+ K e8 34. B d7+ K d8 35. B x b5+ K c8 36. B a6+ K b8 37. R c2 B f4 38. R b7#  => . If 37... R e8 Then 38. R c x c7 R e1+ 39. K g2 R e8 40. R c8+ R x c8 41. R b7#  => . If 32... R b8 then 33. R ee7 R b7 34. R d7+ K e8 35. B g6+ K f8 36. R df7+ K e8 37. R x c7+ K f8 38. R gf7+ K g8 39. R c8#  => . If 32... B f4 then 33. R d7+ K c8 34. R c2+ K b8 35. B e4 B h2+ 36. K f1 B c7 37. R d x c7 b4 38. R b7#  => .

So, it’s late to rescue at 32-th move. Le us try to survive a bit later. If 31... R g8 then 32. R d7+ K c8 33. R c2+ K b8 34. B e4 B c7 35. R d x c7 R e8 36. R b7#  => . If 31... R h6 then 32. R d7+ K c8 33. R e8+ B d8 34. R e x d8#  => . If 30... B b4 then 31. B g4 a5 32. R e5 R b8 33. R d7+ K c8 34. R x g7+ K d8 35. R d7+ K c8 36. R h7+ K d8 37. R d5+ K e8 38. R x h8+ B f8 39. R d7  =>  – the attempt is not bad, but Black’s king is in a mare net. If 31... R f8 then 32. R d7+ K c8 33. R c2+ K b8 34. R cc7 R f6 35. R x g7 R d6 36. R b7#  => .

If 21... B d8 then 22. R x d4 N x d1 23. R x d1 f6 24. d7 K f7 25. gf gf 26. R e1 B e7 27. B f4  =>  and White’s passed pawn right before a promotion square decides the outcome of the game. This may happen like in the following computer variation: 27... a5 28. R de4 B b4 29. R c1 R hd8 30. R d1 R g8+ 31. K f1 B e7 32. R de1 B b4 33. R c1 B e7 34. R ce1 B b4 35. R 1e2 R gd8 36. R d4 B c5 37. R d3 B b6 38. R b2 R a6 39. a4 h5 40. R c2 R aa8 41. R d1 R a6 42. R b2 R g8 43. R c1 R d8 44. R x b6 R x b6 45. B c7 R x d7 46. B x b6  =>  and White wins a bishop.

So, we tried all the alternative cases of 19-th move that carry any creative idea that makes them the best alternative to 19… N x b2. However, we make it sure that all of these alternatives lead to Black defeat. Therefore, we have a pretty convincing reason to think 19… N x b2 is the only move.

So, now we know Black always loses in case of the bishop retreat in the following variation: 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. ed cd 4. N f3 Nf6 5. B f4 B g4 6. h3. There are a pair of the variation where Black may hold a draw in the case of the bishop retreat. However, in these variations, the long sequence of the Black moves are forced while White owns a wide range of good option for each move of this sequence. As I told at the beginning of this article, a human is unlikely to hold a draw in these variations. Therefore, Black has to exchange the bishop to the knight in this variation playing 6… B x f3. However, It is not a very attractive prospect to discard pieces at the very beginning of the game as since a chess player wants to play a long combination game in order to enjoy the game. And the chances of such a game are reduced if you discard pieces at the beginning of the game.

The variation considered in the first part of this article is not attractive for the same reason as White can do hard playing for a draw in this variation if White wants. Therefore, non of considered variations are applied in the following opening 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. ed cd 4. N f3 Nf6 5. B f4.

Since the bishop moved to the f4 square cause "loud" restrictions - Black couldn't develop its bishop to the natural squares - g4 and f5, though it is early development, I’d like to call this variation of the Caro-Kann defense as “variation of a strict bishop” or shorter - “strict bishop”. And for greater effect, I suggest calling this variation "strict cardinal".

Since the bishop moved to the f4 square cause "loud" restrictions - Black couldn't develop its bishop to the natural squares - g4 and f5, though it is early development, I’d like to call this variation of the Caro-Kann defense as “variation of a strict bishop” or shorter - “strict bishop”. And for greater effect, I suggest calling this variation "strict cardinal". The name becomes more harmonious if it represents some kind of cliche and is one in essence. Therefore, we transform the variation name into “gray cardinal”. This idiom means someone who is a exerts power behind the scenes, without drawing attention to himself or herself. That’s exactly like the White’s bishop that is a nondescript piece who experts power preventing an early development of the Black’s bishop. Thus, we come a name of the considered variation that is “Gray Cardinal”.

What strategy can be used against the gray cardinal? We will deal with this issue starting from the next part of the article.

<<Part 5