Tag Archives: Tartakower (fantasy) variation

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Christopher Yoo in Fantasyland

In the eighth round of the US Chess Championship young Christopher Yoo uncorked the seldom played Fantasy variation by moving his f-pawn one square on his third move. Word on the Chess street is seeing the move onscreen caused GM Ben Finegold to have a conniption fit.

Seeing the move made this Chess fan smile. Unfortunately, the offbeat openings played ‘back in the day’ do not see much action these daze, so when one is essayed it is a special treat.

[Event “U.S. Chess Championship”]
[Site “Saint Louis, United States”]
[Date “2022.10.13”]
[Round “8.2”]
[White “Yoo, Christopher”]
[Black “Xiong, Jeffery”]
[Result “0-1”]
[WhiteElo “2563”]
[BlackElo “2690”]
[UTCDate “2022.10.13”]

[ECO “B12”]
[Opening “Caro-Kann Defense: Maróczy Variation”]

  1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. f3 Qb6 4. Nc3 dxe4 5. fxe4 e5 6. Nf3 exd4 7. Qxd4 Be6 8. Bf4 Ne7 9. Bd6 Ng6 10. Bxf8 Rxf8 11. O-O-O Qxd4 12. Nxd4 Ne5 13. Nf5 Bxf5 14. exf5 Nbd7 15. Be2 O-O-O 16. g4 Kc7 17. g5 Rh8 18. h4 h6 19. Ne4 hxg5 20. hxg5 Nb6 21. Rxh8 Rxh8 22. f6 g6 23. c4 Nbxc4 24. Bxc4 Nxc4 25. Nc5 Nd6 26. Re1 Re8 27. Rxe8 Nxe8 28. Kd2 b6 29. Nd3 Kd6 30. Ke3 Nc7 31. Ke4 Ne6 32. Ne5 Nxg5+ 33. Kf4 Ne6+ 34. Ke4 Nd8 35. Kf4 Ke6 36. Ng4 Nb7 37. Kg5 Nc5 38. Nf2 Nd7 39. Nd3 Nxf6 40. Nb4 c5 41. Nc6 a5 42. Nd8+ Ke7 43. Nc6+ Kd7 44. Ne5+ Ke6 45. Nc4 Nd7 46. a4 Kd5 47. b3 Kd4 48. Nd6 Kc3 49. Nxf7 Kxb3 50. Kf4 Kxa4 0-1
    https://lichess.org/broadcast/us-chess-championship/round-8/fm2WddB4

The best moves according to the Stockfish program at Lichess.com are given in parenthesis.

1.e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. f3 (The Stockfish program has determined the insipid 3 exd5 is the best move. Where is the fun in that move?!) 3…Qb6 (3…e6) 4. Nc3 dxe4 (4…e6) 5. fxe4 (5 Bc4) 5…e5 6. Nf3 exd4 7. Qxd4 (7 Nxe4) 7…Be6 (TN SF plays 7…Nf6) 8. Bf4 (a4) 8… Ne7 (Nf6) 9. Bd6 (9 Be3) 9…Ng6 (9…Nbd7) 10. Bxf8 Rxf8 (10…Qxd4) 11. O-O-O (11 Qxg7) 11…Qxd4 12. Nxd4 Ne5 13. Nf5 Bxf5 14. exf5 Nbd7 15. Be2 O-O-O (15…a5) 16. g4 (16 b4) Kc7 17. g5 Rh8 (17…Rde8) 18. h4 (18 Ne4) 18…h6 19 Ne4 (19 gxh6) 19…hxg5 20. hxg5 Nb6 21. Rxh8 (21 Re1) 21…Rxh8 22. f6 (22 Re1) 22…g6 23. c4 (23 b4) The game is, for all intents and purposes, over.

Bartlomiej Heberla (2487) vs Mikheil Mchedlishvili (2568)
Event: EU-ch 7th
Site: Kusadasi Date: 04/13/2006
Round: 9
ECO: B12 Caro-Kann, Tartakower (fantasy) variation
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.f3 Qb6 4.Nc3 dxe4 5.Bc4 Nf6 6.Qe2 Qxd4 7.Be3 Qd8 8.fxe4 Bg4 9.Nf3 e6 10.O-O Nbd7 11.Qf2 Bd6 12.Rad1 Qc7 13.Rxd6 Qxd6 14.e5 Nxe5 15.Nxe5 Qxe5 16.Bd4 Qc7 17.Bxf6 gxf6 18.Qxf6 Rf8 19.Ne4 Bf5 20.Rxf5 exf5 21.Nd6+ Kd7 22.Nxf7 Rxf7 23.Qxf7+ Kd6 24.Qf6+ Kc5 25.Bd3 Qd7 26.Qe5+ Kb6 27.b4 a5 28.Qc5+ Kc7 29.bxa5 Rd8 30.Qb6+ Kb8 31.a6 Qd4+ 32.Qxd4 Rxd4 33.axb7 h6 34.Bxf5 Kxb7 35.Bd3 Kc7 36.Kf2 Ra4 37.Kf3 Kd6 38.g4 Ke5 39.h4 Rxa2 40.g5 h5 41.Bg6 Ra3+ 42.Ke2 Rh3 43.Bxh5 Rxh4 44.Be8 c5 ½-½
https://www.365chess.com/game.php?back=1&gid=3331874&m=13

Arjun Erigaisi (2660) vs Tahsin Tajwar Zia, (2235)
Event: TCh-BAN Premier 2022
Site: Dhaka BAN Date: 03/20/2022
Round: 11.2
ECO: B12 Caro-Kann, Tartakower (fantasy) variation
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.f3 Qb6 4.Nc3 dxe4 5.Bc4 Nf6 6.Qe2 h5 7.fxe4 e5 8.dxe5 Ng4 9.Nf3 Nd7 10.e6 fxe6 11.Bxe6 Nde5 12.Bxc8 Rxc8 13.h3 Nxf3+ 14.gxf3 Ne5 15.f4 Be7 16.Kf1 Bh4 17.Kg2 O-O 18.Rf1 c5 19.Nd5 Qg6+ 20.Kh1 Nc6 21.Rg1 Nd4 22.Rxg6 Nxe2 23.Rg2 Ng3+ 24.Rxg3 Bxg3 25.Ne7+ Kf7 26.Nxc8 Rxc8 27.Kg2 Bh4 28.Be3 b6 29.Rd1 Rd8 30.Rg1 g6 31.Kf3 Kf6 32.a4 a5 33.Ra1 Ke6 34.Ke2 Bf6 35.Rg1 Rg8 36.Kf3 1-0
https://www.365chess.com/game.php?back=1&gid=4337871&m=13

I began putting the moves into the analysis program at Lichess to only look at the opening moves. Next thing I know I was in the middle game and “just had” to know how the game would play out, so I opened Hearts of Space (https://v4.hos.com/this-week/program) and listened while watching the game as time stood still for quite a while.

  1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. f3 Qb6 4. Nc3 dxe4 5. Bc4 Nf6 6. fxe4 e5 7. dxe5 Ng4 8. Qe2 Nxe5 9. Bb3 Bg4 10. Nf3 Be7 11. Be3 Qd8 12. Rd1 Qa5 13. O-O Nxf3+ 14. gxf3 Bh3 15. Rfe1 Qh5 16. Kh1 Nd7 17. Rg1 Rg8 18. Rg3 g6 19. a4 a5 20. Bf4 Nc5 21. Nd5 cxd5 22. exd5 Kf8 23. Qe3 Re8 24. Bh6+ Rg7 25. Bxg7+ Kxg7 26. d6 Bxd6 27. Qxe8 Ne4 28. Qxe4 Bxg3 29. Qe2 b6 30. Bd5 Bf5 31. Qd2 Kf8 32. Rg1 Be5 33. b3 Qh4 34. Rg2 Bd7 35. Re2 Qh3 36. Re1 Bg3 37. Rg1 Bc7 38. Qf2 Qh6 39. Rd1 Bh3 40. Qd4 Qg5 41. Rg1 Qh5 42. c4 Qe5 43. Qxe5 Bxe5 44. Re1 Bc3 45. Re2 Bb4 46. Bc6 Be6 47. h4 Kg7 48. Re3 Kf6 49. Re2 Bf5 50. Bd5 h6 51. Be4 Bc8 52. Bd5 Bf5 53. Be4 Be6 54. Kg2 g5 55. h5 Bd7 56. Bd5 Kg7 57. Re3 Bc5 58. Re1 Bb4 59. Rd1 f5 60. Be4 Be6 61. Bb7 Bc5 62. Bd5 Bd7 63. Bf7 Bc6 64. Be6 g4 65. Bd5 Be8 66. fxg4 fxg4 67. Kg3 Bxh5 68. Be4 Bf7 69. Kxg4 Kf6 70. Kf4 h5 71. Bf5 h4 72. Rh1 Bf2 73. Ke4 Kg5 74. Rh2 Be1 75. Rg2+ Bg3 76. Rd2 Be1 77. Rg2+ Bg3 78. Bh3 Bh5 79. Rd2 Bf7 80. Rd7 Bg6+ 81. Kf3 Bh5+ 82. Ke3 Be8 83. Rd5+ Kf6 84. c5 bxc5 85. Ke2 Bf7 86. Rxc5 Bxb3 87. Rxa5 Ke7 88. Ra7+ Kd6 89. a5 Bc4+ 90. Ke3 Be1 91. a6 Kc6 92. Bc8 h3 93. Rh7 Bxa6 94. Bxa6 Kb6 95. Rh6+ Kc5 96. Rh5+ Kb6 97. Be2 h2 98. Rxh2 Kc5 99. Rh5+ Kc6 100. Rh1 Bb4 101. Ke4 Kd6 102. Rc1 Ba3 103. Rc2 Bb4 104. Bb5 Ke6 105. Rc6+ Bd6 106. Rb6 Ke7 107. Kf5 Bh2 108. Re6+ Kd8 109. Rc6 Ke7 110. Rc2 Bb8 111. Rd2 Bd6 112. Rd4 Bg3 113. Rd7+ Ke8 114. Ke6 Kf8 115. Rf7+ Kg8 116. Bc4 Be1 117. Kf6 Bc3+ 118. Kg6 Bg7 119. Rf3+ Kh8 120. Rh3+ Bh6 121. Rxh6#
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GM Arjun Erigaisi vs GM AR Salem In Fantasy Land

GM Arjun Erigaisi (2675) (IND)

Photo: © Lennart Ootes – Tata Steel Chess Tournament2022(http://www.tepesigemanchess.com/erigaisi/)

vs GM AR Salem (2690) (UAE)

Photo: Krzysztof Szeląg wikimedia (http://www.tepesigemanchess.com/salem/)


27th Sigeman & Co 2022
B12 Caro-Kann, Tartakower (fantasy) variation

  1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. f3 dxe4 4. fxe4 e5 5. Nf3 Bg4 6. c3 Nd7 7. Bd3 Ngf6 8. O-O Bd6 9. Kh1 O-O 10. Bg5 h6 11. Bh4 Qc7 12. Nbd2 b5 13. Rc1 a6 14. a4 Nh5 15. h3 Nf4 16. Bb1 Bxf3 17. Rxf3 Ng6 18. Bf2 c5 19. Nf1 c4 20. Ne3 Rad8 21. Qc2 Rfe8 22. Rf1 Ndf8 23. Nd5 Qc8 24. Be3 Nh8 25. axb5 axb5 26. b3 Bb8 27. bxc4 bxc4 28. Qf2 Qb7 29. Qh4 Nfg6 30. Qg4 Qc6 31. Nb4 Qd6 32. d5 Bc7 33. Ba2 Nf4 34. Bxc4 Nhg6 35. Nc6 Ra8 36. g3 Ra4 37. Bb3 Rxe4 38. Qf5 Rxe3 39. Rxe3 Qc5 40. Rfe1 Nxd5 41. Qd7 Re6 42. Qxd5 Qxc6 43. Qxc6 Rxc6 44. Rf1 Rf6 45. Rxf6 gxf6 46. Rd3 Nf8 47. g4 Kg7 48. Bd5 Bb6 49. c4 Ng6 50. Rb3 Bd4 51. Rb7 Nf4 52. Kh2 Kg6 53. Kg3 Ne2+ 54. Kf3 Ng1+ 55. Kg2 Ne2 56. h4 h5 57. Bxf7+ Kh6 58. Bd5 1-0
    https://lichess.org/broadcast/2022-tepe-sigeman–co/round-2/CesFMat9
  1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. f3 (Stockfish 14 @depth 60 plays the second most popular move according to the ChessBaseDataBase, 3 Nc3. In almost eighteen thousand games it has scored 52%. SF 15 @depth 61 will play 3 Nd2. In over ten thousand games it has scored 54%. The most often played move has been 3 e5, and it has scored the highest at 55%. The game move has only been played in about two thousand games, but has scored a 54% success rate) 3…dxe4 4. fxe4 e5 5. Nf3 Bg4 6. c3 Nd7 7. Bd3 (SF 14 & 15 prefer 7 Be2. There is only one game previously played with the move 7 Be2 (see Stefansson v Grant below). 7 Bc4 has been seen in 72 games, scoring 56%. The move played in the game, 7 Bd3, has been attempted on 26 occasions and has scored an astounding 69%!)

Vignir Vatnar Stefansson (2291) vs Jonathan Grant (2203)
Event: IoM Masters
Site: Douglas ENG Date: 10/25/2018
Round: 6.72
ECO: B12 Caro-Kann, Tartakower (fantasy) variation
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.f3 dxe4 4.fxe4 e5 5.Nf3 Bg4 6.c3 Nd7 7.Be2 Bd6 8.O-O Ngf6 9.Bg5 Qc7 10.Nbd2 O-O 11.Bxf6 Nxf6 12.Nc4 Bxf3 13.Bxf3 Rad8 14.Qe1 Rfe8 15.Rd1 b5 16.Nxd6 Qxd6 17.Qe3 Qc7 18.Rfe1 h6 19.Qd3 a6 20.Qe3 Re7 21.Re2 c5 22.Red2 exd4 23.cxd4 cxd4 24.Rxd4 Rxd4 25.Rxd4 Qb6 26.Qf2 Re8 27.Rd2 Qxf2+ 28.Kxf2 Nxe4+ 29.Bxe4 Rxe4 30.b3 Re6 31.Rd7 Rc6 32.Rd2 g6 33.Ke3 Kg7 34.Ke4 h5 35.g3 b4 36.Rd5 Rc2 37.Ra5 Rxh2 38.Rxa6 Rg2 39.Kf3 Rc2 40.Ra4 g5 41.Rxb4 Rxa2 42.Rb8 Kg6 43.Rb5 g4+ 44.Kf4 Rf2+ 45.Ke4 Rf3 0-1
https://www.365chess.com/game.php?back=1&gid=4150469&m=14

Shankland The Complete Caro Part 2 The Fantasy Variation