i played black in this game and i'm not ashamed to lose to a fine player like craig. in fact i've done it several times! i hope you can learn something from the game - i did.

i chose the caro-kann as it is my preferred defense to e4 and i'd hoped it would tame his strong attacking skills.

my usual response to the advance variation. the goal to get the bishop outside the pawn chain and exchange it for white's lt bishop.

often the bishops are exchanged at d3. the first of several new wrinkles for me to face.

exactly preparation for c5 and Rc8.

furthermore i'm now falling way behind in development.

i should have listened to my teammate who despises these tempo wasting pawn moves. instead it is better recognize the potential attack but to deal with the attack when it takes place. had the knight gone to b5 there was no support for an attack on c7.

the fateful knight move. the idea was to swing the knight to g3 or f5 (should it become vacated). instead it placed the lid on the coffin - but white still had to nail it shut.

i planned to recapture with the knight if he should exchange.

in hind sight i would have developed the queen and castled long since all of his energy is directed at the kingside.

he is correct i completely missed the weakness of my d6 square.