That's how price match works with IHG. Book and then seek match. I wouldn't throw the Inner Circle card away. If you book a flexible rate, you can price match it to a different flex rate. I'm not sure if IHG would do it, but with some other program you could book flex and say in comments "I'm price matching against advance purchase rate - make my reservation advance purchase and match the rate". I've had successful best rate guarantees when it was 1st night free - but I'd always book flex and claim against flex.