A semi-open defense with a well-earned reputation for producing solid positions that are sometimes a bit stodgy. The usual move order is 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5.
Questions tagged [caro-kann]
93 questions
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votes
3 answers
What is black’s compensation in the main line of the Caro Kann?
After move 10 in the main line of Caro Kann, black has already moved its light-squared bishop four times, while white manages to develop quite a bit.
What exactly is blacks compensation for the lack of development?
[fen ""]
[Startply "21"]
1. e4 c6…
d4zed
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votes
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French or Caro Kann?
I find the French more aggressive, as black gets easy queenside play with pieces and generally a pawn avalanche. However, my friend debates that the Caro is better than the French because the Caro allows a queenside expansion as well, but "you get…
chubbycantorset
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votes
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Theoretical relationship between Caro-Kann exchange and Queen's Gambit exchange
Is there a book, or an article, which examines the relationship between these two openings? The Caro-Kann exchange (non-Panov) is 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5, and the Queen's Gambit exchange is 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.cxd5 exd5.
The positions are…
Christopher von Krogh
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3 answers
Strategy in Isolated Queen Pawn Positions
What should Black's plan be in Isolated Queen Pawn Openings like this one arising from the Caro-Kann Panov attack?
[fen ""]
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.c4 e6 5.Nc3 Nf6 6.cxd5 Nxd5
Jacob
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13
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Theoretically, why is 4. Bd3 NOT one of the best candidates in Caro-Kann?
I seem to find 4. Bd3 to be one of the best choices in Caro-Kann.
[FEN ""]
1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. Bd3
My reasoning:
White's light bishop can only develop to Be2 or Bd3. Be2 seems passive.
In Caro-Kann, Black gives up the center initially…
Ritesh Singh
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12
votes
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Why is this line of the Caro-Kann playable for white?
Today in an online game my opponent opened with e4 and I played the Caro-Kann, as I usually do. We went into a line that was new to me, shown below:
rnbqkbnr/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/RNBQKBNR w KQkq - 0 1
1. e4 c6 2. Nf3 d5 3. d3 dxe4 4. dxe4…
Alessandro Codenotti
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12
votes
1 answer
Black's tools in the Caro-Kann Advanced Tal Variation
What are Black's plans to play for an advantage in this variation?
[FEN ""]
1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. h4 h5 5. Bd3 Bxd3 6. Qxd3 e6
The kingside development seems so slow, allowing White to develop, castle, and break on c4 before Black has…
guitarcat
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3 answers
Caro-Kann Apocalypse Attack
What are the main points, tactical or otherwise, backing up the so-called Apocalypse Attack vs the Caro-Kann?
[Title "Caro-Kann Apocalypse Attack"]
[fen "rnbqkbnr/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/RNBQKBNR w KQkq - 0 1"]
1. e4 c6 2. Nf3 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4.…
A. N. Other
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11
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In Caro-Kann Defense, what are the differences between 3. Nc3 and 3. Nd2?
After 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5, what are the differences between 3. Nc3 and 3. Nd2?
It seems 3. Nc3 is more popular, though after 3. ... dxe4, I failed to see the difference.
Zuriel
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11
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4 answers
Knight constrained in advance Caro-Kann
Recently, I've been playing the Caro-Kann exclusively against 1. e4, with good results. The one line that I find somewhat confusing is the advance Caro - specifically, where does the kingside knight go?
[FEN…
Daniel Hogg
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votes
1 answer
Developing the king before developing most of your pieces
I saw this opening for the first time and was amazed by the position of the white king.
[FEN "?"]
[startply "21"]
1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. h4 h6 5. g4 Bd7 6. h5 e6 7. f4 c5 8. c3 Nc6 9. Nf3 Qb6 10. Kf2 O-O-O 11. Kg3
In this position, white…
Zuriel
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10
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4 answers
How can I punish the "bad" knight on c3?
I play the Caro–Kann Defence against 1.e4 as black, and for whatever reason it feels like I get the following line way too frequently:
[FEN ""]
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. Nc3?!
This line is a "non-critical" line, so much so that I just got an…
aquirdturtle
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If 1. e4 c6 is considered as a sound defense for black, why is 1. c3 so rare?
At 365chess.com, 1.c3 is ranked as the 14th most common first move for white. If the Caro-Kann defense is considered as a sound defense, why is the Saragossa opening so rare for white? After all, white is preparing to play 2. d4 in the next move and…
Zuriel
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10
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1 answer
What are the ideas behind the Short variation in Advance Caro-Kann?
What are the main strategic and tactical ideas behind the so-called Short variation in Advance Caro-Kann? I mean this line:
[FEN ""]
1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. Nf3 e6 5. Be2
Isn't White's position a bit passive, and furthermore with Black's…
A. N. Other
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For Black, against the Caro-Kann Advance Shirov variation 4. Nc3 which move tends to lead to the most positional, slow, solid and strategic positions?
I'm a 1800 Elo player that likes positional, quiet, drawish, slow, boring and strategic openings.
As Black against 1. e4 I play the Caro-Kann. But there is one variation of the Caro-Kann that I slightly dislike: the Advance Shirov (4. Nc3).
…
Fate
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