Firstly restrain…
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5
Black counters in the centre, provoking an immediate crisis. White must defend or dodge.
The Caro Kann has a reputation of being a boring defence. It is quite deserved, I believe. Black aims for a solid position where White’s space and activity can be held in check and in the end neutralised by exchanges. It is a system free from weaknesses and has been popular among top Grandmasters for many years.
It is not, however, your best choice if you want to play for a win, unless your technique is very good.
This is the key structure in the Caro-Kann — neither White nor Black has to agree to it, but it is seen in the vast majority of games in this defence.
What can we say about this?
- White has more space and easy development. White can hope to turn that to advantage.
- Black will try and hold back White’s pieces by careful development and exchanges
- Black can develop the Bc8 happily (unlike the French) then move …e6
- The best way for Black to hit back in the centre is …c5, which will lose a tempo (unlike the French)
The attempt to find a dynamic Caro-Kann with 5…gxf6 created a bit of interest, but, as is often the case, White found some antidotes and that line is no longer tried as often.
It’s hard to demonstrate a plus against the Caro-Kann, and, even with a plus, you might not win. So White players have tried very hard, and the theory in some of these lines is deep and subtle. White trying hard means that some of the lines have got quite sharp, and, if White really goes for it, winning chances for Black may reappear.
The main lines
The big main lines start with:
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4
There was a time when Black would often try the Gurgenidze line with 3…g6, trying to blockade on the light squares, when White might prefer to have a pawn and not a Knight on c3. So 3.Nd2 may be a finesse.
Anyhow, Black’s turn…
4…Nf6
5.Nxf6 exf6
This was always thought of as a fairly duff line as White has a useful Queen’s-side majority while Black’s four King’s-side pawns are messed up and not useful. There’s a lot of chess to be played between 5…exf6 and 80.c8Q but White always has that idea up their sleeve.
More gloom for Black appeared when a more direct attacking plan was found to be successful.
One of the heroes of the Caro-Kann, Ulf Andersson, showed some better ideas for Black in this line:
But like I say, your technique has to be good.
5.Nxf6 gxf6
Doubled pawns are known to be a disadvantage but they offer a half-open file and some extra central control. White can squelch much of Black’s fun with 6.g3 and Bg2.
4…Nd7
Black wants to play …Ngf6 without getting doubled pawns. Black has given up the centre, and is playing passively, so White can hope to get an initiative by playing with maximum speed and aggression.
When I was a boy, ‘sensible’ play beginning 5.Nf3 had been replaced with more pointed play with 5.Bc4.
These days it’s all about 5.Ng5, daring Black to try and chase it away with …h6.
Two famous games in this line:
4…Bf5
The big main line goes…
and while White can play this for a win, Black still has hopes of holding.
White can try some fiddles to derail Black along the way, but they are not anything to terrify Black.
Other tries for White
The advance variation
3.e5
This has been an important line and one infused with some newer ideas. Structurally, Black wants to play …Bf5, …e6 and …c5 to create some play; White can use the early commitment of Black’s Bishop to harass it. Early pioneers would chase Bishop with pawns, while later enthusiasts found piece play would do as well. Nigel Short later played the line more simply, declaring his pieces more active.
The Exchange Variation
3.exd5 cxd5
Not a bad try, and one I have tried with success. White goes for a small edge in a quiet position, hoping to post their pieces actively and accurately.
White can try to deny Black’s Bc8 its best square with 4.Bd3; after 4…Nc6 5.c3 Qc7 Black returns the disfavour.
The Panov-Botvinnik Attack
3.exd5 cxd5 4.c4
White throws the game into sharper and more open territory. When it arrived on the chess scene, it was a mighty terror, but Black players have calmed down since. I still often recommend this line for White; there is an excellent book on this variation by Aagaard.
The Fantasy Variation
3.f3
White adopts an aggressive attitude, not accepting that the pawn on e4 need be moved nor that it be replaced by a piece. The move f3 is a little awkward but it leads to complex positions that may be to your liking.
Apart from that, it's considered an unimportant try for White, but may give you the sort of closed game you like.
The Goldberg Variation
2.Nc3 d5 3.Qf3
An early favourite of Short, it has some points in its favour, but has never been a popular try.
The King's Indian Attack
2.d3
Another resort for lazy White players: you can plonk your pieces on the same squares in each game.
Or, if you're a genius, you can suddenly change gear with effect.
The Two Pawns' Variation
2.c4
White is just being awkward... This move order may be a fair way to reach lines of the Panov without offering Black the chance to play the best setup against the IQP (H/T: John Emms).