Thursday 14 November 2013

Caro Kann - Sharp variations from a GM

A chess friend of mine, Jonathan, has asked me to publish some opening theory from a Grandmaster very well known for exploring and pioneering sharp opening variations. Jonathan is particularly interested in The Caro Kann - I've been promising him this for weeks - so here goes ...

In the Caro-Kann, it seems to be a case of whether it is possible for Black to play their thematic Bf5 move without punishment ... After the moves: 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nd7 5.Nf3 Nf6 6.Nxf6 Nxf6 7.Ne5 (now after the move 7 .. Bf5), Black has to be careful - there follows 8.Bc4 e6 9.g4 Bg6 (9. ..Be4 10.f3 Bd5 11.Bd3 threatening 12.c4 trapping the Bishop) 10.h4 h6 11.Nxg6 fxg6 and Black's pawn structure is ruined ... For those that are interested in a simple, sharp variation have a look at the 5. Bc4! variation below ...

As usual, any comments welcome ...


Caro Kann Opening




PGN Viewer courtesy of http://chesstempo.com/