At the 1927 New York tournament, world champion Jose Raul Capablanca used it as his main weapon against 1.e4 and scored two wins with three draws and no losses. Like many openings, the Caro-Kann did not gain much respect until the 20th century. Its first appearance in a published game came between two unknown players in 1845, while the analysis by Caro and Kann came in the 1880s. The Caro-Kann is named for Horatio Caro and Marcus Kann, two 19th century players who analyzed it. A lot of times 2.c4 will transpose into the Panov-Botvinnik Attack. It may be an even better surprise weapon than the Fantasy Variation, as White still wins 44% of the time but only loses 23%. Black should play either 3.e6 (a move earlier) or the even better-scoring 3.Qb6 instead of 3.dxe4.Īlso a surprisingly effective way for White to meet the Caro-Kann is with 2.c4 instead of 2.d4. The position after 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.f3 dxe4 4.fxe4, where White wins a whopping 57% of the time. It is also very sharp with relatively few draws compared to most Caro-Kann lines. The Advance Variation, meanwhile, is a move that Black must be prepared for, and it still scores well. The Fantasy Variation, at 44% to 33%, fares almost as well, but much of its value is as a surprise weapon. The Advance Variation scores 43% for White against 30% for Black. White prepares to recapture on e4 with the f-pawn, thus maintaining two pawns in the center instead of just one, a much different pawn structure than Caro players are usually going for. The Fantasy Variation, 3.f3, comes in a clear fifth but the move scores well. White usually gets an isolated queen's pawn. The latter of these moves is known as the Panov-Botvinnik Attack, with similar positions to the Queen's Gambit. After exchanges on d5, White plays either 4.Bd3 for the Exchange Variation or 4.c4 for the Panov-Botvinnik Attack. It is much rarer at higher levels than the other main move because Black gets a good game. When White plays 4.Bd3 the goal is a quiet game. ![]() After the obvious 3.cxd5-if planning on recapturing with the queen, Black should have just played the Scandinavian (1.d5)-White can either play 4.Bd3 or the much sharper 4.c4 (as seen below). When White captures on d5, it is known as the Exchange Variation. The three most popular continuations after 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 all score well despite taking different approaches to the position: 4.Nc3 is the Shirov Variation with the main idea of playing g4 and advancing on the kingside 4.h4 is the Tal Variation and takes a different path to kingside expansion and 4.Nf3 is the Short Variation, aiming for a more positional struggle. GM Vladimir Kramnik used it to retain his classical world champion title against GM Peter Leko in the 14th and final game of their 2004 match. The aptly named Advance Variation, 3.e5, is White's sharpest and best-scoring continuation. White does not have to play Nc3 on move three. It is worth noting that 5.exf6 draws 38% of the time vs. How to recapture after 5.Nxf6 is mostly a matter of taste and at high levels, each move is played equally often. The latter, while obviously also resulting in doubled pawns, is still more solid and less compromised. The former is a more dynamic choice in exchange for a shattered pawn structure. Black can capture towards the center with 5.gxf6, known as the Bronstein-Larsen Variation (after GMs David Bronstein and Bent Larsen), or away from the center with 5.exf6, the Tartakower Variation (after GM Savielly Tartakower). White can play 5.Ng3 but 5.Nxf6 is the most popular and most challenging move. Photo: Rob Croes/Dutch National Archives, CC.Īlmost as common as 4.Nd7 is the immediate 4.Nf6, even though it results in doubled pawns. The move 4.Nd7 was played before him but is closely associated with him. In fact, after 5.Nf3 Nf6, White plays 6.Ng3 almost as often as 6.Nxf6 and scores far better with it, in part because the bishop remains boxed in on c8, just by the knight on d7 instead of a pawn on e6. That said, this move isn't absolutely necessary, and White is under no obligation to take on f6. Black prepares to develop the other knight to f6, but without having to recapture with a pawn. ![]() It is named after-no surprise here-Anatoly Karpov. White can, and often does, chase the bishop, but this weakens the kingside. e6 has been avoided to this point in the first place. ![]() Black very reasonably develops the light-squared bishop, which is why the move. White can also reach these lines with 3.Nd2 when 3.dxe4 4.Nxe4 transposes.įrom here, the game can go in several respected directions but 4.Bf5 is Black's most popular, and this is the Classical Variation. Black almost always captures with 3.dxe4, with White making the obvious reply 4.Nxe4. 3.Nc3 is White's most common choice by a narrow margin over 3.e5.
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