In Chess, Playing as White: What is the best responce to the Caro-Kann Defense?

Question

The position is 1. e4, c6. (the very beginning of the game, after move #1)

Black has intelligently prepared to attack e4 w/ d5!

Takes away the b5 sqaure from your King's Bishop.

And (safely) i might add..... has a good development scheme.

The way i figure it is -- Whites options are to:

A) Defend e4.

B) Exchange e4.

C) Push e4 to e5. OR

D) Gambit e4 and prepare an 'Unbalanced Attack'

E) Play Agressively, and then react with a defensive move A, B, or C.

White has exactly 2 moves to Respond. And then after that develop a "REAL PLAN" and not just Re-Act to BLack.

The options ive explored are:

A) d3, f3, Nc3, Bd3, Qe2, Qf3 with a Free Move

B) exd5 with a Free Move

C) e5 with a Free Move

D) Idea: g3, Bg2 Nc3, f3 (gambit)

E) 2. d4 with a Free Reaction Move, maybe Nc3.

Personally, I dont like any of these options, but D & E seem like the Best from these Choices! Choice D is, highly experimental, and i am unfamiliar with the consequences. Choice E is unexciting...

Answer 1

I have always liked to play the Caro-Kahn defense as black because I have always seen it as a solid defense:

I am not really sure what the best response is but these are pretty common, at least from the play I have seen:

1. e4 c6

2. d4 d5

3. Nc3 dxe4

4. Nxe4

And black has many options here such as Nd7, Nf6, or Bf5 along with other lines but those are the main ones

Here is an example of Bf5 after Nxe4 which is very common:

1. e4 c6

2. d4 d5

3. Nc3 dxe4

4. Nxe4 Bf5

5. Ng3 Bg6

6. Nf3 Nd7

7. h4 h6

8. Bd3 (or h5 Bh7 and then Bd3) Bxd3

9. Qxd3 Qc7

Other lines you can play:

1. e4 c6

2. d4 d5

3. e5

1. e4 c6

2. d4 d5

3. exd5 cxd5

4. c4

1. e4 c6

2. Nf3 d5

3. Nc3 Bg4

1. e4 c6

2. d4 d5

3. exd5 cxd5

4. Nf3 Bf5

1. e4 c6

2. d4 d5

3. exd5 cxd5

4. Bd3 Nf6

5. Bf4

Answer 2

I liked 1 e4 c6 2d4 d5 3ed cd 4 c4?!

Trading away e4 for c6 is very drawish and bland, but c4?! is sharp.  Of course, know it better than your opponent.:)

I have not looked into it, but anything with f3 before castling long would be suspect.

E is book.  That mean Yugoslav Grandmasters think it is right, and your opponent knows their analysis.  Avoid it like the plague unless you can do it better than your opponent.

Answer 3

Hi,

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Answer 4

Another option is to transition into a 2 knights game with Nc3

e4,d6

Nc3, d5

Nf3, dxe4

Nxe4,Bg4

d4,e6

...

Check out this site for other variations:

http://www.eudesign.com/chessops/caro-ap...

Answer 5

A.  Of the moves you give in option A, only Nc3 and d3 deserve serious consideration.  Nc3 would most likely lead to one of the main lines, whereas d3 is an attempt to set up a King's Indian in reverse by protecting the e4 pawn with Nd2 and then fianchettoing the King's Bishop with g3 and Bg2.

B.  The most common line that involves exchanging pawns is the Panov-Botvinnik attack.  It is aggressive and gives some attacking chances, but current opinion is that Black is OK

1. e5, c6

2. d4, d5

3. ed, cd

4. c4

C. Any line involving e5 would be highly anti-positional.  One of Black's main goals in the Caro Kann is to develop his Queen's Bishop with Bf5 (or Bg4).  The pawn advance e5 makes it almost impossible for White to prevent this.  Yet the line is seen occasionally and has some surprise value.

D.  Any gambit of the e4 pawn is probably unsound - Black has no weaknesses to exploit and your suggestion of g3 and Bg2 is too slow to put any pressure on Black's development.  Still, gambit enthusiasts are still playing the Blackmar-Diemer Gambit, so I'm sure some would be willing to try

1. e4, c6

2. d4, d5

3. Nc3, ed

4. f3

E.  This is probably the most common alternative.  d4 is a natural move for White, occupying the center and opening diagonals for his Bishops.  After Black plays d5 White will typically defend the e4 pawn with Nc3, so your options A and E are frequently interchangeable.