Hello everyone,

Yesterday I lost in an OTB game against the Caro-Kann. (I played the advance variation, but opted for 5.Bd3?! rather than 5.Be2 which seems the strongest.) Thus, to be better prepared next time I face the CK I would like to ask you, the people of chess.com, which book is the best to go through if you want to "suck it to them" - them being Caro-Kann players.

Thnx,

Summum_Malum

http://www.jeremysilman.com/book_reviews_js/js_easy_gd_panov_botvinnik.html

Silman review of a book on the Panov-Botvinnik (which is fun to play against the CK btw). The opening paragraph (of the article) is instructive:

" I own a large opening library, but whenever a player asks me to recommend a good book on the Caro-Kann I find myself at a loss for words. Why? Because there is no ground breaking work on this extremely popular opening."

Thnx for the response billiantboy,

I eagerly found the book on amazon with an immediate purchase in mind, but it costs 85 £ .. I'll just let that stand there for a second, and then say it again: 85£ .. That must be the most expensive chess book I have ever come across!! ..

But still thank you for your input, I hope I can find a used copy of the book somewhere..

You can come a long way watching some videos online and going over tons of Caro-Kann games played by grandmasters. (Granted there's probably not as many as say, the sicilian.) To get a grasp of the concepts and themes in the Caro-Kann in both offense and defence.

Hi Bianca,

Yeah I know there is the possibility of watching online videos, but I like to have the books (somehow things written down stick to by brain better than things said in a video) =) and then use online videos as supplementary material, or as a way of picking up a little theory while eating #) .. And unfortunately I don't have the time to go over tons of games, though I would like to.

I saw that Karpov has co-authored a book on the Panov-Bottvinnik, but on amazon it only gets 2 stars. I know these ratings are not to be taken at face value, so if anyone has used this book then let me know what you think.

I've found GM Peter Wells' Grandmaster Secrets - The Caro-Kann (2007) to be a useful book.  He has chapters on the Advanced, Panov-Botvinnik, Classical, Bronstein-Larsen, 4...Nd7 and 4...Nf6 5.Nxf6 exf6.  It is organized around key games with quite a bit of discussion of alternate lines in the notes to the games.  In general, the suggestions seem pretty sensible.

GM Alexander Khalifman describes a main line repertoire against the Caro-Kann and Scandinavian in Opening According to Anand 1.e4 volume 3 (2004).  GM Joe Gallagher has a book called Starting Out - The Caro-Kann (2002) which covers the main variations, and Neil McDonald put out a book on the Main Line Caro-Kann (2001).

Thank you rigamagician!

I've seen the Well's book recommended elsewhere.. But does it also provide you with White's options? Some books are quite (read: VERY) biased towards Black's perspective..

Wells' book is not a repertoire book.  He covers the various lines for both black and white.  The times I have dipped into it, the coverage seemed fairly realistic not overly favouring black.

Okay, I think I will invest my money in that one for starters then! ..

Incidentally, there is a new book out by Lars Schandorff called Grandmaster Repertoire: The Caro-Kann, which I haven't seen yet.  It focuses solely on the black side.  Also Victor Bologan has a FritzTrainer DVD on the Caro-Kann.

The quiality chess book by Schandorff! But its alot to read, for playing against it, as it discuss all the variations.

Hello Simon,

I just ordered the book by Wells, but maybe I should pick the one by Schandorff up  as well, what with him being Danish and all =) .. I think Peter Heine reviewed it in the magazine of the Danish chess union at some point, but I don't recall his verdict.

I think you have a perfectly valid point preferring books over videos. On the subject of the book Karpov co-authored (It's titled "Caro-Kann Defence: Panov Attack" if I'm not mistaking.) I liked the book, it explores some new options and they actually did some 'new' research instead of using the assumed analysis.

Overall I'd say it's a slightly above average book, not flawless but still worth getting if you can. It'll help you improve your Caro-Kann game, though you should be prepared to still do some research of your own, as the book does lack certain variations.

It depends on how much detail you are after

Collins brought out a white repertoire book published by Batsford.  this book is based around the Panov.  The coverage is quite reasonable

The Aagaard Panov book is also good, but you will need to hunt around the second hand book websites for a sensible price

If you are in to (a lot of) detail you could use the Khalifman books - this is heavy mainline stuff though.

Alterman also wrote a book on Gambit (published by Quality Press) the book is pretty light weight on theory, but gives some background around the Panov.

I believe there is a chessbase CD on the Panov too, as well as another Collins opening repertoire for White

Thanks Bianca, I also read somewhere that liking the Karpov book or not was a matter of temperament - some GM's did not agree on its usefulness anyways.. It seems pretty cheap, so I think I'll add it to the collection.

@Blundering: do you remember the name of the Collins book? I tried Collins+Caro-Kann on amazon and nothing appeared..

No problem, that book I think is called "An attacking repertoire for white"

oké.. I'll give it a search! .. =) I'll have no time for work with all the books I have to go through - hope I don't lose to another opening next time I play (could get expensive to stock up on books every other week.)

I have Sam Collins' An Attacking Repertoire for White.  It has some fun ideas for fooling around against casual club players, but I don't think it is meant for use in serious tournaments.  It covers the Sicilian, Open Games, French, Pirc, Alekhine, etc.  Chris Baker's A Startling Chess Opening Repertoire is another book along the same lines.

If I were you I would either play the Panov-Botvinnik or the Mainline. Personally in my own games I know that I love it when a player plays the advanced variation because that gives black some real counterplay on the queen side, like along the c file with his rooks. I generally tend to outplay my opponents in those games.

I have been smoked in the Panov Botvinnik. If you play this, and know how to use the tactics and position to your advantage, then you should easily be able to handle under prepared caro players. I would have lost 2 straight games in tournaments due to this variation, except in the second game my opponent made a monumental blunder and I won in the endgame.

The mainline variation really hems in black, and unless they are good enough to generate sufficient counterplay you have a high chance of winning.

@Phelon: It was the c-line that ultimately cost me the game eventhough I had the upper hand for most of the game  - but the guy had 420 rating points on me, so I guess I shouldn't beat myself too much up over it..