Why play the Caro-Kann?

Why play 1. e4 c6?  This is a very debatable issue - some people prefer to attack the center by means of the d-pawn, being supported by a pawn, but why not use the French-style e-pawn?  This brings us into the heart of one of the most solid defensive choices Black has - the Caro-Kann. 

Play begins by 1. e4 c6 and traditionally White claims the center with 2. d4, only to be stifled by Black with a swift ...d5.  Of course, having supported the d-pawn with the c-pawn gives Black the freedom to let his queen bishop venture early, while in the French he cannot do so. 

But there is more to this complex defense than only these two facets. 

This forum is concentrated around people who love the Caro-Kann, or who want to learn more about it from either the White side or the Black side.

Here is a link to a new group I have created in honor of the Caro-Kann Defense -

http://www.chess.com/groups/home/caro-kann-cutthroats

Tomorrow, I will put a bit of work into it.  Through this group, you will begin to meet other players who play 1. e4 c6 and share ideas, as well as participate in vote chess and team chess. 

I hope you find this group to be just what you have been looking for!  Soon I will supply some analysis for various opening systems - from there, people can discuss their own experiences and preferences...

I have requested membership!

Same here - I play the Caro-Kann a fair bit. Maybe we could do a thematic tournament based around the most cut-throat variation, the Panov-Botvinnik Attack? 

The opening as a whole can be very versatile, but it can also become locked down fairly easily. As black, I tend to concentrate on the open c-file (if there is one, of course), and many positions become focused on the vacant c4 square, with white pawn on d4, c3 and b2/b4 and black pawns on d5, b5 and a6.

Well, the thrill of it all is that I may sit back and run it, but the basis of the group is up to you!  It will become whatever you want...I am only facilitating something you may have wanted for a while.  As a matter of fact, feel free to create forums within the group about the styles that you enjoy, such as the Panov-Botvinnik.  I would like to see something on the Bronstein-Larsen personally!  But once the group gets up to 10 members or so, I will begin to search out vote and team chess.  And from there we can look into a thematic tourney. 

I can host up to 10 tourneys at the moment, and three or four of them going right now are Bird's Opening tourneys that are about over.  So from there, we will talk turkey about the tourneys!

I like the Caro-Kann, but I do not like getting into drawing by force games.  The only reason I quit playing the Caro-Kann was the Advance variation.  I think it is hard for Black to equalize in that variation.  In the French, those two extra tempos are critical.

Why play the Caro-Kann??  Because you are a coward and a weakling!!  Just kidding.  I used to play some games with a Master years ago and he played the Caro-Kann.  I felt like I was beating my head against a brick wall, then before I knew it, the wall was crushing my army.  In the right hands, the Caro-Kann is a weapon.

Several world champions were fond of the caro kann : Botvinnik, Petrosian, Karpov...... did I miss any ?

Basically the caro-kann gives white a nice space advantage, but with no weaknesses and a very solid position, these pluses are hard to use for white. If black plays correctly, White probably can't achieve anything. It's one of those equalizing openings though, so white has to make some serious mistakes (which admittedly many people below master do) to give black any winning chances.

Of course, thinking of it as an equalizing opening - it makes a good choice against an aggressive player.  I once played against a friend at the chess club who liked to play attacking chess with 1. f4.  I played my own style of defense against him and catered against him psychologically.  I played very patient and stubborn defense, waiting on him to get frustrated, and when the moment came, he played a dubious move, upon which I was able to begin to seize the initiative slowly and stubbornly.  This made him pretty mad, but that is part of chess!

For whatever reason, many of my recent opponents have been playing 1 ... c6 against me.  Recently I've just begun noticing how sharp Black has to play in order to stay in line with White's small leads.  I feel that the French tends to result in players throwing roundhouses in most lines right from the start, while the CK allows a little more positional play.  That, however, necessitates accuracy on Black's part because White's development is pretty natural and the two knights on the kingside can easy spring onto any weaknesses in the enemy monarch's defenses.

I have traditionally played the Panov-Botvinnik attack religiously, but the 4. Nxc3 lines lead to much more enjoyable struggles than the brute force of 4. c4.  Maybe it's my Tal worship but 4. c4 has not allowed me the creative license to throw pieces away on quite the whim that 4. Nxc3 lines do.

Wow, that's strange.  I formed this club almost the exact same time you formed yours, as I noticed many openings had groups but not the CK.  Maybe we should have a merger?

Yeah, I personally struggled against the CG as white for quite awhile until I found the Advance variation Bayonet Attack:

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.Nc3 e6 5.g4! Bg6 6.Nge2

I love Sam Collins' remarks on this variation in Understanding the Chess Openings: "To say this position is sharp is an understatement...Black needs to be precise just to stay in the game..."

I've noticed a trend of sorts that a lot of CG players prefer slow, stable positions. This variation is anything but that, and forces both sides to play like wild tactical maniacs.

All the openings directly influence middle game.

just see one posible varition:

With Caro-kann black  is actually trying for queen side castle and will extend his king side pawn if white castles on king's thus taking the initiative of opp. side castle game.

If white goes for O-O-O; black looks for maneuver

Thanks for setting the CK group up, count me in. I used to always play the sicilian against e4 but found it didn't really suit my style even though I had some success in it, so I investigated an alternative defence looking at the French, CK and even 1...b6! to get my opponents out of the book. I decided the Caro was the way to go, generally a slow buildup with lots of manouvering finding the best squares for the pieces. I feel my natural style is more positional therefore I'm investigating and studying the Caro as my new defence to e4.

I really like seeing Bf5, but c5 doesn't worry me either.  I did make a novelty against c5 that is very dangerous for Black. 

Okay.  In the gambit declined, Black can transpose into an Advance French a tempo down.  That is the best bet.  But many players would accept the gambit and lose.

If you play the Caro-Kann when you are young, what will you play when you are old? :-)

I've seen a few games where Capablanca played it.

I've been playing the Caro-kann 95% + of the time in the last 2-3 years or so and I don't know if I should look for another opening against 1.e4 . I was playing  the french before but switched to Caro-kann

Okay, if you have joined the new CK group, I ask that you bring something to the forums - games you enjoy, variations you like...this will make the group a lot of fun!  I will keep team chess and vote chess and tourneys rolling.