This is a recent game of mine in which I employed the Caro Kann Defense against the all too popular e4. It's nothing special. One of the stranger games I've played with the Caro Kann, but by far, not the best. [[Any tips would be appreciated]] I hope to show other players that, when playing white against the Caro Kann (advance variation), the pawn on the f file should stay where it's at. And with the result of the endgame, I hope to emphasize the need to develop your pieces. Activity is the key.

wow

this is goood

Too many blunders on white side. Maybe he thought, as many people do, that with Caro Kann having the solid reputation it has, you would castle, but on the advance variation you need to defer it to the maximum, since most of the times you get a kingside pawnstorm (the ones that go after the light squares bishop).

Here's some thought, regarding the first moves in the advance with light bishops trade:

certainly an interesting idea. I've been trying that lately with satisfying success.

whites Be4 is a blunder.

I play the caro for black a lot OTB, and i also play this h4 line for white.

white missed a crucial move early on, let me show you, this move e6 is well worth remembering.....

Yes 5...Bd7 is certainly safer, although some strong players have survived after 7...Qd6 instead of pxp in the e6 line.

From what I'm aware, 4.h6 is incorrect, 4.h5 is the proper move in the Caro-Kann Advance Variation. Also, you should have immediately retreated Bh7 when he attacked you with his pawn.. no need to waste an extra tempo.

I think white would have been ok (better at least) had he not grabbed the e6 pawn on move 17, and brought the queen back to protect the g1 knight.

hmm. This was not one of my better games with the caro-kann defense. I'll be sure to put up a better one once I can.