Just wondering if any Caro-Kann players out there could recommend a good book.  I'm a 1900 player (CFC) looking to take up this defense as a drawing weapon vs. much higher rated players.

Thanks in advance,

Matt

Play the Caro-Kann by Jovanka Houska gets good reviews.

Do you already have in mind which variaitons you want to play? Peter Wells' 'Grandmaster Secrets the Caro Kann' includes most, if not all variations of the Caro Kann from both player's point of view. While 'Play the Caro-Kann' gives a complete reperotire using the Caro - Kann against 1.e4 (the book is by Houska, Everyman Chess; 2007).

I'm surprised ozzie_c_cobblepot hasn't posted... perhaps it's early yet.

I would agree with ogreboy on Peter Wells, but with my added advice, I suggest you learn the Caro-kann against the KIA.

On a completely unrelated note; What happened with your vote chess game against the Radical Ruy Lopez?

All forms of Caro are simply screwed after 1.e4 c6 2.c4 d5 3.c:d e:d 4. e:d where Q:d5 isn't good.

 ?

But 4...Nf6 is, so why is it any special problem? It's just another line.

books:

Houska's book is excellent, however the lines there are sharp, not drawish.

The Wells book gives a very good overview of almost every line but beware that it doesn't cover some minor lines, which Houska does expand on.

If you want more detail, the two Karpov books are very thorough and extremely good.

You cannot always bet on quiet drawish play to occur, there are sharp lines which need attention, like the Nc3 bayonett in the advance variation, lines in the P-B attack, the Steiner system.

 Experienced GMs on the White side, like Kotronias. have smashed the Black position many times and in many different lines, the Black side being defended by no less than a Karpov or a Nakamura. These lines were also picked by strong players but not as strong as Kotronias to smash no other than Karpov, so do not always count on quiet play, a prepared opponent may be up for sharp play.

 Wells claims that at SGM level the C-K positions are mostly drawn,  I take him at his word on this, but this also requires SGM technique from both sides. There is plenty of play to happen and without having such a high level of technique, C-K is not that drawish.

In short:

C-K is not a Najdorf but is not necessarily drawish, I would buy the books by Houska & Wells, if I were to choose only one book, then Wells.

The point is that an experienced player can play for stale equality (ie. draws) if they know what they're doing.  Much harder to do that in a Najdorf :P.

Thx guys for the book recs.  everyman chess strikes again! :P

You play 1...e5 right Matt? Why not learn the Berlin if you're interested in making some draws with black? More drawish than the Caro and less new stuff to learn.

I am a Berlin player! :P.  Just that you can't force a berlin on move 1.  So I often run into Scotch's (drawish enough :P) and Italians and stuff...

Yea...I think you just explained why I have no interest in playing 1...e5!

Oddly enough, if I could get a mainline Ruy Lopez every time I would play e5 no problem. But who wants to play against the snooze-inducing Italian and Scotch? 

The Najdorf is probably more complex indeed, but no opening is without its learning curve, tricks & sharp lines.

Btw since you play the Berlin, how is the Cox book on the Berlin? is there enough material there to begin playing the Berlin? 

 I am thinking of the possibility to adopt ..e5 as a second defence in the future, but not anytime soon so I have plenty of time to see what to play if I come to decide that ..e5 suits my play & the time I can allocate to study it. You mentioned that what you don't like seeing italian, scotch etc. I have seen there are some books by authors with a good reputation on ..e5 covering all Whites major openings, Ruy excluded.

In more detail, there is the book by Emms, one by Marin and one by Davies. Do you find these to be of insufficient depth & breadth to play ..e5 against White players who don't play the Ruy? I have ordered the book by Emms, as I found it dirt cheap, and would be interested to hear what material you consider essential for ..e5 (Ruy excluded).

Cox's book is probably the best book ever :P.  I love it... it's the only book I have and I swear by it.  And I never said I don't like scotch's and stuff (I don't think? :P) ... I just gave them as examples.  I actually score very well agaisnt the italian!

 Sorry for misinterpreting what you said, I thought you weren't happy to see other lines by White. 

 Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the Cox book, what do you think of these ..e5 books? which ones do you like most?

The Everyman Starting Out book on the Caro (Joe Gallagher) is a pretty good overview of all the main lines and for deciding what you want to play. I tend to find repertoire books always have one or two lines in them where I'd rather play something else, so I'd prefer this to the Houska book if you're looking to investigate the opening (though her book has excellent reviews). Have heard good things about Grandmaster secrets (but only 25 games), while the Karpov / Podagets book on the advance is good.

I do agree with some posters that the Caro is no longer as drawish as it once was. It really depends on how White chooses to respond - it's a case of a slight advantage in a sterile, drawish position or throwing the kichen sink at Black and running the risk of over extinding. Current fashion is very much in the latter direction, so don't assume playing the Caro is a guarantee of a quiet life.

What about the Petroff?

I highly recomend my book which refutes the CAro ...I call it the "CAro CAn't"

Lol ... everyone was thinking it... but it took Bruce to say it ;)

Get the two books by Karpov.  Karpov has proven that the Caro is playable at the highest levels.

One deals with the Panov-Botvinnik Attack, the other with the advance, with emphasis on the 3...c5 line.  And for the 3. Nc3 players, I recommend his Monograph B17 (4...Nd7), by Informator.  This is much better than the main lines.  You get a playable position, with active pieces, king safety, and few targets for White to aim at.

But don't go into a Caro looking to draw.  You should never play for a draw from move one.  Play for a win...and SETTLE for a draw against a higher opponent.

On a side note,

Chess Openings for Black, Explained proposes the Accelerated Dragon, in which a lot of lines ended in draws (which is the main reason I was thinking of throwing the book out of the window, although the parts on Anti-Sicilians & Nimzo/Bogo Indian are quite decent).