Crush e4! Play the Killer Caro-Kann Part 2 (Advanced Variation)

Let's get one thing straight: sometimes, playing with the Black pieces isn't all that fun. White tends to dictate the pace of the game, take the initiative early, and gain more space. Meanwhile, we sit back and wait for the right opportunity to strike.

What I've just described is an accurate depiction of most chess openings, whether it be the French, 1.e5, or even the supposedly sharp Sicilian. However, in my mind, only one opening provides an exception to the rule: The Caro-Kann. 

One of the main reasons I love the Caro-Kann is that it allows the ambitious Black player to play ambitious chess. Rather than allowing the White players to dictate the flow of the game, we take it upon ourselves to do this.

There is no better example of this concept than the Advanced Variation (diagram below)

White takes space early, and gives Black two main choices of how to proceed: either play the solid Bf5 and get a positional game or blow open the position with the aggressive gambit c5! Already, after only 3 moves, Black is leading the way and White is following.

In the video below, I provide a deep analysis of this Advanced Variation, analyzing both of the aforementioned variations in full. Depending on your playing style, you are free to choose either Bf5 or c5. And though that choice will depend on your own preferences, the very fact that you have such a choice highlights the beauty of the Caro-Kann Defense.

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