Analysis - Dale0007 - Game 2 - Caro-Cann

In recent tournament in Caro-Cann I faced player 300points above and as white I was able to survive Caro-Can defence although I dont have really much experience with it. In the second part of the game there is nice push of my pawns on queenside, so it seemed to me good to share.

18 - at this moment I was losing without any major plan ahead, so I decided to surprise my oppenent with long castle in this situation / probably not the best one, but it worked out well

28 - having my pawns on 5th rank I was starting to felt better, still it was losing position

28 - .. Rc5 - I believe main blunder from by opponent This allowed me after exchanging of rooks to control c-file, which became critical - especially when you can see one problem in blacks position (I am sure that most of you see it)

35 - Rc7 ... - going to 7th rank and clearing position for my pawns ... I was trying to calculate all options how black can attack, but all seemed ok if I play precisely and still he was locked by possibily of 8th rank checkmate

40 - Nc2 ... - I was looking first for Nb3, but Nc2 seemed better as it attacked his rook and pushed it back

41 - Qc5 - opponent resigned as he was not able to defend his Knight nor resume attack ... Maybe he could still play Re4+, 42. Kb3 Qb1+, 43. Kc3 ... but I dont think he would be able to get something.

Nice to see it!

I encourage everyone to comment, ask questions and so on.

4. f3, why? After few moves it was position from French (1.e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. f4 c5 looks similar?)

You could have taken advantage of a dubious move 3...e6?! and played 4.e5! and Black sooner or later has to play c6-c5, losing a tempo. If we compare it with another line of French (1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5) we will assume that White won one move.

4. f3 - I just wanted to defend my e4 pawn - I am still very behind with openings (Caro-Can I was not stuidng yet) ... but I have heard in few other videos / lessons, that f3 is not good in case you want to short-castle, so I long-castled, but yes - I will try to avoid f3

3. e6 - I havent noticed this, but e5 now looks really nice

thanks for your openings points

Hi, just checking in, having not been in the group for a while.  @Dale good game.  I guess e4 was already defended when you played f3, I think the main line is 3..dx e4 4. Nxe4 Bf5 5.Ng3.

@Mateusz in the Caro-Kann doesn't black at some point move the c pawn a second time often anyway, as a break move?

@Dale yes castling long was a big risk I think.  He had the right plan, to attack your castled king, but you defended well, I think.