This is great you should write your own chess book and I would read it too
Playing the Caro Kann Part 1: The Ambitious Fantasy
Sort:
Thank you very much, i will deploy this weapon for sure
Hello! Recently, I have been analyzing the Caro Kann as black against 1.e4 and trying to create a practical repetoire for myself. After all, learning 1500 variations of the Accelerated Dragon and dealing with every little thing white can play after 1.e4 is just too much for me. I want something that is light on theory but packs a punch. That being said, I also want to fully understand an opening without cutting too many corners. As a way to keep myself on track for my Caro Kann studies, I will be writing about the lines I come up with for my Caro Kann repertoire. This series will cover all responses to 1.e4. By the end of this series, you (the reader) will hopefully be able to play the Caro Kann. Enjoy!
The Caro Kann Part 1: The Ambitious Fantasy
Introduction
The Fantasy variation of the Caro Kann arises after 1.e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. f3.
As an ambitious opening that isn't commonly seen against the Caro Kann, knowing the antidote for it is important. After 3.f3, as black, we accept the pawn exchange and play e5! right after white takes the pawn back. White, to avoid losing a pawn must play Nf3, entering the main theoretical territory for the Fantasy. (Note that taking the e5 pawn runs into Qh4!)
From here, we play Bg4, pinning the knight and indirectly protecting the e5 pawn, and the two main lines for white are c3 and Bc4, with Bc4 being much more practically critical. The other moves white can make from the starting variations are all quite docile in comparison to the main lines.
Chapter 1: c3 lines
Against both c3 and Bc4, we will play Nd7 and aim for a setup similar to the one shown below.
White, on the other hand, would like to keep the strong center, while trying to stick a knight onto Nc4 to harass our d6 Bishop and e5 pawn. This is why white will generally play Nbd2 or Bd3 after Nd7 if they choose to play ambitiously with c3.
Against Nbd2, we respond with Ngf6 and not Bd6? as it allows Nc4.
After Ngf6, if white attempts to transpose to Bd3 lines with Bd3?, the omittance of Bd6 plays a large role as black can play Nc5!, with a much better position.
Against Bd3 instead of Nbd2, we still play Ngf6, putting pressure on the e4 pawn. White will mostly castle, and we will play Bd6.
Here, white has two main options, Nbd2 and Na3. Against Na3 we will take the knight on a3 with a comfortable game, while against Nbd2, b5!, restricting the white knight from landing on c4 will be played.
From here, black has a comfortable position, with ideas of Qb6 and c5, trying to break the center open.
Chapter 2: Bc4 lines
Against Bc4, as stated previously, we will play Nd7. White's main options are to castle kingside or play c3, both equally ambitious. Fortunately for us, all the challenging lines involving castling kingside transpose to the c3 lines, so we only need to really learn the c3 lines.
With c3, white prepares Qb3! attacking both the b7 and f7 pawns, immediately winning the game on the spot if black doesn't do anything. That's why we play the prophylactic Bh5!, defending the f7 pawn before white can attack it. Now when white plays Qb3, it is not threatening to take on f7, so we can just play b5 and continue normal development with a comfortable position.
Therefore in the previously mentioned position, white's only feasible move is to castle kingside. Black has a solid position and can continue by developing with the previously stated setup. Here is a sample line:
Hopefully, you learned about how to play against the Fantasy variation. Thank you for reading and have a nice day!
If you think any important lines are missing, please tell me in the comments!