I have always found that nxf6 exf6 is a nice position for Black because the black player gets the activity associated with a isolated pawn and without one. And also the king is very safe
Playing the Caro Kann Part 2: The Two Knights
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ahedres48 wrote:
Mr Macron is hated in France! True or false! Macron loves the Ruy Lopez! Yes or no?
True!!!!111
Hello! Welcome to Part 2 of the series on the Caro Kann covering all responses to 1.e4. By the end of this series, you (the reader) will hopefully be able to play the Caro Kann. Enjoy!
Playing the Caro Kann Part 2: The Two Knights
Introduction
The Two Knights Variation either arises from 1.e4 c6 2. Nf3 d5 3. Nc3 or 1.e4 c6 2.Nc3 d5 Nf3.
Although the Two Knights may look quite docile and unambitious, it is a viable option to play for the win with white. Multiple super-grandmasters such as Hikaru Nakamura and Fabiano Caruana have employed this line with strong results. After Nc3/Nf3, we will play dxe4, forcing White to take back with the knight. Once white recaptures, we play the early Nf6, giving white 2 main options, Qe2 and Nxf6+.
Chapter 1: Nxf6+ Lines
Against Nxf6+, we will take with the e pawn giving white basically 1 option to play for an advantage, which is d4, but we will cover d4 in another part coming from the move order 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nxf6+ exf6
Here are some unambitious lines white may try to play
Chapter 2: Qe2 Lines
Qe2 is much more critical than Nxf6+ if white will not play d4 in the Nxf6+ variations. In response to Qe2, we will take the e4 knight and play Qa5
Qa5 plans to develop the bishop to f5 with a tempo, attacking the queen. White can choose whether or not to allow Bf5. When white plays a move such as c3 blunting the a5 queen to play d4 or Bc4, black can continue with a general developing plan after Bf5.
When white disrupts Bf5 with moves like b4, attacking the queen before black can get Bf5 in or Qf4, sidestepping the c5 threat, we offer the trade of queens.
If white accepts the queen trades, we enter a pleasant endgame for black. If white refuses the trades, however, in both cases, black has a straightforward easy plan.
Hopefully, you learned about how to play against the Two Knights variation. Thank you for reading and have a nice day! If you think any important lines are missing, please tell me in the comments!