"Theory" means the raw lines/moves, which you get either from a database or book. It sounds like what you want are the ideas, not the "theory." But boy are you in luck, because there exists an excellent book on the Caro-Kann Defense, and it happens also to be the *only* opening book I've ever found that describes where the units go, for each variation, along with diagrams of the pawn structures and the general plans, so it sounds like it's perfect for you. I have excerpts only for two of the variations it covers, but here they are:
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(p. 4)
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Typical pawn structure
Advance Variation
This pawn structure arises after
the moves 1 e4 c6 2 d4 d5 3 e5 and
later ... e7-e6--the Advance
Variation (Part Two)
By playing e4-e5 White fixes the
pawn center: now an exchange of
White's e-pawn for Black's d-pawn
is impossible. Whether this is better
for White or Black is a matter of
style. There are advantages and
disadvantages for both sides. White
obtains a long-term space ad-
vantage since he has a pawn in
Black's half of the board whereas
Black has no immediate prospect of
placing a pawn in White's half. The
pawn advance is rather committal,
however, and leaves White's d-
pawn immobie and thus a potential
target for Black to work against.
Generally, the most appropriate
development for each side in this
variation is as follows.
White King: Usually castles
Kingside only occasionally on the
Queenside.
White Queen: d3 or e2, oc-
casionally g4.
White Rooks: d1 and e1, or d1
and f1.
White King Bishop: d3, oc-
casionally e2.
White Queen Bishop: d2, e3, f4,
or g4. It is usually best to postpone
the development of this piece until
it is reasonably clear which square
is most suitable.
White King Knight: f3 or e2.
White Queen Knight: c3.
White pawns: Except for the d-
and c-pawns, none of the pawns
should be moved in the very early
stages of the game. The f-pawn is
often advanced later.
Black King: Castles Kingside.
Black Queen: b6 or a5, some-
times followed by moving to a6.
Black Rooks: One Rook nor-
mally goes to c8. This is sometimes
followed by ... Rc7 and then
playing the other Rook to c8. This
maneuver is called doubling Rooks.
Black King Bishop: e7.
Black Queen Bishop: f5.
Black King Knight: e7 and then
to f5 or g6. This Knight should be
developed before the King Bishop
to avoid a botteneck on e7.
(p. 5)
Black Queen Knight: d7 or (after
... c6-c5) c6.
Black pawns: The c-pawn and d-
pawn having already moved, the
only other pawn moves that should
be considered in the early stages is
the e-pawn (to e6!) and the c-pawn
to c5. The moves ... h7-h5 and ...
g7-g6 may be good later to restrain
the advance of White's Kingside
pawns.
White's general strategy in the
Advance Variation is to attack on
the Kingside, which is usually
signalled by f2-f4-f5. Black's
overall strategy is to undermine
White's pawn center by preparing
and playing ... c6-c5, and then to
develop counterplay by making use
of the half-open c-file on which his
Rooks should be standing.
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Typical pawn structure
Exchange Variation
This pawn structure arises after
the moves 1 e4 c6 2 d4 d5 3 exd5
cxd5 4 Bd3 Nc6 5 c3 and later ...
e7-e6--the Exchange Variation
(Part Three).
Note that there are two half-open
files. The e-file can be used by
White, the c-file by Black. In this
variation the most appropriate
development for each side is as
follows.
White King: Castles Kingside.
White Queen: b3 or e2
White Rooks: e1 and d1, or e1
and f1.
White King Bishop: d3.
White Queen Bishop: f4 or g5.
White King Knight: f3, then e5.
White Queen Knight: d2 and then
f3, replacing the King Knight which
has moved to e5.
White pawns: After advancing
the e- and d-pawns on the first two
moves, no other pawns should be
moved in the early stages. Later on,
f2-f4 and perhaps g2-g4 may be
useful as part of a Kingside attack.
Black King: Castles Kingside.
Black Queen: c7, b6, a5, or c8.
The latter square may be ap-
propriate for the Queen when the
b7-pawn needs protection.
Black Rooks: b8, c8, e8, and f8
are all good squares. The specific
choice will depend on White's
development and the actual course
of play.
Black King Bishop: d6 or e7.
Black Queen Bishop: f5 or g4.
Black King Knight: f6.
Black Queen Knight: c6.
Black pawns: Except for the c-,
d-, and e-pawns, none of the other
pawns should be moved early in the
game. Later on, the maneuver b7-
b5-b4 is often useful.
(p. 6)
White's general strategy is
usually to attack on the Kingside.
This may involve the moves Re1-
e3-g3, h2-h3, f2-f4, and even g2-g4-
g5 to force Black's Knight from its
good defensive post at f6. Black's
general strategy is to attack on the
Queenside while preparing to
defend against White's Kingside
action.
Keene, Raymond, Edmar Mednis, Jack Peters, Julio Kaplan, and Andy Soltis. 1980. Caro-Kann Defense. Great Neck, N.Y.: R.H.M. Press.
NOTE: The printed title on the front cover is "Understanding the Caro-Kann Defense" but the title page says merely "Caro-Kann Defense."
I am trying to learn the Caro Kann. When I look on different youtube videos on the topic they talk about the usual lines, for example the advance variation.
On these short videos they do not go in very deep in the lines an often refer to that there is "a lot more theory". My question is, where do you find this theory?
Is it to study a database? Though in a database there is only the raw lines, and sometimes it is hard for me to understand the purpose of surtain moves.
I am thankful for help!