A Weak System Against the Caro Kann
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Jn Secrets of Opening Surprises vol. 8 was a chapter on the 2.Ne2 system against the Caro Kann Defence.This system has been championed by GM Nigel Short who has brought down some very fine GM's with it when they had black.Interestingly however, in vol. 10 of Secrets of Opening Surprises, a reader discovered the refutation of this white system, after which editor Jeroen Bosch conceded that white had nothing in the new variations presented.Here then is the saga of 2.Ne2 vs the Caro Kann Defence.After 1.e4 c6 2.Ne2 d5 3.e5 most players like 3...c5 which takes on a French Advance character, however blacks expenditure on 2 moves of the c pawn gives white a healthy space advantage and lead in development.(diagram 3) The critical main line therefore goes 3.e5 Bf5 4.Ng3 Bg6 5.h4 (diagram 2) where most players now reply 5...h6.Best however is 5...h5! with the following continuation: 6.e6 fe6 7.d4 Qd6 8.f4 Nh6 9.Bd3! Nf5 and black has a great game with a nice initiative.(see board 1).Editor Bosch suggested instead of 8.f4 white could try 8.Bd3!? but conceded then that after 8...Bd3 9.Qd3 e5! white has nothing.Hopefully this article will assist Caro Kann devotees.Good luck.
In the very top diagram, the position begins after white has played 5.h4. Usually black responds with 5...h6 but strongest is 5...h5! 6.e6 fe6 7.d4 Qd6 8.f4 Nh6 9.Bd3! Nf5 with an excellent game for black.Editor Bosch suggested 8.Bd3!? as an improvement for white, but then conceded that after 8...Bd3 9.Qd3 e5! white has nothing.