Caro-Cann: Advance variation with 3...c5

For what it's worth, I play only the Caro-Kann against 1.e4, and I play for a win every time.

Doesn't mean I win every time though! (-:

 I love the kann too! and i play it against 1. e4 every time

win, lose, or draw..  i play 3 ... c5! against the advance because its fun and thats the only reason you need

There is more theory on the Bf5 variation than c5. If you want to get out of opening theory a bit more quickly or possibly get your opponent out of their book sooner, maybe c5 is worth experimenting with. Keep in mind that what may very well occur is that the game could turn into a French Defense, by transposition, with the c5 line.

Do you say this because after 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.dxc5, black's best is 4...e6, which in some sense leads or can lead into a French?

I say this because I don't know of any actual transpositions. If black goes for this line, he's basically saying to white "I don't mind losing a tempo playing c7-c6-c5, because you really didn't want to take on c5 in a French Advance."

I always thought it was because the lines after 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.Nc3 were incredibly sharp and theory-heavy? Although, on reading over the two posts a few more times, it seems you're talking about the transpositions. Do you mean something like 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.c3? I've seen 4.c3 in a lot of my games for some reason, along with 4.Nf3, but rarely 4.dxc5. After dxc5, I play 4...e6, like Ozzie states, though.

The 4.Nc3 with g4 idea became popular in the 80s.

And it's still biting me in the butt today.

I played ...c5 in a tournament and won.  I like it.

3..c5 definitely gives black a good game.

4.Nf3 Bg4 should be okay fo black but 5.c4 is a critical try

4.dxc5 Nc6 5.Nf3 Bg4 6.Bb5 Qa5+!? 7.Nc3 e6 8.Be3 Nge7 9.a3 O-O-O is rather sharp and i dont really see other natural alternatives...

They are quite decent lines worth exploring

4.c4 seems like the most dangerous try

Ahem.

I don't know if 4.c4 is the most dangerous -- but I know that it is a popular choice when white really is in the mood to wipe black off the board in the first 10 moves. There's always the Karpov recommended line of 4.c4 Nc6 5.Nf3 cxd4 6.Nxd4 dxc4 7.Nxc6 Qxd1+ 8.Kxd1 bxc6. Black is slightly worse but it's holdable, both according to Karpov and according to Frybkoudder.

Do you think it's still biting him in the butt after all this time?

Play Bf5 if your Fide rating is higher than 2000( as mine ). Play c5 if it is under 2000. I play this opening since I am 12( Now I am 15). I know what I am talking about...

If im black, against 4.c4, Im gonna play 4..Nc6 5.Nf3

Bg4 6.cxd5 Qxd5 7.Nc3 Bxf3 8.Nxd5 Bxd1 9.Nc7+ which leads to an equal endgame....maybe slightly better for white

One vote for c5, my FIDE rating is higher than 2200. I play this opening since before you were born. I know what I am talking about too...

You definetly know what you are talking about!But I am Not completly sure, whether there wasnt any way for white to get some advantage? I always thought Bf5 is the only "correct" move...

I think both are perfectly playable at my level. People used to say that the Budapest is "incorrect", but maybe it's just easier to prepare for, or easier for white to get a small/stable advantage.

I can say for sure that the "old" main line for white to get an advantage is playable for black, according to my analysis.

Did we come to a consensus yet? 

ok

Yes, 3...c5 looks like losing a tempo, but it could very well be the best move to proceed.