Caro-Kahn Or Scandanavian Defense?

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Slayer1483
I am starting to learn the Caro-Kann. I will not say i have mastered it, However i have Closely mastered the Scandanavian defense. My point is, Which would you all think is better? I am trying to change things up since i am stuck with the same openings and have gotten nowhere. And if possible, Could you list a few aggresive moves? -Thanks!
Chess_Player_lol

I personally choose the caro-kann however the Scandinavian is just as good.

A good aggressive choice in the caro-kann is...

 

krongabot

I learned by computer practicing Scandinavian defense

king5minblitz119147

one main opening is comparably an entire galaxy if chess were the universe. it's not possible to exhaust even just the main possibilities and master them in your lifetime. it's likely you are stuck due to some other deficiency in your play rather than the opening itself. and what happens if you run into the same problem then?

king5minblitz119147

better find that deficiency in  your play that causes you to be stuck. very likely it's not the opening.

DasBurner

Caro-Kann is objectively better than the Scandinavian given that it doesn't waste a couple of  tempi out of the opening straight away, but there's nothing wrong with the Scandinavian, and at your level it doesn't really matter as the difference is miniscule anyway

Not to mention that the two are very similar anyway as in one of the main lines of the Scandinavian you're aiming to get a Caro-Kann structure

korotky_trinity

Me... Now I suddenly start to like Vienna's defense.

I start to do it simply by chance.

I thought that I played Caro-Kann, but the computer said that I played Vienna. ))

korotky_trinity

And I dislike French defense by now.

I lost so many games when I played it.

There is problem with one your Bishop when you play it.

ricorat

I like the caro more but the Scandi is a good option too.

tygxc

"i have Closely mastered the Scandanavian defense." ++ probably not

"Which would you all think is better?" Larsen thought Scandinavian is better, but he was one...
Scandinavian and Caro-Kann lead to the same structures: pawn to c6, queen to c7, but Scandinavian avoids the Advance Variation 1 e4 c6 2 d4 d5 3 e5. Contrary to widespread belief Scandinavian does not lose any tempo. The tempi apparently lost by the queen moves are made up for by the pawn capture moves.
"i am stuck with the same openings" It is best to stick with the same openings. Think of how many games grandmasters play with the same opening.

"have gotten nowhere" ++ not due to the opening
"Could you list a few aggresive moves?" As a black player aggression is not the aim. 1 e4 c6 2 d4 d5 3 Nc3 dxe4 4 Nxe4 Nf6 is rather aggressive.

DasBurner
korotky_trinity wrote:

Me... Now I suddenly start to like Vienna's defense.

I start to do it simply by chance.

I thought that I played Caro-Kann, but the computer said that I played Vienna. ))

wdym Vienna defense

korotky_trinity
DaBabysBurner wrote:
korotky_trinity wrote:

Me... Now I suddenly start to like Vienna's defense.

I start to do it simply by chance.

I thought that I played Caro-Kann, but the computer said that I played Vienna. ))

wdym Vienna defense

What?

DasBurner
korotky_trinity wrote:
DaBabysBurner wrote:
korotky_trinity wrote:

Me... Now I suddenly start to like Vienna's defense.

I start to do it simply by chance.

I thought that I played Caro-Kann, but the computer said that I played Vienna. ))

wdym Vienna defense

What?

you said "I like the Vienna Defense"

what is the Vienna Defense? The Vienna is an opening with white

unless you're referring to this?

 

RAU4ever
Slayer1483 wrote:
I am starting to learn the Caro-Kann. I will not say i have mastered it, However i have Closely mastered the Scandanavian defense. My point is, Which would you all think is better? I am trying to change things up since i am stuck with the same openings and have gotten nowhere. And if possible, Could you list a few aggresive moves? -Thanks!

It all depends on your goals. If getting better at chess is your goal, then I think you should learn fundamentally good play first. In that sense the Scandinavian is just not a good opening, because you'll play the same piece twice. Later, when you get way stronger and have learned a lot more about fundamental chess principles, you'll have to get a feel for the exceptions to the rules. You'll have plenty of time to learn things like the Scandinavian then. 

If you look for aggressive chess, then the Caro-Kann is not for you. The CK is more about solid play. Try out the Sicilian. That is plenty aggressive but also much more sound than the Scandinavian (in principle and in practice). At your level it's not needed at all to study theory or be worried that your opponent has. Just play games, play principled moves and get more experience and the results will come. 

TanyeEast
Slayer1483 wrote:
I am starting to learn the Caro-Kann. I will not say i have mastered it, However i have Closely mastered the Scandanavian defense. My point is, Which would you all think is better? I am trying to change things up since i am stuck with the same openings and have gotten nowhere. And if possible, Could you list a few aggresive moves? -Thanks!

Scandinavian (Mieses-Kotrc at least), hands down, is the best choice for beginners. The fundamentals are super easy, there are not many tricky gambits to worry about, and it immediately puts the opponent out of their comfort zone. It takes like 3 days to master everything in the main line and learn the basics, especially if you watch GothamChess's video on the Scandinavian. The Caro-Kann is also very decent, but has a lot more theory and tricky stuff with things like pawn structure and whatnot. Highly recommend the Scandinavian.

BestSell

The Scandinavian is fun and dynamic, but it gives White a relatively easy opening. The Caro-Kann takes more study to play properly, but it's arguably more sound.

I say play them both, then see which one you like better. Over the years, you'll likely change your 1.e4 defenses many times anyway. So it's not entirely crucial which one you pick at this point.

ThrillerFan
Slayer1483 wrote:
I am starting to learn the Caro-Kann. I will not say i have mastered it, However i have Closely mastered the Scandanavian defense. My point is, Which would you all think is better? I am trying to change things up since i am stuck with the same openings and have gotten nowhere. And if possible, Could you list a few aggresive moves? -Thanks!

 

A 922 player that has "Closely mastered the Scandinavian Defense".  This I have got to see!

I am 2000 over the board, have played one opening for 25+ years, and am just now mastering it!  I have played other openings for anywhere from 3 to 7 years, and have not "mastered" them.

 

So this mastering of the Scandi has got to be a complete joke!

ThrillerFan
DubstepJunkie wrote:

I prefer the Scandinavian. More winning chances and fun games.

And I think people sometimes forget that black isn't forced to play Qxd5 immediately.

 

If you are playing against a bunch of 1200-rated jokers, then maybe.

 

In reality, the Scandinavian has significantly lower winning chances than the Caro-Kann.

DasBurner
DubstepJunkie wrote:

I prefer the Scandinavian. More winning chances and fun games.

And I think people sometimes forget that black isn't forced to play Qxd5 immediately.

2. nf6 is eh

EKAFC

I don't like the Caro. It's overrated and it's slow. Better is to play the French Defense. I have the more common variations covered here and you will get more out of this study than by playing the Caro. I also included a tricky variation that will have you win a lot of games