Caro Kann Exchange Variation

I'd recommend getting Lars Schandorff's book on the Caro-Kann for black. Probably the best opening book format I have ever read. It champions the Qc7 approach to the exchange variation, and you really only have to worry about two lines: Bd3 or c4. Bd3 is the main line, and c4 is the 'pseudo Panov Attack'. It takes quite some practice, but eventually it just becomes an easier variation to deal with in the Caro-Kann complex. The Advance Short variation is the most complicated and difficult to combat against a strong opponent that is booked out on it.

The qc7 approach is good, the g6 idea is cool, but I would probably just recommend the main line with Nc6 Nf6. But just develop your pieces and you’ll be fine 😎

Qc7 is more taxing on white, but if you just want to safely make it to a Carlsbad pawn structure, then yes, nothing wrong with Nf6 instead of Qc7.

The line above has been trendy lately at the higher levels, and I've personally employed it myself with success. Some ideas:

1. it's a reversed carlsbad structure so it's useful to learn some ideas for this structure
2. Bg4 tries to get the bishop out of the pawn chain and play Bh5-Bg6 to exchange it off, you're fine with doubling the g pawns since you get compensation in the form of the open h file
3. you're happy if white plays f3 to block you since this only favors you
4. if white plays h3 to prevent this than you can even finachetto your dark square bishop with g6 to play Bf5
5. depending on how the game goes you can castle either kingside or queenside depending on which approach favors your style better, or sometimes even not at all since some positions allow the king to be safe in the center
6. one thing i've tried myself once is to play Ne4 followed by f5 at a good time to go into a stonewall structure with ideas of opening the f file or playing Rf6-g6

It's can be a super interesting opening imo unlike what people make it out to be