5..., exd4 gives White a nice attacking game and likely deserves a questionmark, but this rather cooled my ardour for the Fantasy back in the 1990s...
...the point is to deter White's B from arriving at c4. 6. Nxe5 is an egregious blunder, 6. dxe5 gives rather unwieldy doubled pawns. 6. Nbd2 seems to score acceptably now that it's been found, but it's not straightforward stuff.
5..., exd4 gives White a nice attacking game and likely deserves a questionmark, but this rather cooled my ardour for the Fantasy back in the 1990s...
...the point is to deter White's B from arriving at c4. 6. Nxe5 is an egregious blunder, 6. dxe5 gives rather unwieldy doubled pawns. 6. Nbd2 seems to score acceptably now that it's been found, but it's not straightforward stuff.
It is such a tricky opening because the reasonable solid looking moves can get you into big trouble. I think this opening will boost my win rate as white dramatically especially in blitz once I start playing rated again. I’ve been playing this opening for just 2 days and have taken down multiple 1800+ and a few 2000+ so far in 10 | 0! Even when they know the traps it still has resulted in great positions that suit my playstyle. I’m a big fan of this opening.
1. It is such a tricky opening because the reasonable solid looking moves can get you into big trouble.
2. I’ve been playing this opening for just 2 days and have taken down multiple 1800+ and a few 2000+ so far in 10 | 0!
1. There is nothing tricky in this opening. After 3. ... e6 black's position is very solid. Objectively speaking it's equal and quiet complicated so stronger player should win.
2. Ratings don't work properly in unrated games. Your opponents blundered pieces left and right.
I like playing 3…Qb6 against the Fantasy variation.
The move f3 weakens the Dark Square on the F2 diagonal. The move Qb6 indirectly attacks the weakness. I think it is very dynamic.
I was inspired to play this line by renowned GM Jobava. I think a lot of players know of Jobava due to his contribution to Jobava London line which he plays.
Botvinnik thought 3...e6 followed by Qb6 and c5 was best, when annotating a game played against Smylov in a World championship match.
https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1032451
Botvinnik lost this game on time, in a better position maybe winning.
Smyslov played 3f3 suprisingly often, and won quite a few games with it.
Here is a game from the 2020 Candidates' Tournament:
https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=2042163
1. It is such a tricky opening because the reasonable solid looking moves can get you into big trouble.
2. I’ve been playing this opening for just 2 days and have taken down multiple 1800+ and a few 2000+ so far in 10 | 0!
1. There is nothing tricky in this opening. After 3. ... e6 black's position is very solid. Objectively speaking it's equal and quiet complicated so stronger player should win.
2. Ratings don't work properly in unrated games. Your opponents blundered pieces left and right.
1. Maybe nothing tricky for you but players under 2000 don’t usually study openings and if you don’t know what to do here in shorter time controls good luck making the right moves.
2. Ratings in unrated don’t work correctly and I won because of blunders? Maybe if your position is prone to your opponent making errors it’s not just luck— that’s chess!
In unrated, you are more likely to find players that are underrated than overrated in my experience. Occasionally you get someone that is calibrating and is definitely not their stated rating but usually players in unrated are cagey about their rating like myself. My lichess rating puts me 1800+ on here for sure.
You are obviously much more knowledgeable than me but my only point is this opening is tricky but solid for players weaker than yourself. No disrespect, these are just my observations and opinions. It’s not like I’m posting the wayward queen attack and saying it’s the best thing since sliced bread lol
My opponents don't seem to play Caro Kann very often. According to Game Explorer on this site, after I play 1. e4, I only see 1. ... c6 about 10% of the time. Maybe it's different for higher-rated players. But Caro Kann is rather uncommon for me to see. Because of this, I've never gotten around to studying anything specific against it. But I will give this Fantasy Variation a try. It looks fun. I like the open f-file, with the rook and light-squared bishop both eyeing f7.
Botvinnik thought 3...e6 followed by Qb6 and c5 was best, when annotating a game played against Smylov in a World championship match.
https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1032451
Botvinnik lost this game on time, in a better position maybe winning.
Smyslov played 3f3 suprisingly often, and won quite a few games with it.
Flohr tried the immediate e6 and Qb6 (3.f3 e6 4.Nc3 Qb6) in a game with Smyslov and also got trounced. https://www.chess.com/games/view/46770
Smyslov followed up with 5.Nge2, which was popular back then in ancient times (1949
). I think 5.a6 is all the rage these days.
Damn the fantasy variation is wild I play Caro Kann often
Another reason I like Qb6 is because it keeps Black flexible.
Some people are mentioning how Black can play e6. Than play a Qb6 afterward.
You can try to switch move order around as Black.
You can start with Qb6 and realistically their isn’t a lot of stuff White can do to stop you from following up with e6.
However, the advantage of Qb6 is you get to see what white plays next!
If white plays dumb move, you can lash out with an e5 move vs. e6 move.
For Example:
In this position, I played the move h3 as dumb waiting move.
Than I took e5 pawn
All of a sudden White is facing double attack on f2 square only defended by King and they are facing double attack on knight on g1 only defended by the rook.
Normally, White will play Nc3 or a3.
e5 in the above position isn’t considered good because White has Na4 as resource.
So in this position Black can play e6 which transposes into e6/Qb6 line.
Or Black can play dxe4 which is another continuation.
The shocking thing is White isn’t supposed to recapture with the F pawn.
When I use to play Caro-Kan, it was considered a mistake for White to recapture with F pawn.
It is considered bad because Black can at that point play e5.
I haven’t played Caro Kan - Fantasy variation in years so I don’t even know if this is considered bad for white or not. It use to be considered bad.
The correct way for White to play was to recapture with the Knight.
Does look very weird looking doesn’t it?
I remember a title player telling me why this is bad for white, but guess what?
I didn’t pay attention because I don’t play white side of the Fantasy Caro Kann.
Bwhahahahahaha - So horrible I am
I only cared about Black side.
When I was told e5 was crushing, I told them to say no more!
It was all I needed to know.
White side players wanted a Fantasy!
I shall give them one - It shall be Texas Chain Saw Caro Kan Massacre.
It will be Horror Fantasy that will teach them!
Look at White beautiful pawn center.
It’s breathe taking how wonderful it looks
And now they are broken up - Total sadness they feel.
This is why they play the Knight, but I was never afraid of Knight move.
Look at that ugly looking knight move from Black position.
Are we really supposed to be scared of it?
It looks so goofy looking.
Black position looks so harmonious and wonderful.
I use to play this way as Black because I have no faith in White position.
I wonder how many times White side players see this line?
Never? Only few times?
Another reason I like Qb6 is because it keeps Black flexible.
Some people are mentioning how Black can play e6. Than play a Qb6 afterward.
You can try to switch move order around as Black.
You can start with Qb6 and realistically their isn’t a lot of stuff White can do to stop you from following up with e6.
However, the advantage of Qb6 is you get to see what white plays next!
If white plays dumb move, you can lash out with an e5 move vs. e6 move.
For Example:
In this position, I played the move h3 as dumb waiting move.
Than I took e5 pawn
All of a sudden White is facing double attack on f2 square only defended by King and they are facing double attack on knight on g1 only defended by the rook.
Normally, White will play Nc3 or a3.
e5 in the above position isn’t considered good because White has Na4 as resource.
So in this position Black can play e6 which transposes into e6/Qb6 line.
Or Black can play dxe4 which is another continuation.
The shocking thing is White isn’t supposed to recapture with the F pawn.
When I use to play Caro-Kan, it was considered a mistake for White to recapture with F pawn.
It is considered bad because Black can at that point play e5.
I haven’t played Caro Kan - Fantasy variation in years so I don’t even know if this is considered bad for white or not. It use to be considered bad.
The correct way for White to play was to recapture with the Knight.
Does look very weird looking doesn’t it?
I remember a title player telling me why this is bad for white, but guess what?
I didn’t pay attention because I don’t play white side of the Fantasy Caro Kann.
Bwhahahahahaha - So horrible I am
I only cared about Black side.
When I was told e5 was crushing, I told them to say no more!
It was all I needed to know.
White side players wanted a Fantasy!
I shall give them one - It shall be Texas Chain Saw Caro Kan Massacre.
It will be Horror Fantasy that will teach them!
Look at White beautiful pawn center.
It’s breathe taking how wonderful it looks
And now they are broken up - Total sadness they feel.
This is why they play the Knight, but I was never afraid of Knight move.
Look at that ugly looking knight move from Black position.
Are we really supposed to be scared of it?
It looks so goofy looking.
Black position looks so harmonious and wonderful.
I use to play this way as Black because I have no faith in White position.
I wonder how many times White side players see this line?
Never? Only few times?
I’d say for vs people that know the opening Qb6 and e6 are about 50/50. Most other moves don’t work that well and usually lead to a short win for white lol. I prefer e6 tbh because it results In a pretty regular game of chess. Qb6 is very sharp and I have to be very careful or I get relentlessly attacked. It’s how I counter the fantasy as black now with good results.
