Caro-Kann Study Group (1.e4 c6)

SilentKnight, your diagram shows the Panov Attack which we haven't discussed at all yet. Glad you introduced it. Definitely one of white's best options and very un-Caro-Kannish so you have to know it inside and out.

Everyone, here is the link to the study group bangalore2 created. Click and join and let's continue this conversation here and there. Thx bangalore!
http://www.chess.com/groups/home/caro-kann-study-group

You like the Fantasy variation? My hero, Chucky, plays it occasionally.
Holy cow! That didn't even look like chess. One of the craziest looking games I've ever seen. And I like how it's called, "Final Fantasy"! Lol Awesome Blueemu.

Well, I have some experience with breaking and using the Caro-Kann. Here are some of my Caro-Kann related threads. Perhaps I could re-annotate them with fresh eyes and new ideas at some point.
http://www.chess.com/forum/view/game-analysis/shadow-boxing-and-other-chess-hobbies
http://www.chess.com/forum/view/game-analysis/a-quotdecentquot-game
http://www.chess.com/forum/view/game-analysis/a-queenless-middlegame
http://www.chess.com/forum/view/game-analysis/annotated-loss
http://www.chess.com/forum/view/game-analysis/attack-and-defense-in-the-caro-kann
http://www.chess.com/forum/view/game-showcase/the-most-awkward-defense-ever
http://www.chess.com/forum/view/game-showcase/sooo-got-accused-of-cheating-d
http://www.chess.com/forum/view/game-analysis/i-need-help-analyzing-this-game

Holy cow! That didn't even look like chess. One of the craziest looking games I've ever seen. And I like how it's called, "Final Fantasy"! Lol Awesome Blueemu.
I realize that this next link is off-topic for a Caro-Kann thread... but indulge me: Chucky is my hero. Here he makes a FORMER WORLD CHAMPION look like a patzer. Check out his 18th move!
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1406152

Also, it poses no problems to him.
Not quite true. The KIA avoids the exchange of pieces and the resulting simplification of the position. This suits certain playing styles... such as mine.
I tend to follow Tal's dictum (without duplicating Tal's success, of course) of trying to lead the opponent into a jungle of complications where the path is only wide enough for one player.
You can play 1.e4 and 2.d3 against most things with White and get similar kinds of positions. What's nice about it is that play depends more on how both sides choose to develop than opening theory. The positions being equal doesn't seem to mean much since they can still be difficult to play.

Most, yes. 1. e4 d5 takes you out of the KIA, though... so a determined KIA player will not open 1. e4 unless he's quite sure that Black is not a fan of the Scandinavian.

You checked out that second Ivanchuk game?
He is "the pride and sorrow of Chess"... this is the same guy who LOST FIVE GAMES ON TIME in the 2013 Candidates tournament, finishing near the bottom... but beat both Carlsen (1st place) and Kramnik (2nd place) in his individual matches with them (1.5 vs 0.5 in both cases).
My hero... partly because he's so freaking EXASPERATING to root for.

Yeah, I can't choose which game I liked better. Nxe2 was like a Patriot missile to the face, lol. The guy is obviously an artist. chessman, thank you too for your games. Not as famous but interesting none the less.
Blueemu, I looked at the 2nd game again, lol. After the knight sac Topa saves face with an attempt to trade queens and then a spite check followed by RESIGNS. Haha, patzer was the right word in your description.

Boogalicious. This one's for you. Just learned this attack as white (Ne2 and e5) = basically the advance variation but g1 knight goes to e2
It was a blitz game, so excuse the mistakes and blunders...

I actually beat a USCF 2100 with the following weird line that I did not intend to play and will never play again:

Also, it poses no problems to him.
Not quite true. The KIA avoids the exchange of pieces and the resulting simplification of the position. This suits certain playing styles... such as mine.
I tend to follow Tal's dictum (without duplicating Tal's success, of course) of trying to lead the opponent into a jungle of complications where the path is only wide enough for one player.
You can play 1.e4 and 2.d3 against most things with White and get similar kinds of positions. What's nice about it is that play depends more on how both sides choose to develop than opening theory. The positions being equal doesn't seem to mean much since they can still be difficult to play.
Why not just Bb3+?
So let's take a quick look at the Advance Caro-Kann. Personally, this is one of my favorite openings but I have to admit I don't play the Main Line with 3...Bf5. I will show a couple of the moves I prefer.
This is the line I play as well. Leads to fun games.