CK advance variation with immediate c5. Black perspective.
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Whether you choose my opening or not, it's a nice thing you're doing Daniel. Thanks.
Caro-Kann Defense: Advance Variation, Van der Wiel Attack #2
1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. Nc3 e6 5. g4 Bg6 6. Nge2 c5 7. h4
OK, everyone wants to look at the caro kann! I've decided to go with the Van der Wiel attack, because there is less literature covering it (and its fun to analyse!) A few quick replies to other suggestions.
@The-New-Stonewall: I appreciate that this line is sound, but I really hate playing the stonewall in all its forms (Sorry!). See this forum (https://www.chess.com/forum/view/general/strategy-for-playing-against-stonewall-setups) for my various stonewall-bashing techniques from the opposite side. As I say, I don't mean to be dismissive, but it's just not my thing.
@ChessOath: I really do find 3...c5 interesting, but I feel it's a bit too much to cover in one post (at least to the detail I'd like to do it). If you want to learn more about it then I recommend Jovanka Houska's latest book, "Opening Repertoire: The Caro-Kann". She spends three chapters on this line and its all pretty convincing. One thing I would say is that I feel (and I have asked her about this) that the lines with 4.dxc5 e6 5.a3! lead to an advantage for white. If you want to play this then that's where black has some problems.
@Der-Schachspieler: The 5...gxf6 line (I thought it was the Larsen Variation) is very dynamic and leads to fascinating positions. I do feel, however, that white is better here and I didn't feel like analysing a line that I knew would not equalise. If you want to play this way, then study the games of Short and Nepomniatchi who play this variation frequently.
Right, so onto the Van der Wiel. I'm going to assume that @J_Weil wants to play it from the white perspective, so I will oblige. However, I am not convinced it leads to any advantage for white (the main line may well be better for black), so I will also give information for those who may want to consider employing Bf5 against the advance with black..
Overview:
The Van der Wiel Attack (1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.Nc3 e6 5.g4 Bg6 6.Nge2 c5 7.h4) is an agressive attempt to attack the caro. White advances his pawns on the kingside to harass black's light squared bishop and potentially break through to attack the king.
However this is a very risky idea as advancing these pawns takes time and creates weaknesses, which the well-prepared black player can use to his advantage by counterattacking vigorously in the centre. The best way to do this for black is by sacrificing the h-pawn to halt the white kingside advance and then pile up on the d4 and e5 pawns (see the line 7...h5).
White does also have his fair share of agressive lines. If black plays by analogy to the main line (3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bf5) with 7...h6, then the fun can really start for white.
Analysis:
7...h5 - This move is my recommendation for black. He sacs a pawn but stops white's attack and drags his knight offside in order to smash through in the centre and on the c-file.
Ideas to remember: White's Bf6/Bh6 to attack g7 when a black knight is on e7. The bishop cannot be taken because of a deadly N(x)f6#.
Black sacrificing his g-pawn with check to activate the dark squared bishop.
Black's Kf8 to defend the kingside.
White's Bb5 to indirectly protect e5 (after dxc5).
White's Nb5 to defend d4 and potentially threaten Nd6+.
Black's Bc5-d4 to put pressure on the e5 pawn and the c3 knight.
7...h6 - I feel like this line is quite good for white, so I will cover it only from that perspective.
The main idea here is the f4-f5 break. If white can get this in under favourable circumstances he will probably win. To do this he will have to cover the e5-pawn so that it will not drop off after f5 is played.
Endgames are in general better for white with a good outpost on d4 and advanced pawns on the kingside. Knight exchanges should favour black. White would probably like to exchange his dark squared bishop for its opposite number.
I tried to post this with analysis games earlier, but it didn't work and I lost the boards. I had saved this seperately so I'm going to post this now. I still have the analysis on chessbase so it shouldn't take me that long to copy it over to the chess.com boards. They should be posted soon unless there's something wrong with my chess.com.
Thanks to @J_Weil for the idea and I hope this helps you and anyone else interested. I've realised that I was probably too optimistic with one per day. If you want them detailed (like these are) then I might do two a week. Otherwise I could be more brief and post more frequently.
Keep posting variations you want covered!
Can you do the English opening reversed sicillian fiancetto line?( c4 e5 nc3 nf6 nf3 nc6 g3)(When I am white)
How about the 4. f3 Nimzo-Indian, main line, 12... Nd7 13. Qa3 f5?
dghg1810 wrote:
@ChessOath: I really do find 3...c5 interesting, but I feel it's a bit too much to cover in one post (at least to the detail I'd like to do it). If you want to learn more about it then I recommend Jovanka Houska's latest book, "Opening Repertoire: The Caro-Kann". She spends three chapters on this line and its all pretty convincing. One thing I would say is that I feel (and I have asked her about this) that the lines with 4.dxc5 e6 5.a3! lead to an advantage for white. If you want to play this then that's where black has some problems.
Thanks for the recommendation.
Thanks lad.
Can you give a visual because h5 isn't a gambit from what I've seen
Apr 11, 2016
0
#12
HueyWilliams wrote:
Wow, the analysis of a 2168 instead of a top GM in an opening manual! What a godsend!
HueyWilliams wrote:
Wow, the analysis of a 2168 instead of a top GM in an opening manual! What a godsend!
2168 at his age shows he really understands chess and is already far stronger than you will ever dream of being.
If you do not like what he is doing then do not watch it. He is offering his services and kudos for him.
Apr 11, 2016
0
#14
HueyWilliams wrote:
Wow, the analysis of a 2168 instead of a top GM in an opening manual! What a godsend!
From this forum it would seem that few players read opening books any more. Most variations I've seen posted here have appeared in opening books for years.
Not to downplay these discussions, but there is very little new under the sun in the first 6 - 8 moves. At least when it comes to sound openings.
IMHO.
ex_submariner wrote:
From this forum it would seem that few players read opening books any more. Most variations I've seen posted here have appeared in opening books for years.
Not to downplay these discussions, but there is very little new under the sun in the first 6 - 8 moves. At least when it comes to sound openings.
IMHO.
What would you know about opening theory? How would you know what is in books and what isn't? What part of the OP made you believe he was specifically talking about the first 6-8 moves? Seriously, what are you driveling about?
Some of your suggestions don't make sense ate down right illegal moves. Could you post a visual or give a example game ?
Sorry, for some reason its not letting me post the board, and when I do I lose the analysis. I'll wait a day or so and try again. 
7...h5 8.Nf4 Bh7 8.Nxh5 is a gambit - white wins a pawn, but his centre is demolished. It leads to very sharp play. I'm really sorry about not being able to post the board - its just quite frustrating when you've actually worked hard on a line (twice!) and then lose everything. I've got it on chessbase now though, but I'll probably try again tomorrow.
If it's not asking too much, I'd be interested in analysis on this variation of the symmetrical English, from white's perspective. Ideally I'd like specifically the variation which ends with 5...e5, but I realize that might be too specific. Also, I realize 5...e5 isn't exactly a book move, but it's one which seems quite common among my opponents.
Hi! My name is Daniel Gallagher, Current British U15 Champion, FIDE 2168. I am a pretty theoretical player, but would like to broaden my opening horizons while helping others. Therefore I am offering free opening analysis to people here on the forum. Here's how its going to work:
1. Post a specific opening variation below - nothing too extensive, e.g. Sicilian Najdorf Polugaevsky Variation is fine, Sicilian Dragon is too much. If the opening is not too theoretical, e.g. the Owens, just post that.
2. Has to be a serious try! Latvian Gambit is as far into the unsound as I'm willing to go. Grob, or fried fox, or anything with below about -0.7 eval will not help you or me.
3. Post the side you want to play it with - white or black. That way I know whether I'm trying to equalise or get an advantage.
4. A specific opening/early middlegame theme is also fine, e.g. ...Rxc3 in the Dragon, or the ...g3 pawn sac in the KID.
5. I will try to pick roughly one comment per day (if it's that popular!) to analyse, and will post a fairly comprehensive coverage of that variation. This is not a promise! I have exams etc, but I will do what I can. If I can't post for a long period of time I will tell you.
I hope this helps!
Also, shout out to any future oponents who find this page. Good luck in finding the lines I may actually play! :)