How to respond to the Caro-Kann??

Every time my opponent plays the Caro-Kann Defense, I go crazy.

Right now, I play the Advance Variation, but I want to hear your opinion on how you like to respond.

dont move pawn to e5 move knight to b3

The Advance is probably not a good idea unless you are an Advanced player.

Very simple is the Exchange (kind of why I quit the Caro as I was tired of having this played against me). White next plays Bd3 and c3 and goes for a K-side attack with pieces.

The other thing I would recommend for a lower rated player is the Accelerated Panov, 1. e4 c6 2. c4 with the idea of exchanging a bunch of pawns in the center. It gets you an open game and Black often struggles to cope with attacks along the diagonal with moves like Bb5 and Qa4.

? thats not possible

As an advanced variation player myself, I play the Tal variation or I take a pawn that's pushed to c5.

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. h4 h5 (4... e6 [typical setup] 5. g4! Bg6 6. h5! Be4 7. f3! bishop trapped) 5. Bg5 Qb6 (5.. f6 6. exf6 Nxf6) 6. Bd3 Qxd4 (6.. Bxd3 7. Qxd3 Qxb2 8. e6 Qxa1 9. Qb3 b6; plan to Nf3 O-O and Nc3 or Nd2 to trap queen(9...Qxd4 10. Qxb7))

or

3... c5 4. dxc5 Nc6 5. f4 (4... e6 5. a3 to prepare b4 after they recapture)

You can try the main line of the Caro Kann. It's typically a more open position with attacking chances. As a Caro Kann player I want a more solid game with a solid pawn chain. My goal after attaining such a position is to undermine my opponent's center.

Main line Caro Kann

Also, don't play the advance Caro-Kann. It gives me exactly what I am playing for if I play the Botvinnik-Carls attack.

Botvinnik-Carls attack:

ohhhh mb I meant knight to c3

One fun way to deal with the Caro is the Fantasy variation with 3. f3, after which the best moves are for black to block their own light-squared bishop with 3. e6 or lose a center pawn for a flank pawn with 3. dxe4. It is basically an Uno Reverse Caro-Kann because now you are the one using a flank pawn to support your center.

Some former CK players gave it up because of the Advanced Variation (3 e5). That's why I switched to the Scandinavian even though it is inferior. Yeah, the Fantasy (3 f3) is annoying.