Mhmmm, and this is why when I plugged 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 into chess.com's game explorer of master games, the two top moves that came up were 4. Nf3 that was played 3,053 times and 4. Nc3 that was played 1706 times
the most popular follow ups to 4. Nc3 were 4... e6 and 5. g4 which has been played 1130 times in master games.
So ya it's the second most played line in the whole advanced carokann at master level. Pretty obscure and unsound like you were saying...
It's certainly not a bad move by any means. It's funny you say that it isn't played because this is all I used to play against the Caro Kann. Probably not with stunning results though. I wouldn't play it now. I think Tal variation (3.h4) is superior if the idea is provoke movement on the kingside.
Ah yes this 4. g4 is another line where things get kind of dicey in the advanced carokann for both sides. This is a good move for white to beat an unprepared caroplayer, however if the black player knows what he's doing he should atleast be able to equalize if not eventually gain the advantage. I've seen it played a TON on chess.com at all levels.
However that's not the line I was referring to. Mine is 4. Nc3 e6 5. g4 which still holds a potential edge for white and has in no way been refuted. It holds very complex tactical play for both white and black.
Oh sorry I thought we were talking about the 4.g4 line. Anyway this argument is stupid. There are hundreds of known variations for both the Caro Kann and the Open game, some of them tactical and some of them not. We all know this.
My understanding is that the Advance is the current main line for the Caro-Kann at the top level, but most people don't have to worry about it in that manner.
Heres a good way to handle the 4. g4 stuff if you run into it
Both 1..e5 and 1..c6 have their + and - points. I personally have only e5 as my main responce. Good thing about e5 is that White will resort to attacking you with various may I say dubious gambits. When you have learnt the right replies to diffuse these attacks then you will find that you will enjoy a nice advantage. Playing solid lines like 1..c6 can cause White players to also bunker down and so could lead to less fun sometimes. I think that both systems require an equal ammount of preparation as we are still dealing with move 2 on the next move.
As white, I don't enjoy playing against the C-K,it's often an ugly win,and if not,an uglier loss.
As white, I don't enjoy playing against the C-K,it's often an ugly win,and if not,an uglier loss.
What on earth do you mean by this?
For me, the C-K often leads to a type of game that is less enjoyable to play,it feels like I am slogging up hill in mud to beseige a castle.I'd rather be leading a charge...instead I'm digging ditches.If I win,the game felt "ugly",if I lose it felt even worse.The C-K isn't boring by any means;it's drudgery.
I've been on Caro Kann for most of the year 
We'll see what the new year brings... i was thinking French Defense :)
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 is ok for black, if he doesn't want to study 3...Bf5 in all its glory.
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 is ok for black, if he doesn't want to study 3...Bf5 in all its glory.
Funny enough I used to play that line all the time back when I was a noob bullet junkie. I remember I liked the Caro Kann back then but it infuriated me when people played the Advance. I thought after e5 the rest of the game was doomed to be boring piece shuffling. (How little I knew.) So I would immediately start thrusting pawns on the queenside, 3.. c5 being one of the moves I played. If you would have told me back then that I was playing the second most popular move I probably wouldn't have believed you. I hated the Advance so much that I stopped playing it, and I haven't really played it since.
The c3 Be3 Bd4 trick seems to work ridiculously well for white it seems just quickly glancing through my database. You would have to really know that ahead of time though, not something that can be figured out over the board. I don't think I've played against that variation in a very long time.
c6
I used to play the caro-kann but found that i didn't like playing against the advance variation so i stopped.
I am searching for a solid opening against 1.e4
I normally play the sicilian, but I would like to add something in my repertoire ! So, I am between 1...e5 and 1...c6 (caro kann defence). Which of them do you think offers (in generally, I know that there mihgt be some difficult variations in which I have to play in) more solid postions ?
Thank'you in advance for your answers
It is obvious that you should play 1...c5 (The Sicilian) and 1...c6 (The Half Sicilian)!