The best response is a move that ignores it, because White is wasting time in order to accomplish an unnecessary goal.
Problem in Main Line of Caro-Kann
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Arcanus_Lupus wrote:
The best response is a move that ignores it, because White is wasting time in order to accomplish an unnecessary goal.
But then what is Black's plan for castling since both sides have a compromised pawn structure?
What of Black's plans to castle? Just don't castle immediately. Don't become a target. In semi-open games such as these, it is usually best to hold off castling until the opponent's motives are seen.
Long term white will be better with the 2 bishops, but in return he has a lack in development and black needs to make use of this. Theoretically its probably equal, but white will have some practical squeezing chances. There is a similar line in the caro kann where white goes nh3 and then nf4 with the same idea. This line may not be the most played line, but it is a definitely playable sideline and you can't really avoid it.
Powerlevel_9001 wrote:
redchessman wrote:
Long term white will be better with the 2 bishops, but in return he has a lack in development and black needs to make use of this. Theoretically its probably equal, but white will have some practical squeezing chances. There is a similar line in the caro kann where white goes nh3 and then nf4 with the same idea. This line may not be the most played line, but it is a definitely playable sideline and you can't really avoid it.
I think the 2 bishop advantage is quite overrated in such a position, the bishops although with quite a bit of activity, can be blocked very easily with black's rock solid pawn structure. I would not mind playing black against anyone.
it's one of those positions where it is a theoretically fine to play, but practically white may have slightly more chances.
White has slightly more chances in a game with hardly any chances at all.
I just started playing the Caro-Kann and I ran into a problem in the main line of the classical variation:
In a recent game White surprised me with 7. Nh4 instead of the main line which is 7. h4. After Nh4 Black will lose the two Bishops and have a broken Kingside pawn structure. Does anyone know the best response to Nh4, and why it's not considered the main line??