Why play the Caro-Kann?

Thanks.  It isn't in any books because I created it.

Killabeez, my thoughts on your line...

4 ... Bg4 seems very playable and relatively equally, e.g. ... Bg4 5. dxc5 e6 6. h3 Bxf3 7. Qxf3 Bxc5 and Black is pretty even, or so it looks like.

As for your line, 10. Nb5?! falls to Nd3+ 11. Qxd3 Qxf4 where you are probably worse for the experience.  Better is 10. Qd4! f6 11. Nbd5 where you get at least your pawn back and a solid lead in development and overall structure.

Nice idea, but if they don't accept the gambit with the simple 4 ... Bg4, I feel like Black is better than if you had just played any one of the more standard lines.

I hate the French but Caro-Kann is pretty good though I haven't played it in years...The problem with it is it's passive and black usually ends up getting cramped a bit, but if you prepare it correctly with you can draw many games, it's all defence, so don't expect to get much activity with black either.

 i prefer your group. I think having people request to join is unnecessary.

Oh yeah.  Sorry about that.  Switched the move order around.  Instead of playing 10. Nb5, White has to play Qd4 forcing f6.  Then the bishop on f4 is defended and White can safely play Nb5.

As for Bg4, White can still play Nc3.  Taking on c5 is not usually very good in this line.  After Bxf3 Qxf3 cxd4 Nxd5, White has a slight edge.

The correct response to ... Bg4 is definitively cxd4, or else you will be behind, I'm pretty sure.

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. Nc3 Bg4 leaves two options

a) 6. cxd4 e6 7. h3 Bxf3 8. Qxf3 Nge7 and Black is comfortable even after 9. Nb5 Nxe5 10. Qg3 N7g6 11. h4 h5 12. Bg5 f6 12. Be3, which is probably one of the sharper lines that could come out of this.

b) 6. Bb5 cxd4 7. Qxd4 Bxf3 8. gxf3 e6 and Black seems better due to White's wrecked pawns and Black's easy development.

or c) Nc3 Bxf3 Qxf3 cxd4 Nxd5

when my opponent starts with d4 i start with c6 caro-kann its my best defense! :)

 I have one good reason for doing this, and I wish I could make all of my groups public.  It prevents people on the outside who want to post rude comments.  If someone posts something rude in a private group, I can warn them, and if they continue, then I ban them from the group.  It makes the environment more friendly, because people don't join these groups to write rude comments...they join because they love the opening.

My first group I created, Bird's Opening Lovers, was originally a public group.  A VERY experienced chess player on this site decided to write rude comments to one of the members of the group - he wasn't even a member.  I privately wrote him and asked him not to talk that way, and he called me an idiot and blocked me from his page. 

So I politely create private groups and ask that everyone treat their freedoms and liberties with respect for each other. 

I TOTALLY respect your point of view - this is to prevent rude people from writing offensive, off-subject posts and ruining what could be great forums!

i was just thinking if the carokann is winning or very strong for black then whats wrong with white playing 1.c3 on the first move ?!.. i have had tons of success with 1.c3 its a fantastic opening for surprise especially when ur opponent doesnt know that infact they are playing a reversed opening. !!

 interesting position my friend . i play the same line as black but using a different transposition using the alekhine instead. have a look at this :!! e4 nf6 e5 ng8 d4 d5  nf3 c5 nf3 Bg4 !!  and its the same position as ur line . I must say this position is unknown to many players but i have studied it and it gives black fansastic attacking chances. 

The only disadvantage of 1. c3 is that White gives away a bit of initiative to Black, but this doesn't mean he has lost the game by any means.  The position is still very solid, flexible, with ideas of going into a Sicilian even in event of 1. c3 e5 2. c4, or even into reversed Caro-Kann and Slav ideas.  The reason people don't normally play 1. c3 is it is not very aggressive for White.

members , you  all trump me  as  i  sent out  emails to members of the xcaro kann cutthroats in order to learn more  about it

i  just play it against  e4 and play the slav against d4 which goes into the caro but reversed,   i'm   sad to say that with all your advanced chess jargon, i have many things to learn  about, tempo, space and other avenues in the chess vocabulary

                 thanks for the learning  session

the members i wrote to were akuni  and  easyb

                    thanks  tony  antne003

I'm in need of an defence as black, I currently follow no repertoire, playing as I please and since I've joined chess.com I've realised that this simply isn't good enough.

I'd like a defence that is solid but doesn't leave me cramped [blocking my bishops, the d2 and e2 squares occupied for longer periods by minor pieces etc..] is the Caro-Kann a good choice for me, if not, can anyone recommend the kind of defence I'm looking for; uncluttered but solid?