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Strategy in the Caro-Kann - Pavov: a question
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The answer is: study how to play isolated queen pawn positions.
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comoestas
Just read a good book on the IQP- for example Baburin's "winning pawn structures".
Such positions can be obtained from one dozen different openings, and you may find yourself with an IQP, or fighting against it.
IQP positions are essential chess knowledge.
May 11, 2025
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#8
If you aren't comfortable with IQP structures, then don't play this opening. The main point of the IQP in the Panov Attack (and other openings) is that this imbalance allows them to have swift piece development as compensation for the pawn isolated and potentially weak in the endgame. We are far from an endgame now though and so the line of thinking is that this isn't really a weakness yet.
When Black decides to play the Caro-Kann defense, my preferred answer is the Panov attack. Black can then choose to play 5...e6, leading to this posiiton:
I never really know what to do here. Apparently, theory says to take on d5 (after first Nf3). But that leaves me with an isolated centre pawn and I don't quite know how to handle that.
So my question is: what are White's general plans after
6. Nf3 Be7 (or Bb4)
7. cxd5 Nxd5
7.