DESTROY the Caro-Kann against class players (with one simple opening)

Sort:
Cherub_Enjel

Well, if you have to really know what you're doing, then that opening isn't really an easy choice, even if theoretically justified. 

4.Bd3, although leading to equality with best play, is very easy to use, and takes almost no time to learn to play reasonably well.

The_Chin_Of_Quinn

The title does say for class players. I think most would have a lot of trouble if white is familiar with some of the usual attacking patterns.

wfloh

No.. what I meant was, the Gunderam Attack player has to understand colour complexes and how to use it effectively....which is a skill useful for everyone, class and non-class player included.

Playing the Gunderam often will put these skills into practice. As with any opening system, it takes several months or even a couple of years to fully get the hang of it.

The 4.Bd3, as you mentioned, can be neutralised. And then what? Without a kingside attack, what else does White has going for him/her? You would still need to 'know what you are doing' to proceed from there, else its easy for a theoretical equal position to become a totally losing one in a flash.

QueensKnightOut

Players that really know how to play the Caro Kann well are aware that in the exchange variation, white intends to develop his Bishops first. An early Qc7 prevents this plan of Bf4.

dpnorman

I don't know if this is a serious post, but at the World Open last year, I played the Caro as black, even though I hadn't studied theory in it in two years, just because I knew my opponent played this line as white. I genuinely think of all white's options, this Bd3 exchange is the most harmless and I'd even prefer black any day of the week. And black has multiple good ways to play, not just with Qc7

BronsteinPawn

Is this one of your 2Q1C memorial threads? 

Do I really need to show some Karpov games?

Cherub_Enjel

This is a serious post. I've just had very very good games against U1800 players, even when I was way below that rating, against the Caro-Kann.

If you are prepared and can play the Caro-Kann well, it's obviously a great opening that can't be destroyed.

BronsteinPawn
Cherub_Enjel escribió:

This is a serious post. I've just had very very good games against U1800 players, even when I was way below that rating, against the Caro-Kann.

If you are prepared and can play the Caro-Kann well, it's obviously a great opening that can't be destroyed.

Nice way to sugar coat "Class Z players".

Bd3 is simple to play and if Black does not know what he is doing he can easily get mated or stay passive, I agree with that part, but saying it is the ultimate weapon against the Caro Kann sounds like a joke.

Cherub_Enjel

4.Bd3 isn't dangerous to stronger players, it's true. It's a very strong choice at the club level, with class players, especially U1800s, I'd maintain. 

I would not be expecting to gain an opening edge against a 2000 player, and probably a bit lower too, if that 2000 player willingly played the Caro-Kann against me. 

triggerlips

Reason I gave up Caro Cann was because of lines like these. It is too easy for white to get a reasonable game. The defence does not pose enough hard questions for white to have to answer. Playing weaker players it was too easy for them  to reach a middle game with a decent position

 

 

 

BronsteinPawn

Against U1800 then yeah, Bd3 is pretty good. It is pretty good overall (from the practical point of view), kind of like the Crapix attack, you study it, your opponent does not, he gets mated.

RookSacrifice_OLD
Cherub_Enjel wrote:
fdunne wrote:

As far as I know, 4...Nc6 5 c3 Qc7= is meant to equalize pretty comfortably

Out of many Caro-Kanns I've played against, the first player to use that line against me was an FM.

I knew that when I was an 800

Brb2023bruhh

definitely worth a try

Brb2023bruhh

against the Classical Variation.I get nothing more than equality.This seems better but what do you do against b6 Ba6/b7 plan?It's annoying

liftovich
fdunne wrote:

As far as I know, 4...Nc6 5 c3 Qc7= is meant to equalize pretty comfortably

Exactly. Black has absolutely no problems after ...Nf6 and an early ...e5 depending on how White plays.

MickinMD
fdunne wrote:

As far as I know, 4...Nc6 5 c3 Qc7= is meant to equalize pretty comfortably

Not just equalize: Black gets an edgel According the Opening Explorer, in master games after 5...Qc7, Black wins 43% of games and White wins 25%.

Prometheus_Fuschs

The Caro-Kann is 1. e4 c6, 2. d4 d5 is the most common line.

 

IOW, the CK begins in move 1, not move 2 as it is claimed.

kindaspongey

Has fdunne been here since 2017?