[Event "The Caro Kann Defence: Complete Repertoire: Chapter #12: - Classical Variation - Grugenditze (Modern) Variation"]
[Site "https://lichess.org/study/MBQ3N0F8/X67S0fGZ"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Chapter #12:"]
[Black "Classical Variation - Grugenditze Variation "]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/Shreksify"]
[ECO "B12"]
[Opening "Caro-Kann Defense: Modern Variation"]
[UTCDate "2022.11.09"]
[UTCTime "07:18:10"]
[Variant "Standard"]

{ This Chapter was made by @Fuxia who did an excellent job in making an "In
depth" analysis of the Grugenditze Variation of the Caro Kann. I didn't
have "Enough" experience playing the Grugenditze Variation and I don't really have time to experiment and make arrangements. What more researching and
making a study about it? All thanks to @Fuxia! Her lichess study on the Caro Kann: https://lichess.org/study/4Aqycynk/3Zjm99OY } 1. e4 { [%csl Ge4][%cal Ge2e4] } 1... c6 { [%csl Gc6][%cal Gc7c6] } 2. d4 { [%csl Gd4][%cal Gd2d4] } 2... d5 { [%csl Gd5,Rc3,Rd2][%cal Gd7d5,Rb1d2,Rb1c3] } 3. Nd2 { The Modern Variation is played for exactly this one reason: to avoid the
Gurgenidze system. Now White has still the option to play c3, and then a
bishop on g7 wouldn't be very effective. With the Nd2 move order. Black is free to take the pawn and play something like Bf5 or Nf6, Nd7 or even h6! Which brings us back to the Classical Caro Kann. [%csl Gd2][%cal Gb1d2] } ( 3. Nc3 { [%csl Gc3][%cal Gb1c3] } 3... g6 { Black prepares to fianchetto the bishop on g7, in order to attack White's d4 pawn. There's also the usual pin Nf3 Bg4 incoming, so White can play h3 now to prevent it or one move later after Bg7. The c6-c5 break is not supported by the dark-squared bishop, so the knight has to do this job by going to d7. [%csl Gg6][%cal Gf8g7,Bg7d4,Gc6c5,Gc8g4,Gb8d7,Gg7g6] } ( 3... b5 { The "Gurgenidze Counterattack". Not related to the system we are looking
at here. It's more like the ➡ Main Line/Tartakower Variation [%csl Gb5][%cal Gb7b5] } 4. a3 { [%csl Ga3][%cal Ga2a3] } 4... dxe4 { [%csl Ge4][%cal Gd5e4] } 5. Nxe4 { [%csl Ge4][%cal Gc3e4] } 5... Nf6 { [%csl Gf6][%cal Gg8f6] } 6. Nxf6+ { [%csl Gf6][%cal Ge4f6] } 6... exf6 $14 { [%csl Gf6][%cal Ge7f6] } ) 4. Nf3 { [%csl Gf3][%cal Gg1f3] } ( 4. h3 { Prevent the pin immediately. [%csl Gh3][%cal Gh2h3] } 4... Bg7 { [%csl Gg7][%cal Gf8g7] } 5. Nf3 { [%csl Gf3][%cal Gg1f3] } ) ( 4. e5 { [%csl Ge5][%cal Ge4e5] } 4... Bg7 { [%csl Gg7][%cal Gf8g7] } 5. f4 { [%csl Gf4][%cal Gf2f4] } 5... Nh6 { [%csl Gh6][%cal Gg8h6] } 6. Nf3 { [%csl Gf3][%cal Gg1f3] } 6... f6 { [%csl Gf6][%cal Gf7f6] } 7. Be3 { [%csl Ge3][%cal Gc1e3] } 7... O-O { [%csl Gg8][%cal Ge8g8] } 8. h3 { [%csl Gh3][%cal Gh2h3] } ) 4... Bg7 { Now we have basically a ➡Two Knights Attack. Instead of Nf6 or Bg4, Black has fianchettoed the bishop. The Problem is that such an operation takes two moves, not just one. So White had an extra move for d4. White's plan is to play c3 eventually, in order to support d4. So the knight on c3 has to move, and that gives Black the tempo back. In other words: This is a rather slow, positional fight for d4. Black will castle king-side and then launch an attack on the queen side. [%csl Rd4,Yg6,Bc3,Gg7][%cal Gc6c5,Gb8d7,Bd7c5,Gf8g7] } 5. h3 { Most played move here. It prevents Bg4 for the moment. But it also
weakens the king-side pawns, and if White castles queen-side later, c3
isn't so attractive anymore. Also, it doesn't develop a piece. [%csl Gh3,Gg4][%cal Gh2h3,Gc8g4] } ( 5. Be2 { An alternative to prevent the pin. Also develops the bishop, and enables
king-side castling. Note that White has already developed three pieces, and
they can castle. Black has only one piece developed. [%csl Ge2][%cal Gf1e2] } 5... Bg4 { anyway. There is no other good square for Black's light-squared bishop. [%csl Gg4][%cal Gc8g4] } ( 5... dxe4 { is not recommended, because it improves White's knight. [%csl Ge4][%cal Gd5e4] } 6. Nxe4 { [%csl Ge4][%cal Re4f6,Re4c5,Re4g5,Gc3e4] } ) 6. Be3 { [%csl Ge3,Re6,Re4][%cal Gc1e3,Re7e6,Rd5e4] } ( 6. O-O { is probably the most accurate here. Now it's time to get Black's knight to f6 to enable castling. However, e5 by White would be very uncomfortable, so Black has to take e4 now. [%cal Gg8f6,Ge8g8] } 6... dxe4 { [%csl Ge4][%cal Gd5e4] } 7. Nxe4 { [%csl Rf6,Rf3][%cal Rg8f6,Rg4f3] } 7... Nf6 { [%csl Gf6][%cal Gg8f6] } ( 7... Bxf3 $6 { Black can win a pawn here temporarily, at the cost of development. Don't
try that! [%csl Gf3][%cal Gg4f3] } 8. Bxf3 { [%csl Gf3][%cal Ge2f3] } 8... Qxd4 { [%csl Gd4][%cal Gd8d4] } 9. Qxd4 { [%csl Gd4][%cal Gd1d4] } 9... Bxd4 { But White has counterplay. [%csl Gd4][%cal Gg7d4] } 10. Re1 $1 { with the threat of Nd6. It's not so easy to deal with that. [%csl Ge1][%cal Re4d6,Rd6b7,Re1e7,Gf1e1] } 10... Na6 { [%csl Ga6][%cal Gb8a6] } 11. Nd6+ { [%csl Gd6][%cal Ge4d6] } 11... Kf8 { [%csl Gf8][%cal Ge8f8] } 12. Nxb7 { And White regains the pawn. [%csl Gb7][%cal Gd6b7] } 12... Rb8 { [%csl Gb8][%cal Ga8b8] } 13. Rd1 { And this rook will enter the 7th rank now. Also, c6 is hanging. [%csl Gd1][%cal Rd1d7,Rf3c6,Ge1d1] } ) 8. Nxf6+ { [%csl Gf6][%cal Ge4f6] } 8... exf6 { [%csl Gf6][%cal Ge7f6] } 9. c3 { [%csl Gc3][%cal Gc2c3] } 9... O-O { [%csl Gg8][%cal Ge8g8] } 10. h3 { [%csl Gh3][%cal Gh2h3] } 10... Bf5 $146 { is my recommendation. Black wants to exchange this bishop for White's
good light-squared bishop, not for a knight. It's a novelty. [%csl Gf5][%cal Gg4f5] } ) 6... dxe4 { [%csl Ge4][%cal Gd5e4] } ( 6... e6 { Worth considering, transposing into a Grunfeld-Slav Defence. [%csl Ge6][%cal Ge7e6] } 7. Ne5 { [%csl Ge5][%cal Gf3e5] } 7... Bxe2 { [%csl Ge2][%cal Gg4e2] } 8. Qxe2 { [%csl Ge2][%cal Gd1e2] } 8... Nf6 { [%csl Gf6][%cal Gg8f6] } 9. O-O { [%csl Gg1][%cal Ge1g1] } 9... O-O { [%csl Gg8][%cal Ge8g8] } ) 7. Nxe4 { [%csl Ge4,Rh6,Rf6,Rd7][%cal Gc3e4,Rg8h6,Rg8f6,Rb8d7] } 7... Nh6 { [%csl Gh6][%cal Gh6f5,Bf5e3,Bf5d4,Gg8h6] } ( 7... Nf6 { [%csl Ge4,Gf6][%cal Ge4f6] } 8. h3 { [%csl Gh3][%cal Gh2h3] } ( 8. Nxf6+ { [%csl Gf6][%cal Ge4f6] } 8... exf6 9. O-O { [%csl Gg1][%cal Ge1g1] } 9... O-O { [%csl Gg8][%cal Ge8g8] } ) ) 8. c3 { [%csl Gc3][%cal Gc2c3] } 8... Nf5 { [%csl Gf5][%cal Rf5e3,Gh6f5] } 9. Bf4 { [%csl Gf4][%cal Ge3f4] } 9... Nd7 { [%csl Gd7][%cal Gb8d7] } 10. O-O { [%csl Gg1][%cal Ge1g1] } 10... O-O { [%csl Gg8][%cal Ge8g8] } 11. Re1 { Brown, Martin - Arkell, Keith C, 0-1, GBR-ch 99th, 2012,
https://lichess.org/ixYqQxU3 [%csl Ge1][%cal Gf1e1] } ) ( 5. e5 { [%csl Ge5][%cal Ge4e5] } 5... Bg4 { [%csl Gg4][%cal Gc8g4] } 6. Be2 { [%csl Ge2][%cal Gf1e2] } 6... e6 { [%csl Ge6][%cal Gb8d7,Gc6c5,Bd7c5,Gg4f3,Gg8e7,Ge7e6] } ) 5... Nf6 { [%csl Gf6][%cal Gg8f6] } ( 5... dxe4 { The exchange here leads to a very open game with lots of material trades
and a high chance for a draw. [%csl Ge4][%cal Gd5e4] } 6. Nxe4 { [%csl Ge4][%cal Gc3e4] } 6... Nf6 { [%csl Gf6][%cal Gg8f6] } 7. Nxf6+ { [%csl Gf6][%cal Ge4f6] } 7... exf6 { [%csl Gf6][%cal Ge7f6] } 8. Bc4 { [%csl Gc4][%cal Gf1c4] } 8... O-O { [%csl Gg8][%cal Ge8g8] } 9. O-O { [%csl Gg1][%cal Ge1g1] } 9... Nd7 { [%csl Gd7][%cal Gb8d7] } 10. Re1 { [%csl Ge1][%cal Gf1e1] } 10... Nb6 { [%csl Gb6][%cal Gd7b6] } 11. Bb3 { [%csl Gb3][%cal Gc4b3] } 11... a5 { [%csl Ga5][%cal Ga7a5] } 12. a4 { [%csl Ga4,Rd5,Rf5,Re8][%cal Ga2a4,Rb6d5,Rf6f5,Rf8e8] } ( 12. a3 a4 13. Ba2 Re8 ) 12... Nd5 { [%csl Gd5][%cal Gb6d5] } ( 12... f5 $6 { Too early, it gives White a chance to push the rook to the 7th rank. [%csl Gf5][%cal Gf6f5] } 13. Bg5 { [%csl Gg5][%cal Gc1g5] } 13... Qc7 { [%csl Gc7][%cal Gd8c7] } 14. Re7 { [%csl Ge7][%cal Ge1e7] } ) ( 12... Re8 { Black should try to exchange te rooks, so White can't invade on the 7th rank when Black plays f5. [%csl Ge8][%cal Gf6f5,Rc1g5,Re1e7,Gf8e8] } 13. Bd2 { [%csl Gd2][%cal Gc1d2] } ) 13. c4 { [%csl Gc4][%cal Gc2c4] } 13... Nb4 { [%csl Gb4][%cal Gd5b4] } ) 6. e5 { [%csl Ge5][%cal Ge4e5] } 6... Ne4 { Similar to the Two Knights attack, but here White can take that knight. [%csl Ge4][%cal Gf6e4] } 7. Nxe4 ( 7. Bd3 { [%csl Gd3][%cal Gf1d3] } 7... Nxc3 { [%csl Gc3][%cal Ge4c3] } 8. bxc3 { [%csl Gc3][%cal Gb2c3] } 8... c5 { [%csl Gc5][%cal Gc7c5] } ) 7... dxe4 8. Ng5 { [%csl Ge4][%cal Rg5e4] } 8... c5 { [%csl Gc5][%cal Gc6c5] } 9. Bc4 { [%csl Gc4][%cal Gf1c4] } 9... O-O { [%csl Gg8][%cal Ge8g8] } 10. c3 { [%csl Gc3][%cal Gc2c3] } 10... cxd4 { [%csl Gd4][%cal Gc5d4] } 11. cxd4 { [%csl Gd4,Rb5,Rc6][%cal Gc3d4,Rb7b5,Rb8c6] } 11... Nc6 { Note that this knight cannot be pinned, in contrast to many other CK
variations. [%csl Gc6][%cal Gb8c6] } ( 11... b5 { [%csl Gb5][%cal Gb7b5] } 12. Bb3 { [%csl Gb3][%cal Gc4b3] } 12... Bb7 { [%csl Gb7][%cal Gc8b7] } ) 12. Be3 { [%csl Ge3][%cal Gc1e3] } 12... Qa5+ { [%csl Ga5][%cal Gd8a5] } 13. Kf1 { [%csl Gf1][%cal Ge1f1] } 13... h6 { [%csl Gh6][%cal Gh7h6] } 14. Nxe4 { [%csl Ge4][%cal Gg5e4] } 14... Rd8 { Pin the pawn for an attack on e4. [%csl Gd8][%cal Gc6e5,Gg7e5,Gf8d8] } 15. f4 { [%csl Gf4][%cal Gf2f4] } 15... b5 { [%csl Gb5][%cal Gb7b5] } 16. Bb3 { [%csl Gb3][%cal Gc4b3] } 16... Nxd4 { [%csl Gd4][%cal Gc6d4] } 17. Bxd4 { [%csl Gd4][%cal Ge3d4] } 17... Qb4 { [%csl Gb4,Gd4][%cal Gd8d4,Ga5b4,Gb4d4] } 18. Qf3 { [%csl Gf3][%cal Rf3a8,Gd1f3] } 18... Rxd4 { [%csl Bf4,Gd4][%cal Gd4f4,Gd8d4] } 19. a3 { [%csl Ga3][%cal Ga2a3] } 19... Qa5 { [%csl Ga5][%cal Gb4a5] } 20. Nf6+ { [%csl Gf6][%cal Ge4f6] } 20... Bxf6 { [%csl Gf6][%cal Gg7f6] } ( 20... exf6 { [%csl Gf6][%cal Ge7f6] } 21. Qxa8 { [%csl Ga8][%cal Gf3a8] } 21... Qc7 { [%csl Gc7][%cal Ga5c7] } 22. Kg1 { [%csl Gg1][%cal Gf1g1] } 22... Bf8 { Ibragimov, Ildar - Stangl, Markus, 1-0, Dortmund op-A, 1992,
https://lichess.org/V7s6Ma0f [%csl Gf8][%cal Gg7f8] } ) 21. Qxa8 { [%csl Ga8][%cal Gf3a8] } ( 21. exf6 Qb6 22. f5 Bb7 { Xiong, Jeffery - Shabalov, A., 0-1, ch-USA 2017,
https://lichess.org/FvCIv1T6 } ) 21... Rxf4+ { [%csl Gf4][%cal Gd4f4] } 22. Ke2 { [%csl Ge2][%cal Gf1e2] } 22... Qc7 { [%csl Gc7][%cal Ga5c7] } 23. exf6 { [%csl Gf6][%cal Ge5f6] } 23... Qe5+ { [%csl Ge5][%cal Gc7e5] } 24. Kd1 { [%csl Gd1][%cal Ge2d1] } 24... Kh7 { [%csl Gh7][%cal Gg8h7] } ( 24... Qxb2 ) 25. Qxc8 { [%csl Gc8][%cal Ga8c8] } 25... Qxb2 { [%csl Gb2][%cal Ge5b2] } 26. Qc2 { [%csl Gc2][%cal Gc8c2] } 26... Qxa1+ { [%csl Ga1][%cal Gb2a1] } 27. Qc1 { [%csl Gc1][%cal Gc3c1] } 27... Qxf6 { [%csl Gf6][%cal Gf4f1,Ga1f6] } 28. Kc2 { [%csl Gc2][%cal Gd1c2] } 28... Qf5+ $15 { [%csl Gf5][%cal Gf6f5] } ) 3... g6 { [%csl Gg6][%cal Gg7g6] } 4. Ngf3 { [%csl Gf3][%cal Gg1f3] } 4... Bg7 { [%csl Gg7][%cal Gf8g7] } 5. c3 { [%csl Gc3][%cal Gc2c3] } 5... dxe4 { [%csl Ge4][%cal Gd5e4] } ( 5... c5 { c5 is recommended by the engine. Not a move most humans would play.
Kochyev, Alexander - Titov, German, 1-0, URS-ch sf, 1985,
https://lichess.org/yJvHK5EF [%csl Gc5][%cal Gc6c5] } ) 6. Nxe4 { [%csl Ge4][%cal Gd2e4] } 6... Nf6 { [%csl Gf6][%cal Gg8f6] } 7. Bd3 { [%csl Gd3][%cal Gf1d3] } 7... O-O { [%csl Gg8][%cal Ge8g8] } 8. Nxf6+ { [%csl Gf6][%cal Ge4f6] } 8... exf6 { Despite of black's double pawn on the f file, doesn't really matter since it is connected by the g6 pawn after f5! [%csl Gf6][%cal Ge7f6] } 9. O-O { [%csl Gg1][%cal Ge1g1] } 9... Re8 { Controls the e file... [%csl Ge8][%cal Gf8e8] } 10. Bf4 { [%csl Gf4][%cal Gc1f4] } 10... Be6 { [%csl Ge6][%cal Gc8e6] } 11. Re1 { [%csl Ge1][%cal Gf1e1] } 11... Nd7 { Black is planning to tuck the knight to f8! For safe measures. [%csl Gd7][%cal Gb8d7] } 12. a4 { [%csl Ga4][%cal Ga2a4] } 12... Nf8 { [%csl Gf8][%cal Gd7f8] } 13. Bf1 { [%csl Gf1][%cal Gd3f1] } 13... Qb6 { Trying to win that pawn! [%csl Gb6,Gb2][%cal Gd8b6,Gb6b2] } 14. b4 { White can't afford to lose that pawn. Black is loaded on the kingside and trying to find some play by dominating the 7th rank would not help since queen takes c3 and black's tenacious defence on the kingside wouldn't really be of any conflict. [%csl Gb4][%cal Gb2b4] } 14... Bd5 { [%csl Gd5][%cal Ge6d5] } *