[Event "The Caro Kann Defence: Complete Repertoire: Chapter #3: - Exchange Variation - Sidelines With Nf3, Nc3 - Everything Else"]
[Site "https://lichess.org/study/MBQ3N0F8/Am920ay5"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Chapter #3:"]
[Black "Exchange Variation - Sidelines With Nf3, Nc3 - Everything Else"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/Shreksify"]
[ECO "B13"]
[Opening "Caro-Kann Defense: Exchange Variation"]
[UTCDate "2022.11.09"]
[UTCTime "07:18:10"]
[Variant "Standard"]

1. e4 { [%csl Ge4][%cal Ge2e4] } 1... c6 { [%csl Gc6][%cal Gc7c6] } 2. d4 { [%csl Gd4][%cal Gd2d4] } 2... d5 { Welcome to my chess study of the Exchanged Caro Kann or ECK for short.
The ECK is probably the most easiest way to handle the Caro Kann, why? Well
it lessens the theory and it consolidates white position aswell. There are two type of ECK players in here, one is people who plays the exchanged
variation because they do not have the exact repertoire to meet the Caro Kann so they decided to stick to their e4 e5 principle. hey try to replicate the opening, to try and make it similar to e4 e5 even if its the Caro Kann. The other is the ones that wants to cut of loads of opening homework
and theory and try to keep the position simpler compared to the other Caro variations and at the same time try to achieve an improvise London System against black with the Horwitz with the c pawn missing. Ive played the ECK a lot of time but I prefer the Advanced Caro Kann, Two Knights Caro Kann and of course the Classical way of playing the Caro Kann. To be honest Ive stopped playing the ECK with the white pieces since it gives black the opportunity to develop with ease. Black's position remains as flexible as it would ever be and by the way many people have been telling me that the
ECK is probably a very good opening against the Caro Kann and even a handful of people Including Bobby Fischer employed it and had a great success in playing it. But the problem is if Black knows what he is doing you are most likely toast since black gets the opportunity to counter attack the ECK with the Grunfeld set up. Nobody has every tried to play the Grunfeld against me, they prefer to go for the Horwitz set up WHICH is probably a horrible way of meeting the ECK with black. In this opening line Im going to explain to you what white is trying to prove and achieve. I would tell you what black should do and even the slightest bit of sidelines in here are all covered. Here it goes! [%csl Gd5][%cal Gd7d5] } 3. exd5 { [%csl Gd5][%cal Ge4d5] } 3... cxd5 { [%csl Gd5,Rb1,Rc3,Rf3][%cal Gc6d5,Rb1c3,Rg1f3] } 4. Nc3 { This is rather an odd move against the principled London Structure. But I
guess white is still aiming for that e4 e5 principle. [%csl Gc3,Rc6,Rf6][%cal Gb1c3,Rb8c6,Rg8f6] } ( 4. Nf3 { Thus, many players would play something like Nf3 sticking to their e4 e5
principle. [%csl Gf3][%cal Gg1f3] } 4... Nc6 { [%csl Gc6][%cal Gb8c6] } 5. Bf4 { [%csl Gf4,Rb6,Rg4][%cal Gc1f4,Rd8b6,Rc8g4] } ( 5. Bb5 { This is another annoying idea, the thing is white would successfully
force us to play the Horwitz move order if we do not play the move g6. g6
is the best move! (Sucessfully in a sense if you play e6, we won't do that!) } 5... g6 { [%csl Gg6][%cal Gg7g6] } 6. Ne5 { [%csl Ge5,Gc6][%cal Gf3e5,Ge5c6,Gb5c6] } 6... Bd7 { [%csl Gd7][%cal Gc8d7] } 7. Nc3 { [%csl Gc3][%cal Gb1c3] } 7... Nf6 { [%csl Gf6][%cal Gg8f6] } 8. O-O { [%csl Gg1][%cal Ge1g1] } 8... Bg7 { [%csl Gg7][%cal Gf8g7] } 9. Bg5 { [%csl Gg5][%cal Gc1g5] } 9... O-O { [%csl Gg8][%cal Ge8g8] } 10. a4 { [%csl Ga4][%cal Ga2a4] } 10... a6 { [%csl Ga6][%cal Ga7a6] } 11. Bxc6 { [%csl Gc6][%cal Gb5c6] } 11... Bxc6 { [%csl Gc6][%cal Gd7c6] } 12. Nxc6 { [%csl Gc6][%cal Ge5c6] } 12... bxc6 { Black is happy in here! [%csl Gc6][%cal Gb7c6] } ) ( 5. Bd3 Bg4 6. c3 { White is still aiming for that idea! The Improvised London! We have to
meet that with g6 or otherwise white has tricked us into playing the one
and only Horwitz with the c pawn missing! } 6... g6 7. Bf4 ( 7. Qb3 { Always remember that once the white queen leaves the pin, take that
knight right away! } 7... Bxf3 8. gxf3 Qd7 9. Bf4 Bh6 10. Bxh6 Nxh6 11. Nd2 Qe6+ 12. Kd1 O-O-O { It is dangerous to castle queenside since that gives white the
opportunity to attack us! } ) 7... Bh6 { Interesting Idea in here, black hopes to exchange bishops and then
simplify the game. } ( 7... Bg7 8. O-O Bxf3 9. Qxf3 Nf6 10. Nd2 O-O { The Grunfeld set up is on the board! } ) 8. Bxh6 ( 8. Bd2 { White does have the option to retreat back his bishop. } 8... Qb6 9. b3 e5 10. dxe5 Nxe5 11. Qe2 Bg7 12. Bb5+ Kd8 ) 8... Nxh6 9. Nbd2 Bf5 { Very interesting idea indeed, Black intentionlly places his knight on the
rim to support that bishop exchange! } 10. Be2 ( 10. Bxf5 { The exchange of bishop would only help black. } 10... Nxf5 11. O-O O-O ) 10... Qc7 11. O-O O-O 12. Re1 Kh8 { Black is ready to bring back his knight soon! } 13. Rc1 Rad8 ) 5... Bg4 { We have to pin the knight right away! This prevents white from moving his
bishop to d3. He has to play 3 first. [%csl Gg4,Rc3,Rd3,Rh3,Rb5][%cal Gc8g4,Rc2c3,Rf1d3,Rf1e2,Rh2h3,Rf1b5] } ( 5... Qb6 { Moves like Qb6 does not work in this particular opening. [%csl Gb6][%cal Gd8b6] } 6. Nc3 { [%csl Gc3][%cal Gb1c3] } 6... Qxb2 $4 { [%csl Gb2][%cal Gb6b2] } ( 6... Nf6 $2 { [%csl Gf6][%cal Gg8f6] } 7. Nb5 { White already pressurise our position in the line of Qb6. [%csl Gb5][%cal Gc3b5] } 7... e5 8. Nxe5 { [%csl Ge5][%cal Gf3e5] } 8... a6 { [%csl Ga6][%cal Ga7a6] } 9. Nxc6 { [%csl Gc6][%cal Ge5c6] } 9... axb5 { [%csl Gb5][%cal Ga6b5] } 10. Ne5 { [%csl Ge5][%cal Gc6e5] } ) ( 6... Bg4 { [%csl Gg4][%cal Gc8g4] } 7. Nxd5 Qa5+ 8. Nc3 O-O-O { [%csl Gd4,Gc8][%cal Gd8d4,Gc6d4,Ge8c8] } 9. Bd2 { [%csl Gd2][%cal Gf4d2] } 9... Bxf3 { [%csl Gf3][%cal Gg4f3] } 10. Qxf3 { [%csl Gf3][%cal Gd1f3] } 10... Nxd4 { [%csl Gd4][%cal Gc6d4] } ) 7. Nxd5 { Please do not play Qb6 unless you want to lose! [%csl Gd5,Gc7][%cal Gc3d5,Gd5c7] } ) 6. c3 { White protects the pawn! This position is just a transposition of the
Improvised London System. I do not like this opening if we were to meet
this with the Horwitz. Has white outswindled us into a forced Horwitz structure? No! We can still play g6! [%csl Gc3][%cal Gc2c3] } ( 6. Bd3 $6 { White is sacrificng a pawn for a little initiative with the bishop pair! [%csl Gd3][%cal Gf1d3] } 6... Bxf3 { [%csl Gf3][%cal Gg4f3] } 7. Qxf3 { [%csl Gf3][%cal Gd1f3] } 7... Nxd4 { White cannot leave the d pawn hanging! [%csl Gd4][%cal Gc6d4] } ) ( 6. Bb5 { This particular pin is very common among amateur players. White is
willing to waste a move or swap of the bishop for knight and give black the
opportunity to have a dangerous bishop pair! [%csl Gb5][%cal Gf1b5] } 6... Qb6 { [%csl Gb6,Gb5][%cal Gd8b6,Gb6b5] } ( 6... e6 7. h3 Bxf3 8. Qxf3 Bd6 9. Bxd6 Qxd6 { Position is rather less complicated and much easier to play aswell. } 10. Nc3 Nf6 11. O-O O-O ) 7. Nc3 { [%csl Gc3,Gb5][%cal Gb1c3,Gc3b5] } 7... Nf6 { [%csl Gf6][%cal Gg8f6] } 8. O-O { [%csl Gg1][%cal Ge1g1] } 8... e6 { I really do not like the Horwitz structure with the c pawn missing. But I
do believe that this is rather an alright move since our LSB is already
out! [%csl Ge6][%cal Ge7e6] } 9. Rc1 { [%csl Gc1][%cal Ga1c1] } 9... a6 { [%csl Ga6][%cal Ga7a6] } 10. Bxc6+ { [%csl Gc6][%cal Gb5c6] } 10... Qxc6 { [%csl Gc6][%cal Gb6c6] } 11. Re1 { [%csl Ge1][%cal Gf1e1] } 11... Bd6 { [%csl Gd6][%cal Gf8d6] } 12. Bxd6 { [%csl Gd6][%cal Gf4d6] } 12... Qxd6 { [%csl Gd6][%cal Gc6d6] } ) ( 6. Be2 { [%csl Ge2,Gf3][%cal Gf1e2,Ge2f3] } 6... Qb6 { [%csl Gb6][%cal Gd8b6] } 7. Nbd2 { [%csl Gd2][%cal Gb1d2] } 7... e6 { [%csl Ge6][%cal Ge7e6] } ( 7... Qxb2 $4 { White dominates on the queenside! [%csl Gb2][%cal Gb6b2] } 8. Rb1 { [%csl Gb1][%cal Ga1b1] } ( 8. O-O { [%csl Gg1][%cal Ge1g1] } 8... Bd7 { [%csl Gd7][%cal Gg4d7] } 9. Rb1 { [%csl Gb1][%cal Ga1b1] } 9... Qxa2 { [%csl Ga2][%cal Gb2a2] } 10. Rxb7 { [%csl Gb7][%cal Gb1b7] } ) 8... Qxa2 { [%csl Ga2][%cal Gb2a2] } 9. Rxb7 { [%csl Gb7][%cal Gb1b7] } ) 8. c3 { [%csl Gc3][%cal Gc2c3] } 8... Nf6 { [%csl Gf6][%cal Gg8f6] } 9. Qb3 { [%csl Gb3][%cal Gd1b3] } 9... h6 { [%csl Gh6,Gd3][%cal Gh7h6,Ge2d3] } 10. Bd3 { [%csl Gd3][%cal Ge2d3] } 10... Bf5 { [%csl Gf5][%cal Gg4f5] } 11. Bxf5 { [%csl Gf5][%cal Gd3f5] } 11... exf5 { [%csl Gf5][%cal Ge6f5] } 12. O-O { [%csl Gg1][%cal Ge1g1] } 12... Qxb3 { [%csl Gb3][%cal Gb6b3] } 13. Nxb3 { [%csl Gb3][%cal Gd2b3] } 13... Ne4 { [%csl Ge4][%cal Gf6e4] } ) ( 6. h3 { Black tries to kick of the bishop } 6... Bxf3 7. gxf3 e6 { White has volunarily ruined his kingside pawn structure just so he can
save the d pawn. Although this is reaosnable for most players during blitz.
Black can defend against kingside attack! } ) 6... e6 { [%csl Ge6][%cal Ge7e6] } 7. Bd3 { This is rather an interesting line, This can also be met with the
Improvised London System but without the Bf5 idea but rather went for the
pin. White wants to breakthrough the center or to kick of the DSB and then start playing on the kingside! [%csl Gd3][%cal Gf1d3] } 7... g6 { We can still play g6 no matter what! [%csl Gg6][%cal Gg7g6] } ( 7... Bd6 { [%csl Rg3,Rd6][%cal Gf8d6,Rf4d6,Rf4g3] } 8. Bxd6 { [%csl Gd6][%cal Gf4d6] } ( 8. Bg3 { White challenges black, he wants black to capture the bishop so he can
open up the h file! [%csl Gg3][%cal Gf4g3] } 8... Nge7 { [%csl Ge7][%cal Gg8e7] } 9. Nbd2 { [%csl Gd2][%cal Gb1d2] } 9... Bf5 { [%csl Gf5][%cal Gg4f5] } ( 9... O-O $4 { You wouldn't wanna be hit with the Greek Gift Sacrifice do you? [%csl Gg8][%cal Ge8g8] } 10. Bxh7+ { [%csl Gh7][%cal Gd3h7] } 10... Kxh7 { [%csl Gh7][%cal Gg8h7] } 11. Ng5+ { [%csl Gg5][%cal Gf3g5] } 11... Kg8 { [%csl Gg8][%cal Gh7g8] } 12. Qxg4 { [%csl Gg4][%cal Gd1g4] } ) 10. Bxf5 { [%csl Gf5][%cal Gd3f5] } ( 10. Be2 h6 { h6 to give the bishop a bit of space in there! } 11. O-O O-O ) ( 10. Bb5 { Another useless idea for white! } 10... Qb6 11. Bxc6+ Qxc6 { We wouldn't wanna ruin our queenside pawn do we? } ) 10... Nxf5 { [%csl Gf5][%cal Ge7f5] } 11. O-O { [%csl Gg1][%cal Ge1g1] } 11... O-O { We are still aiming for the same idea! [%csl Gg8][%cal Ge8g8] } ) 8... Qxd6 { [%csl Gd6][%cal Gd8d6] } 9. Nbd2 { [%csl Gd2][%cal Gb1d2] } 9... Nge7 { [%csl Ge7][%cal Gg8e7] } 10. O-O { [%csl Gg1][%cal Ge1g1] } 10... Bf5 { [%csl Gf5,Gd3][%cal Gg4f5,Gf5d3] } ) 8. Nbd2 { [%csl Gd2][%cal Gb1d2] } ( 8. h3 { Always remember that the move h3 would always be met with the move Bxf3 } 8... Bxf3 9. Qxf3 Nf6 10. Nd2 Bg7 11. O-O O-O ) 8... Bh6 $1 { This idea is seemingly interesting, point given is that black wants white
to take the bishop and then develop the knight on the rim. The knight on
the rim is beneficial since black can now slide back his LSB to exchange it for white's LSB. [%csl Gh6][%cal Gf8h6] } 9. Bxh6 { [%csl Gh6][%cal Gf4h6] } 9... Nxh6 { [%csl Gh6][%cal Gg8h6] } 10. O-O { [%csl Gg1][%cal Ge1g1] } 10... O-O { [%csl Gg8][%cal Ge8g8] } 11. h3 { [%csl Gh3][%cal Gh2h3] } 11... Bf5 { [%csl Gf5][%cal Gg4f5] } ) 4... Nf6 { [%csl Gf6][%cal Gg8f6] } ( 4... Nc6 { Another move order is Nc6, I recommend this move order rather than Nf6. [%csl Gc6][%cal Gb8c6] } 5. Bf4 { [%csl Gf4][%cal Gc1f4] } 5... Bf5 { [%csl Gf5][%cal Gc8f5] } 6. Nf3 { [%csl Gf3][%cal Gg1f3] } ( 6. Bd3 { You can swap of bishops in here and lead the position into a Horwitz like
structure. } 6... Bxd3 7. Qxd3 Nf6 8. Nf3 e6 ) 6... e6 { [%csl Ge6][%cal Ge7e6] } 7. Bd3 { [%csl Gd3,Gf5][%cal Gf1d3,Gd3f5] } 7... Nge7 { [%csl Ge7,Gf5][%cal Gg8e7,Ge7f5] } 8. Bxf5 { [%csl Gf5][%cal Gd3f5] } 8... Nxf5 { [%csl Gf5][%cal Ge7f5] } ) 5. Bf4 { [%csl Gf4][%cal Gc1f4] } 5... a6 { [%csl Ga6,Gb5][%cal Ga7a6,Gc3b5] } 6. Bd3 { [%csl Gd3,Gh7,Gb8][%cal Gf1d3,Gd3h7,Gf4b8] } 6... Nc6 { [%csl Gc6,Re2,Rf3][%cal Gb8c6,Rg1e2,Rg1f3] } 7. Nf3 { [%csl Gf3,Gd4][%cal Gg1f3,Gf3d4] } ( 7. Nge2 { White might play this to prevent any Ng4 pin! [%csl Ge2][%cal Gg1e2] } 7... Bg4 { [%csl Gg4][%cal Gc8g4] } 8. h3 { [%csl Gh3][%cal Gh2h3] } 8... Bh5 { [%csl Gh5][%cal Gg4h5] } 9. f3 { [%csl Gf3][%cal Gf2f3] } 9... Bg6 { Always remember this bishop manuever. [%csl Gg6][%cal Gh5g6] } 10. h4 { [%csl Gh4][%cal Gh3h4] } 10... e6 { [%csl Ge6][%cal Ge7e6] } 11. g4 { [%csl Gg4][%cal Gg2g4] } 11... Rc8 { [%csl Gc8][%cal Ga8c8,Gh4h5] } 12. h5 { [%csl Gh5] } 12... Bxd3 { [%csl Gd3][%cal Gg6d3,Gd1d3] } 13. Qxd3 { [%csl Gd3] } 13... h6 { [%csl Gh6][%cal Gh7h6] } 14. O-O-O { [%csl Gc1][%cal Ge1c1] } 14... b5 { [%csl Gb5][%cal Gb7b5] } ) 7... Bg4 { [%csl Gg4,Gd1,Gf3,Gd4][%cal Gc8g4,Gg4d1,Gf3d4] } 8. Be2 { [%csl Ge2][%cal Gd3e2] } ( 8. O-O { [%csl Gg1][%cal Ge1g1] } 8... Bxf3 { [%csl Gf3][%cal Gg4f3] } 9. Qxf3 { [%csl Gf3][%cal Gd1f3] } 9... Nxd4 { [%csl Gd4][%cal Gc6d4] } ) 8... e6 { [%csl Ge6][%cal Ge7e6] } 9. O-O { [%csl Gg1][%cal Ge1g1] } 9... Bd6 { [%csl Gd6][%cal Gf8d6] } 10. Bxd6 { [%csl Gd6][%cal Gf4d6] } 10... Qxd6 { [%csl Gd6][%cal Gd8d6] } 11. Re1 { [%csl Ge1][%cal Gf1e1] } 11... O-O *