[Event "The Caro Kann Defence: Complete Repertoire: Chapter #1: - Exchange Variation - Rubinstein Variation - Main Line Systems #1"]
[Site "https://lichess.org/study/MBQ3N0F8/skhr0iCv"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Chapter #1:"]
[Black "Exchange Variation - Standard Bd3 - Main Line Systems #1"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/Shreksify"]
[ECO "B13"]
[Opening "Caro-Kann Defense: Exchange Variation, Rubinstein 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][%cal Gc6d5] } 4. Bd3 { Majority of the experienced ECK players would play Bd3 to take away one
of the most important square for black. The move BF4! The f4 square is now
covered! Now we will not give whiite all the fun in the opening. We would fight for the f4 square and neutrelize white's bishop pair! [%csl Gd3][%cal Gf1d3] } 4... Nc6 { [%csl Gc6][%cal Gb8c6] } 5. c3 { [%csl Gc3,Rf3,Rc7][%cal Gc2c3,Rg1f3,Rd8c7] } 5... Nf6 { [%csl Gf6][%cal Gg8f6] } ( 5... Qc7 { A risky move order which kinda fascinates me since this usually deals
with black having to cover the f4 square which makes it difficult for white
to get his dark square bishop in play. } 6. Ne2 Bg4 7. O-O ( 7. h3 { The standard way to proceed which falls short after Bishop takes knight
on e2! Now white is force to capture with the king or otherwise knight
takes d4! } 7... Bxe2 8. Kxe2 ( 8. Qxe2 Nxd4 9. cxd4 Qxc1+ ) 8... e5 9. dxe5 { Hunting the king down! The white king is exposed thus e5 would be
reasonable to chase down the king! } 9... Qxe5+ 10. Kf1 ( 10. Be3 Bc5 11. Re1 Bxe3 12. fxe3 Nf6 ) ) 7... e6 8. Nd2 Bd6 9. h3 Bh5 10. Re1 Nge7 11. a3 O-O { The light square bishop is out of the pawn chain, no pressure for black
in here! } 12. Qc2 Bg6 ) 6. Bf4 { [%csl Gf4][%cal Gc1f4] } 6... g6 { Black should aim for a Grunfeld like structure.An Improvised Grunfeld
structure is better than the Horwitz one. Ive noticed that in most courses
they often focus on the Horwitz with the c pawn missing rather than the grunfeld line. ECK players would be delighted to play against the Horwitz
line than the grunfeld one. The Horwitz line does not serve that much problem against white but rather causes black complications. First of all the LSB is stuck since the light squared pawns has fixated the position. Second Black gets a very few counterplay, the queenside is the only available
place for black to target on. The Grunfeld is rather universal, black is aiming at the kingside and at the center aswell. Queenside counterplay is rather optional for the grunfeld line but it remains rather flexible. [%csl Gg6][%cal Gg7g6] } 7. Nf3 { [%csl Gf3][%cal Gg1f3] } 7... Bg7 { [%csl Gg7][%cal Gf8g7] } 8. Nbd2 { [%csl Gd2][%cal Gb1d2] } 8... O-O { [%csl Gg8][%cal Ge8g8] } 9. O-O { [%csl Gg1][%cal Ge1g1] } 9... Bf5 { [%csl Rf5,Rb5,Re2][%cal Gc8f5,Rd3f5,Rd3b5,Rd3e2,Rd1e2] } 10. Bxf5 { [%csl Gf5][%cal Gd3f5] } ( 10. Bb5 { This is the line WIM Sopiko Giri the wife of GM Anish Giri recommends.
This is rather more of an innacurate move since this pin only waste a move
for white. Would white be willing to swap of pieces? A bishop for a knight? That would only help black since he gets the bishop pair! If white
decided to retreat then Im afraid he just wasted a move! [%csl Gb5,Gb6][%cal Gd3b5,Gd8b6] } 10... Qb6 11. Qa4 { [%csl Ga4][%cal Gd1a4] } 11... a6 { [%csl Ga6][%cal Ga7a6] } 12. Bxc6 { [%csl Gc6][%cal Gb5c6] } 12... bxc6 { [%csl Gc6][%cal Gb7c6] } ) ( 10. Be2 { lichess on 10. Be2: Be2 is the reccomended line in the chessable course called "Smash the
Caro Kann" White mentains the bishop pair and has a strong counterattack on
the LSB. Problem in this position for white is that black is capitalizing white in here. [%csl Ge2][%cal Gd3e2] } 10... h6 { [%csl Gh6][%cal Gh7h6] } 11. h3 { [%csl Gh3][%cal Gh2h3] } 11... g5 { [%csl Gg5][%cal Gg6g5] } 12. Bg3 { [%csl Gg3][%cal Gf4g3] } 12... e6 { Our kingside is weaken for a reasonable exchange. Domination of piece
activity! [%csl Ge6][%cal Ge7e6] } 13. Ne5 { [%csl Ge5][%cal Gf3e5] } 13... Rc8 { [%csl Gc8][%cal Ga8c8] } ) ( 10. Qe2 { I would be providing an example game for you to have an idea. [%csl Ge2][%cal Gd1e2] } 10... Bxd3 { [%csl Gd3][%cal Gf5d3] } 11. Qxd3 { [%csl Gd3][%cal Ge2d3] } 11... e6 { [%csl Ge6,Gd5][%cal Ge7e6,Gf7d5] } 12. Ne5 $5 { Black wins a piece! [%csl Ge5][%cal Gf3e5] } 12... Nh5 { [%csl Gh5][%cal Gf6h5] } 13. Nxc6 { [%csl Gc6][%cal Ge5c6] } 13... Nxf4 { [%csl Gf4][%cal Gh5f4] } 14. Qf3 { [%csl Gf3,Rg5,Rc7][%cal Gd3f3,Rd8g5,Rd8c7] } 14... Qc7 $1 { [%csl Gc7][%cal Gd8c7] } ( 14... Qg5 { Game is already loss in this position, heres why, both knights are lose. The knight on c6 is hanging and the other knight is also lose, if black moves his knight the knight on d2 would be captured. [%csl Rc6][%cal Rg5g2,Rg4g2,Rf4g2] } 15. Nb4 ( 15. h4 Qxh4 ) 15... Nxg2 16. Qxg2 Qxd2 { Dead loss for white! } ) 15. Nb4 { [%csl Gb4][%cal Gc6b4] } 15... a5 { [%csl Ga5][%cal Ga7a5] } 16. Nd3 { [%csl Gd3][%cal Gb4d3] } 16... Nxd3 { [%csl Gd3][%cal Gf4d3] } 17. Qxd3 { [%csl Gd3][%cal Gf3d3] } 17... b5 { [%csl Gb5][%cal Gb7b5] } 18. Nb3 { [%csl Gb3][%cal Gd2b3] } 18... b4 { You see, black even has enough counterplay on the queenside with the
Grunfeld line. [%csl Gb4][%cal Gb5b4] } 19. Nc5 { [%csl Gc5][%cal Gb3c5] } 19... Rfc8 { [%csl Gc8][%cal Gg8c8] } 20. f4 { [%csl Gf4][%cal Gf2f4] } 20... bxc3 { [%csl Gc3][%cal Gb4c3] } 21. bxc3 { [%csl Gc3][%cal Gb2c3] } 21... Bf8 { [%csl Gf8][%cal Gg7f8] } 22. Na4 { [%csl Ga4][%cal Gc5a4] } 22... Qd6 { [%csl Gd6][%cal Gc7d6] } 23. Rab1 { [%csl Gb1][%cal Ga1b1] } 23... Qa3 { [%csl Ga3][%cal Gd6a3] } 24. Qd1 { [%csl Gd1][%cal Gd3d1] } 24... Ra7 { [%csl Ga7][%cal Ga8a7] } 25. Qb3 { [%csl Gb3][%cal Gd1b3] } 25... Rc4 { [%csl Gc4][%cal Gc8c4] } 26. Qb8 { [%csl Gb8][%cal Gb3b8] } 26... Rac7 { White's queenside pawns are lose, even the knight is hanging. Black went
on to win the game. 0-1 (47) Kiryushkin, A (2016)-Feofanov,V (2315) Berdsk
2010 [%csl Gc7][%cal Ga7c7] } ) 10... gxf5 { ½-½ (40) Mueller, H-Kieninger,G Beverwijk 1965 In the database this was
first played in 1965! A novelty indeed! But in the match Black did not
unleash a kingside attack but rather kept the position as solid in prevention of white interfering on black's kingside. The game was drawn in the
endgame. [%csl Gf5][%cal Gg6f5] } 11. Ne5 { [%csl Ge5][%cal Gf3e5] } 11... Nxe5 { [%csl Ge5][%cal Gc6e5] } ( 11... e6 12. Nxc6 bxc6 13. Re1 Ne4 $5 { Why waste a move? Aim for the stars! } 14. f3 Nf6 15. Nb3 Nh5 16. Bd2 Kh8 17. Nc5 Rg8 18. Qc1 Qh4 { Black was slowly reinforcing his pieces on white's kingside to launch an
attack. Black tried to provoke weaknesses on white's kingside but f6 just
helps white since his rook is now reinforced to a place to defend the g2 pawn. } 19. Re2 { [%csl Rg2,Yg8,Yh4][%cal Re2g2,Rc1e1,Yg8g1,Yh5f4] } 19... Bf6 20. Qe1 Nf4 21. Bxf4 Qxf4 22. Kh1 Be7 23. Nd7 Qh6 24. Qg1 Bd6 25. Ne5 Raf8 26. Rae1 Rg5 27. f4 Rg7 28. g3 Bxe5 29. dxe5 Qh3 30. Rg2 h5 31. Re3 $2 { White was thinking that he should bring all his pieces on the kingside to
help defend white's king. But what he did not know is that he still has
enough time to aim for a draw by taking the pawn on a7 then come back if its really needed for white to defend white's king! } ( 31. Qxa7 Rfg8 32. Re3 Qg4 33. Qd4 { Black's kingside is literally patch, leaving no room for the black queen to penetrate! [%csl Yd1,Ye1,Yf3,Yg2,Yg3,Yh3][%cal Rd4d1,Rg2a2,Re3e1,Re3h3] } 33... h4 34. Rd3 Rh7 35. Qf2 { Black des not enough power to siege white's king! } ) 31... Rfg8 32. Ree2 h4 33. gxh4 Qxh4 34. Qf1 Rg4 35. Ref2 Qh6 { 0-1 (35) Doyle,A-Rosenlund,T (2330) Haifa 1976 } ) ( 11... Qb6 $2 { Black blindly played Qb6 thinking that this is actually a good move.
Black should have aimed for a quick kingside attack! } 12. Qf3 ( 12. Nb3 { Another person tried this move order again, bu this time he did not fall
for an early opening tricks for white. } 12... Rfd8 13. Qd3 e6 14. Nc5 $6 { White should have aimed for black's weakness, the king! } 14... Nh5 15. Nxc6 Nxf4 16. Qf3 bxc6 17. Qxf4 Qxb2 { As you may have already noticed. Black is aiming for a rather endgame
play than a kingside attack. 0-1 (56) Baljon,C-Rosenlund,T Bad Meinberg
1975 } ) 12... Rac8 13. Rab1 Rfd8 14. Bg5 Nxe5 15. dxe5 Ne4 16. Qxf5 Nxg5 17. Qxg5 Qe6 18. Nf3 Rc4 19. h3 Re4 { Black was hoping for a miracle in here but despite of his effort, he is
already down a pawn and his kingside attack is too late. Black does not
have enough firepower to aim at the kingside. Black went on to lose this game after a couple of painful moves. 1-0 (37) Commons,K (2420)-Denker,A
(2325) Lone Pine 1976 } ) 12. Bxe5 { [%csl Ge5,Re6,Rh8][%cal Gf4e5,Re7e6,Rg8h8] } 12... e6 { [%csl Ge6][%cal Ge7e6] } ( 12... Kh8 { Move order to come up with the kingside attack right away. } 13. Re1 ( 13. Nb3 e6 14. Nc1 Rg8 15. Nd3 h6 16. g3 Kh7 ) 13... e6 14. a4 ( 14. Qb3 Qe7 { The pawn needs to be protected. } ( 14... Nh5 $2 { You cannot be serious! You cannot rush an attack on white's king! } 15. Bxg7+ Kxg7 ) 15. Rad1 ( 15. g3 { White tries to patch up his kingside if black ever attacks! } 15... Rg8 16. a4 Ne4 17. Bf4 ( 17. Bxg7+ Rxg7 18. Nxe4 dxe4 19. Rad1 Rag8 ) 17... Bf6 { We will stack up the rooks, exchange bishop and then attack white's king! [%csl Rg5][%cal Rg8g7,Ra8g8,Rf6g5] } ) 15... Rg8 16. c4 Rad8 17. c5 Ne4 { White closes up the position but the kingside attack is still on the
board! } 18. Bf4 Qh4 19. Qe3 Bf6 ) 14... Rg8 15. Qb3 Nh5 16. Nf3 ( 16. Bxg7+ Rxg7 17. Qxb7 Rb8 18. Qxa7 Rxb2 { [%csl Yb2,Yd8,Yf2,Yg2,Yg5,Yg7,Yh2,Yh4,Yh5][%cal Rb2h2,Rg7g1,Rd8h4,Rd8g5] } ) 16... Bxe5 17. Nxe5 Rg7 18. g3 f4 19. Kh1 Qg5 { Black is ready to unleash a fiery attack against white's kingside! } 20. Qd1 fxg3 21. fxg3 f6 22. Nf3 Qh6 23. Kg2 Nxg3 24. hxg3 Rag8 25. Kf2 Rxg3 $1 { White was completely hopeless in here, white tries to make a little run
for his king but its too late! Black went on to win the game!: 0-1 (40)
Rasmussen, K-Sapis,W (2275) Leningrad 1983 } ) 13. a4 { [%csl Ga4][%cal Ga2a4] } 13... Kh8 { [%csl Gh8][%cal Gg8h8] } 14. Bxf6 { [%csl Gf6][%cal Ge5f6] } 14... Bxf6 { [%csl Gf6][%cal Gg7f6] } 15. Re1 { [%csl Ge1][%cal Gf1e1] } 15... Rg8 { [%csl Gg8][%cal Gf8g8] } 16. Qh5 { [%csl Gh5][%cal Gd1h5] } 16... Rg6 { [%csl Gg6][%cal Gg8g6] } 17. Nf3 { [%csl Gf3][%cal Gd2f3] } 17... Qg8 { [%csl Gg8][%cal Gd8g8] } *