[Event "The Caro Kann Defence: Complete Repertoire: Chapter #18: - Two Knights Attack - Karpov Variation"]
[Site "https://lichess.org/study/MBQ3N0F8/dnAMYTat"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Chapter #18:"]
[Black "Two Knights Attack - Karpov Variation"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/Shreksify"]
[ECO "B17"]
[Opening "Caro-Kann Defense: Karpov Variation, Modern Variation, Kasparov Attack"]
[UTCDate "2022.11.09"]
[UTCTime "07:18:10"]
[Variant "Standard"]

1. e4 { [%csl Ge4][%cal Ge2e4] } 1... c6 { [%csl Gc6][%cal Gc7c6] } 2. Nf3 { [%csl Gf3][%cal Gg1f3] } 2... d5 { [%csl Gd5][%cal Gd7d5] } 3. Nc3 { The Two Knights Variation The Two Knights Variation is a positional and
solid opening against the Caro Kann. White develops two pieces ahead of
black and is looking forward to an easy play. Since white has developed two pieces ahead of black, black should catch up in development right away.
Black has to take the pawn so white's knight would be forced to waste a tempo followed by Nbd7 to Nf6. Following the Caro Kann Karpov Variation. [%csl Gc3][%cal Gb1c3] } 3... dxe4 { [%csl Ge4][%cal Gd5e4] } 4. Nxe4 { [%csl Ge4][%cal Gc3e4] } 4... Nd7 { [%csl Gd7,Rd4,Ge2,Gg3,Rc4][%cal Gb8d7,Rd2d4,Rf1e2,Rd1e2,Rg2g3,Rf1c4] } 5. d4 { [%csl Gd4][%cal Gd2d4] } ( 5. Qe2 { White is aiming for the opening trap of Nd6 checkmate. Either ways this
isn't white's one any only plan. White also wants to dominate the e file
once white castles kingside or queenside followed by either rook to e1. White is going to develop is pieces with ease. Black should also do the same,
just beware of checkmating ideas. [%csl Ge2,Gf6][%cal Gd1e2,Ge4f6] } 5... e6 { [%csl Ge6][%cal Ge7e6] } 6. d4 { [%csl Gd4][%cal Gd2d4] } 6... Ngf6 { [%csl Gf6][%cal Gg8f6] } 7. Nxf6+ { [%csl Gf6][%cal Ge4f6] } ( 7. Ng3 { White may even try to keep the tension on the center and avoid exchanging
minor pieces to further complicate the game. } 7... Be7 8. Bd2 O-O 9. O-O-O b5 10. h4 a5 11. h5 h6 { Eventually, both opposing sides would attack each other's king. Black has
to expand his control on the queenside to find counterplay at white's king.
White may try to launch a devastating pawn storm around black's barricaded kingside structure. } ) 7... Nxf6 { [%csl Gf6][%cal Gd7f6] } 8. Bf4 { [%csl Gf4][%cal Gc1f4] } 8... Bd6 { [%csl Gd6][%cal Gf8d6] } 9. Bxd6 { [%csl Gd6][%cal Gf4d6] } 9... Qxd6 { [%csl Gd6][%cal Gd8d6] } 10. O-O-O { [%csl Gc1][%cal Ge1c1] } 10... O-O { [%csl Gg8][%cal Ge8g8] } 11. h4 { As soon as white eventually launches a pawn storm around the kingside.
Black should also aim to attack white's queenside aswell by launching a
pawn storm on the queenside. Its only a matter of time before both opposing sides defend against the potential threat of checkmates. } 11... b5 { [%csl Gb5][%cal Gb7b5] } 12. h5 { [%csl Gh5][%cal Gh4h5] } 12... h6 { [%csl Gh6][%cal Gh7h6] } 13. Qe5 { [%csl Ge5][%cal Ge2e5] } 13... Qd5 { [%csl Gd5][%cal Gd6d5] } ) ( 5. Be2 { Be2 another alternative for white. Although this move may appear passive.
White is aiming for a positional and solid gameplay rather than a dynamic
game. [%csl Ge2][%cal Gf1e2] } 5... Ngf6 { [%csl Gf6][%cal Gg8f6] } 6. d3 { [%csl Gd3][%cal Gd2d3] } 6... Nxe4 { [%csl Ge4][%cal Gf6e4] } 7. dxe4 { [%csl Ge4][%cal Gd3e4] } 7... e5 { [%csl Ge5,Rg1,Rc5][%cal Ge7e5,Re1g1,Rf8c5] } 8. O-O { [%csl Gg1][%cal Ge1g1] } ( 8. Bc4 { White is aiming for the f7 pawn. [%csl Gc4][%cal Ge2c4] } 8... Be7 { [%csl Ge7][%cal Gf8e7] } 9. O-O { [%csl Gg1][%cal Ge1g1] } 9... b5 { [%csl Gb5][%cal Gb7b5] } 10. Bb3 { [%csl Gb3][%cal Gc4b3] } 10... a5 { [%csl Ga5][%cal Ga7a5] } 11. a4 { [%csl Ga4][%cal Ga2a4] } 11... bxa4 { [%csl Ga4][%cal Gb5a4] } 12. Bxa4 { [%csl Ga4][%cal Gb3a4] } 12... Qc7 { [%csl Gc7,Ge5][%cal Gd8c7,Gc7e5,Gd7e5] } 13. Be3 { [%csl Ge3][%cal Gc1e3] } 13... O-O { [%csl Gg8][%cal Ge8g8] } ) 8... Qc7 { [%csl Gc7,Ge5][%cal Gd8c7,Gc7e5,Gd7e5] } 9. Be3 { [%csl Ge3][%cal Gc1e3] } 9... Bd6 { Black has created a battery of Bishop and Queen. This can unleash a potential attack after black opens up the b8-h2 diagonal. [%csl Rc7,Gd6][%cal Rd6h2,Gf8d6] } 10. Nd2 { [%csl Gd2][%cal Gf3d2] } 10... O-O { [%csl Gg8][%cal Ge8g8] } ) ( 5. g3 { g3 is another option for white, a positional and solid way to meet the
Caro Kann. [%csl Gg3][%cal Gg2g3] } 5... Ngf6 { [%csl Gf6][%cal Gg8f6] } 6. Nxf6+ { [%csl Gf6][%cal Ge4f6] } 6... Nxf6 { [%csl Gf6][%cal Gd7f6] } 7. Bg2 { [%csl Gg2][%cal Gf1g2] } 7... Bg4 { [%csl Gg4][%cal Gc8g4] } 8. h3 { [%csl Gh3][%cal Gh2h3] } 8... Bxf3 { [%csl Gf3][%cal Gg4f3] } 9. Bxf3 { [%csl Gf3][%cal Gg2f3] } 9... e5 { [%csl Ge5][%cal Ge7e5] } 10. O-O { [%csl Gg1][%cal Ge1g1] } 10... Bc5 { [%csl Gc5][%cal Gf8c5] } 11. d3 { [%csl Gd3][%cal Gd2d3] } 11... O-O { [%csl Gg8][%cal Ge8g8] } ) ( 5. Bc4 { This is white's another option is trying to stick with his e4 e5
principle. I guess its safe to say that this variation isn't as challenging
as other variations since this only cause black a temporal confilct with the f7 pawn. Black has to play e6 Be7 followed by 0-0 to mentain
equality. [%csl Gc4][%cal Gf1c4] } 5... Ngf6 { [%csl Gf6][%cal Gg8f6] } 6. Neg5 { [%csl Gg5][%cal Ge4g5] } 6... e6 { [%csl Ge6][%cal Ge7e6] } 7. Qe2 { In here white wants to take the pawn on f7 with a knight because of this
Qe6+! Thus black is getting mated. [%csl Ge2,Rd6,Rd5][%cal Gd1e2,Rf8d6,Rf6d5] } 7... Nd5 { Black should play Nd5 to cover up the Nxf7 idea. Nb6 is an alternative
but the knight on the queenside wouldn't be doing so much. Instead Nd5
followed by Bf7 is a better move order in here. [%csl Gd5][%cal Gf6d5] } ( 7... Bd6 $4 { Black has fallen for this trap with Nxf7! Thus effectively losing the
game onwards! [%csl Gd6][%cal Gf8d6] } 8. Nxf7 { [%csl Gf7][%cal Gg5f7] } 8... Kxf7 { [%csl Gf7][%cal Ge8f7] } 9. Qxe6+ { [%csl Ge6][%cal Ge2e6] } 9... Kg6 { [%csl Gg6][%cal Gf7g6] } 10. Qf7+ { [%csl Gf7][%cal Ge6f7] } 10... Kh6 { [%csl Gh6][%cal Gg6h6] } 11. d3+ { [%csl Gd3][%cal Gd2d3] } 11... Bf4 { [%csl Gf4][%cal Gd6f4] } 12. Bxf4+ { [%csl Gf4][%cal Gc1f4] } 12... g5 { [%csl Gg5][%cal Gg7g5] } 13. Bxg5# { [%csl Gg5][%cal Gf4g5] } ) 8. O-O { [%csl Gg1][%cal Ge1g1] } 8... Be7 { [%csl Ge7][%cal Gf8e7] } 9. d4 { [%csl Gd4][%cal Gd2d4] } 9... O-O { [%csl Gg8][%cal Ge8g8] } 10. Qd3 $1 { White is threatening mate in 1! Theres only one good defensive move and
that is N7f6! N5f6? Would have been a horrendous move since black's
position would have been cramped! [%csl Gd3][%cal Ge2d3] } 10... N7f6 { [%csl Gf6][%cal Gd7f6] } 11. Ne5 { [%csl Ge5][%cal Gf3e5] } 11... h6 { [%csl Gh6][%cal Gh7h6] } 12. Ngf3 { [%csl Gf3][%cal Gg5f3] } 12... c5 { [%csl Gc5][%cal Gc6c5] } 13. c3 { [%csl Gc3][%cal Gc2c3] } 13... b6 { [%csl Gb6][%cal Gb7b6] } 14. Re1 { [%csl Ge1][%cal Gf1e1] } 14... Bb7 { [%csl Gb7][%cal Gc8b7] } 15. Bd2 { [%csl Gd2][%cal Gc1d2] } 15... cxd4 { [%csl Gd4][%cal Gc5d4] } 16. Nxd4 { [%csl Gd4][%cal Gf3d4] } 16... Bd6 { [%csl Gd6][%cal Ge7d6] } ) 5... Ngf6 { [%csl Gf6][%cal Gg8f6] } 6. Ng3 { Eventually, we are back to the Classical Caro Kann. [%csl Gg3][%cal Ge4g3] } 6... e6 { [%csl Ge6][%cal Ge7e6] } 7. Bd3 { [%csl Gd3][%cal Gf1d3] } 7... Be7 { [%csl Ge7][%cal Gf8e7] } 8. O-O { [%csl Gg1][%cal Ge1g1] } 8... O-O { [%csl Gg8][%cal Ge8g8] } 9. Bf4 { [%csl Gf4][%cal Gc1f4] } 9... b6 { [%csl Gb6,Gb7][%cal Gb7b6,Gc8b7] } 10. Re1 { [%csl Ge1][%cal Gf1e1] } 10... Bb7 { [%csl Gb7,Gh1][%cal Gc8b7,Gb7h1] } 11. Qe2 { [%csl Ge2][%cal Gd1e2] } 11... c5 { [%csl Gc5][%cal Gc6c5] } *