[Event "The Caro Kann Defence: Complete Repertoire: Chapter #14: - Advance Variation -Sidelines - Everything Else - Bf5 Move Order"]
[Site "https://lichess.org/study/MBQ3N0F8/7CRHkYUV"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Chapter #14:"]
[Black "Advance Variation -Sidelines - Everything Else - Bf5 Move Order"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/Shreksify"]
[ECO "B12"]
[Opening "Caro-Kann Defense: Advance Variation, Van der Wiel Attack"]
[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 { [%csl Gd5][%cal Gd7d5] } 3. e5 { The Caro Kann, in its most difficult form, is right here.
The Caro Kann Advanced Variation is also one of the most difficult opening to deal with. For starters, white has a significant edge in terms of space.
As is the case with the French Defense, white also possesses sufficient initiative on the kingside to mount a crushing assault on black. This can be seen in action on the French defence. I think the Advanced Variation of the Caro Kann should be dealt with in a way that is both principled and traditional. known by its acronym ACK. Black has the opportunity to make the most of his bishop on square f5.
In addition, black enjoys a great deal of counterplay on the queenside.
Because it is a weak bishop, the Long-Sided Bishop in the French Defense frequently causes issues for the player. Black faces a lot of resistance when he tries to put out the LSB on the French defence. I've played the French Defense before, and I'm familiar with the strategy behind it. In the French Defense, there are situations in which a black needs to willingly double his b pawn merely so he may get rid of the LSB in exchange for the white's bishop or knight. In these situations, white has the option of exchanging the bishop or knight. The advanced Caro Kann variation does not put Black behind the light square bishop development. [%csl Ge5][%cal Ge4e5] } 3... Bf5 { Thus, this is the classical way to play this, the ECK will be met with
the principled and classical Bf5! In that case black solves all his problem
on the LSB. [%csl Gf5,Rg4,Rh4,Rc4,Rc3][%cal Gc8f5,Rg2g4,Rh2h4,Rc2c4,Rb1c3] } 4. Nc3 { On the book "Beating the Caro-Kann" by Vassilios Kotranias (Made in March
1 1994) Kotranias recommended the move Nc3!? since c3 isn't quite necessary
since white could hold unto the center quite alright. c3 blockades the knight from developing to c3, which in this case (as he claims) developing the
knight co c3 has a lot of potential chances such as covering the e4 square in case black ever tries to place his bishop to e4 (usually seen in the Bayonet Attack with g4! but in here delayed with Nc3 before g4) after e6 g4! "Playing Black against Vassilios Kotronias is every Caro-Kann player's worst
nightmare. In this book Kotronias, the first Greek grandmaster, explains the workings of his preferred system against the Caro-Kann. His solution is the advance variation which has been a favourite of players such as Tal, Van der Wiel, Timman, Nunn, Anand and Short as well as Kotronias." Well I have to mentioned that regardless of how old this book actually is its still dangerous and effective. [%csl Gc3][%cal Gb1c3] } ( 4. c4 { The early c4 move is rather a bit innacurate since black's fortified
center is unbreakable. The early c4 move would be met with e6. [%csl Gc4][%cal Gc2c4] } 4... e6 { [%csl Ge6,Ra3,Rc3][%cal Ge7e6,Ra2a3,Rb1c3] } 5. Nc3 ( 5. a3 { Well prepared opponent may play a3 against us, well Plan B is to take the
pawn then play c5! } 5... dxc4 6. Bxc4 c5 7. Qb3 cxd4 8. Qxb7 Nd7 ) 5... Bb4 6. Qb3 ( 6. Bd2 { White does not want to ruin his pawn structure! } 6... Ne7 7. c5 b6 8. cxb6 axb6 ) 6... Qa5 7. a3 Bxc3+ 8. bxc3 Nd7 ) ( 4. g4 { The Bayonet Attack this move order however is not really a good move
since this exposes white's kingside right away. However there are a few
traps involved in this move order, we need to be prepared against this line. [%csl Gg4][%cal Gg2g4] } 4... Be4 { [%csl Ge4][%cal Gf5e4] } 5. f3 { [%csl Gf3][%cal Gf2f3] } 5... Bg6 { [%csl Gg6][%cal Ge4g6] } 6. h4 h5 { [%csl Gh5][%cal Gh7h5] } 7. Nh3 { [%csl Gh3][%cal Gg1h3] } 7... e6 { [%csl Ge6][%cal Ge7e6] } 8. Nf4 { [%csl Gf4][%cal Gh3f4] } 8... Bh7 { [%csl Gh7][%cal Gg6h7] } 9. Nxh5 { With the help of the open h file and the bishop pair, black has enough
compensation for the pawn sacrifice. We sacrifice a pawn for initiative. We
have to saved our LSB to mentain the initiative and the bishop pair aswell! [%csl Gh5][%cal Gf4h5] } 9... Bg6 10. Nc3 Bxh5 11. gxh5 Be7 12. f4 Bxh4+ ) ( 4. h4 { White gains space on the kingside. Unlike in other variations of the
advanced Caro-Kann, black cannot play e6 immediatly as g4 would trap the
Bishop. [%csl Gh4][%cal Gh2h4] } 4... h5 { [%csl Gh5,Rg5,Rd3][%cal Gh7h5,Rc1g5,Rf1d3] } 5. Bg5 { [%csl Gg5,Gd8][%cal Gc1g5,Gg5d8] } ( 5. Bd3 { [%csl Gd3][%cal Gf1d3] } 5... Bxd3 { [%csl Gd3][%cal Gf5d3] } 6. Qxd3 { [%csl Gd3][%cal Gd1d3] } 6... e6 { [%csl Ge6][%cal Ge7e6] } 7. Bg5 { [%csl Gg5][%cal Gc1g5] } 7... Qb6 { [%csl Gb6][%cal Gd8b6] } 8. Nd2 { [%csl Gd2][%cal Gb1d2] } 8... Qa6 $5 { [%csl Ga6][%cal Gb6a6] } ) 5... Qb6 { [%csl Gb6][%cal Gd8b6] } 6. Bd3 { [%csl Gd3][%cal Gf1d3] } ( 6. Nd2 Qxd4 7. Ngf3 Qb6 8. Bd3 Bxd3 9. cxd3 e6 10. O-O Be7 11. Be3 Qd8 { [%cal Rg8h6,Rh6f5,Rb8d7,Rc6c5] } ) 6... Bxd3 { [%csl Gd3][%cal Gf5d3] } 7. Qxd3 { [%csl Gd3][%cal Gd1d3] } 7... e6 { e6 fortify's black central pawn onwards! [%csl Ge6][%cal Ge7e6] } 8. Nd2 { [%csl Gd2,Ra6][%cal Gb1d2,Rb6a6] } 8... Qa6 $1 { Thanks to @AC407 this move order boycotts heavy theoretical lines. c4 is
the main move order but falls under heavy theoretical lines with c5!
Although this postition is covered in my Caro Kann course I would say i prefer this line better! [%csl Ga6][%cal Gb6a6] } ( 8... c5 { [%csl Gc5,Rc3,Rc4][%cal Gc6c5,Rc2c3,Rc2c4] } 9. c3 { [%csl Gc3][%cal Gc2c3] } ( 9. c4 { Thanks to @AC407 The Tal Variation of my Caro Kann course has been
improved and significantly expanded! You see in this particular variation
my main reccomendation after Nd2 is c5. Twas expected that white would play c3 but falls if white plays c5! Which is highly theoretical. So to
expand my Caro Kann course I decided to make it up to you guys by further adding new variations! [%csl Gc4][%cal Gc2c4] } 9... Qxb2 { [%csl Gb2,Rb1,Rb3][%cal Gb6b2,Ra1b1,Rd2b3] } 10. Rb1 { Despite of top engine's choices. Rb1 falls under Qxd4! Although endgame
isn't forced simply Qe2 then b6! Would have already made black's position
quite playable. [%csl Gb1][%cal Ga1b1] } ( 10. Nb3 { Nb3 is another variation. A highly theoretical line in the Tal Variation
of the Caro Kann. You see both opposing side's pressure on the center is
significantly enough to count this as very complicated. What must black do in order to avoid errors in the opening? [%csl Gb3][%cal Gd2b3] } 10... Nc6 { Nc6! What is black's plan in here? Well Black's plan is of course to play
Nb4 with a fork on both the king and the rook. [%csl Gc6][%cal Gb8c6] } 11. cxd5 { Black cannot play Nb4 because of Qb5+! A horrible position for white in
this particular position. [%csl Gd5][%cal Gc4d5] } 11... exd5 { [%csl Gd5][%cal Ge6d5] } 12. Rb1 { [%csl Gb1][%cal Ga1b1] } 12... Qxa2 { As the position unfolds, white has four pieces +1 if added the queen in
contrast against black's only develop piece is the knight +1 if added the
queen. But eventually white is hopeless on stopping black from further developing his pieces. [%csl Ga2][%cal Gb2a2] } 13. dxc5 { [%csl Gc5][%cal Gd4c5] } 13... Bxc5 $1 { Bxc5 is made possible because Qa5+! with a fork on the king and knight
would give his pieces back. [%csl Gc5][%cal Gf8c5] } 14. Nxc5 { [%csl Gc5][%cal Gb3c5] } 14... Qa5+ { [%csl Ga5][%cal Ga2a5] } 15. Ke2 { [%csl Ge2][%cal Ge1e2] } 15... Qxc5 { White needs to cover up the d4 pawn since the knight would later land in
there. [%csl Gc5][%cal Ga5c5] } 16. Nf3 { [%csl Gf3][%cal Rc6d4,Gg1f3] } 16... Nb4 17. Qb3 { [%csl Gb3][%cal Gd3b3] } 17... a5 { [%csl Ga5][%cal Ga7a5] } ) 10... Qxd4 { [%csl Gd4][%cal Gb2d4] } 11. Qe2 { [%csl Ge2][%cal Gd3e2] } 11... b6 { [%csl Gb6][%cal Gb7b6] } 12. Ngf3 { [%csl Gf3][%cal Gg1f3] } 12... Qg4 { [%csl Gg4][%cal Gd4g4] } ) 9... Nc6 { [%csl Gc6][%cal Gb8c6] } 10. Ne2 { [%csl Ge2][%cal Gg1e2] } 10... Be7 { [%csl Ge7][%cal Gf8e7] } 11. Rb1 { [%csl Gb1][%cal Ga1b1] } 11... Bxg5 { [%csl Gg5][%cal Ge7g5] } 12. hxg5 { [%csl Gg5][%cal Gh4g5] } 12... Nge7 { [%csl Ge7][%cal Gg8e7] } 13. a3 { [%csl Ga3][%cal Ga2a3] } 13... a5 { Discourages white from playing b4! [%csl Ga5][%cal Ga7a5] } 14. Nf3 { [%csl Gf3][%cal Gd2f3] } 14... g6 { [%csl Gg6][%cal Gg7g6] } ) 9. c4 { Of course Queen takes Queen would only elude to Nxa6 which would be both
beneficial for black and white. But endgame is preferable for Caro Kann
players aswell! [%csl Gc4][%cal Gc2c4] } 9... Bb4 { [%csl Gb4][%cal Gf8b4] } 10. b3 { [%csl Gb3][%cal Gb2b3] } 10... Ne7 { [%csl Ge7][%cal Gg8e7] } 11. Nf3 { [%csl Gf3][%cal Gg1f3] } 11... Nf5 { [%csl Gf5][%cal Ge7f5] } 12. O-O { [%csl Gg1][%cal Ge1g1] } 12... O-O { [%csl Gg8][%cal Ge8g8] } ) 4... e6 { [%csl Ge6][%cal Ge7e6] } 5. g4 { g4! Immediately strikes the center and of course expanding on the
kingside aswell. This extended pawns are quite useful in the near future
because white would proceed with a devastating kingside attack. The only problem is what if the attention shifts and black is the one whos
attacking? huh? [%csl Ge6,Gg4][%cal Gg2g4] } 5... Bg6 { [%csl Gd8,Gb6,Gg6][%cal Gf5g6,Gd8b6] } 6. Nge2 { [%csl Ge2][%cal Gg1e2] } 6... c5 { [%csl Gc5,Rf4,Rh4][%cal Gc6c5,Re2f4,Rh2h4] } 7. h4 { White would usually further harass the light square bishop. In here
obviously white is planning to trap the light square bishop with the move
h5! [%csl Gc5,Gh4][%cal Gh2h4] } ( 7. Nf4 { [%csl Gf4][%cal Ge2f4] } 7... Nc6 { [%csl Gc6][%cal Gb8c6] } 8. dxc5 { [%csl Gc5][%cal Gd4c5] } 8... Bxc5 { [%csl Gc5][%cal Gf8c5] } 9. Bg2 { [%csl Gg2][%cal Gf1g2] } 9... Qh4 { [%csl Gh4][%cal Gd8h4] } ) 7... h5 $1 { h5 is needed because white is further going to expand on the queenside.
As necessary in here white would usually castle queenside and attack
black's king if h6!? is played instead of h5! Black has to sacrifice a pawn if necessary. [%csl Gh5][%cal Gh7h5] } ( 7... h6 $6 { h6!? Looks like a safer option but in case you missed Be3 followed by f4!
Would give white a very feasible position indeed. [%csl Gh6][%cal Gh7h6] } 8. Be3 Ne7 { [%csl Gf4,Gg4,Gh4][%cal Gf4f5,Gg4g5,Gh4h5] } 9. f4 { [%csl Gf4][%cal Gf2f4] } 9... Nec6 { [%csl Gc6][%cal Ge7c6] } 10. h5 { [%csl Gh5][%cal Gh4h5] } 10... Bh7 { [%csl Gh7][%cal Gg6h7] } 11. Qd2 { [%csl Gd2][%cal Gd1d2] } 11... Be7 { [%csl Ge7][%cal Gf8e7] } 12. dxc5 { [%csl Gc5][%cal Gd4c5] } 12... Nd7 { [%csl Gd7,Gc5][%cal Gb8d7,Gd7c5,Ge7c5] } 13. O-O-O { [%csl Gc1][%cal Ge1c1] } ) 8. Nf4 { Now what must black do? Black cannot leave his bishop alone on g6 since
it would be taken by white's knight and also it would further deteriorate
black's kingside! [%csl Gf4][%cal Ge2f4] } 8... Bh7 { [%csl Gh7][%cal Gg6h7] } 9. Nxh5 { Sacrificing the pawn is necessary if black wants to fight for the initiative. Doesn't matter of the h pawn is gone. Its actually beneficial for black since the h file is now open for black's rook! Other than that the h pawn would heavily be pressurized in the future. Even now the h pawn is attacked by both the rook and the queen once the knight leaves. [%csl Gh8,Ge7,Gh4,Gd8,Gh7,Gc6,Gh5][%cal Gh8h4,Gd8h4,Gf8e7,Ge7h4,Gb8c6,Gf4h5] } 9... Nc6 { [%csl Gc3,Gd4,Ge3][%cal Gc2c3,Gc1e3] } 10. dxc5 { [%csl Gc5][%cal Gd4c5] } ( 10. Be3 cxd4 { Be3 is another option which causes white a tempo.In particular the b pawn
is weak so Qa5 would have breached white's position. } 11. Bxd4 a6 12. f4 Qa5 13. Bg2 Qb4 { [%csl Gb2,Gd4,Gb4][%cal Gb4b2,Gb4d4] } ) 10... Bxc5 { White would ultimately shift his interest in the center. Keep in mind
that the exchange of pawns in the center is necessary for white because of
two reasons. One the knight on c3 prevents white from stabilizing his central pawns thus leaving him to forcefully exchange pawns. Two, if white
doesn't exchange pawns then black would simply take the d pawn with cxd4 and the advantage is left for black. [%csl Gc5][%cal Gf8c5] } 11. Bb5 { A necessary move to supress black's attack on the center. Loosening up
the grip eh? [%csl Gb5][%cal Gf1b5] } 11... Qc7 { [%csl Gc7,Rc6,Rg7][%cal Gd8c7,Rb5c6,Rh5g7] } 12. Bxc6+ { White is forced to exchange bishop for queen just to loosen up black's
pressure on the center. [%csl Gc6][%cal Gb5c6] } ( 12. Nxg7+ $4 { Wins a pawn for white but loses the knight in exchange! Black's tactic in here is Kf7 Nh5 is forced, thus d4! Force eviction of the knight, Qa5! The bishop is gone! Fork between the king on e1 and Bishop on b5! [%csl Gb5][%cal Ge8f8,Gg7h5,Gd5d4,Gc3b1,Gc7a5,Gc1d2,Ga5b5] } 12... Kf8 13. Nh5 d4 14. Nb1 Qa5+ 15. Bd2 Qxb5 ) 12... Qxc6 { Now the threat is d5! And black would be winning! [%csl Gh1,Gc6][%cal Gd5d4,Gc6h1,Gc7c6] } 13. Qf3 { Qf3 is forced because of the d5 threat. The only good move which holds on
for white! [%csl Gf3][%cal Gd1f3] } 13... O-O-O { The only good move, Be4? Nxe4! Well 0-0-0 is the only good move! [%csl Gc8,Rf7,Rg7][%cal Ge8c8,Rf3f7,Rh5g7] } 14. Nxg7 ( 14. Qxf7 $2 d4 $1 { Attacks the rook and the knight! [%csl Gh1][%cal Gc6h1] } ) 14... Nh6 { [%csl Gg8,Rg5,Rh6,Rg1][%cal Gh8g8,Rc1g5,Rc1h6,Rh1g1] } 15. Bg5 { [%csl Gg5][%cal Gc1g5] } ( 15. Bxh6 $2 { The only reason why the tactic Be4! Isn't working is because of the dark
square bishop which can come in aid in case of an assault. Now that the
bishop is gone heaven knows white is all lost! [%csl Gh6][%cal Gc1h6] } 15... Be4 { [%csl Ge4][%cal Gh7e4] } 16. Nxe4 { [%csl Ge4][%cal Gc3e4] } 16... dxe4 { [%csl Ge4][%cal Gd5e4] } 17. Qf6 { [%csl Gf6][%cal Gf3f6] } 17... e3 { [%csl Ge3,Gh1][%cal Ge4e3,Gc6h1] } 18. O-O { [%csl Gg1][%cal Ge1g1] } 18... e2 { [%csl Ge2][%cal Ge3e2] } 19. Rfe1 { [%csl Ge1][%cal Gf1e1] } 19... Rxh6 { [%csl Gh6][%cal Gh8h6] } 20. Qxh6 { [%csl Gh6][%cal Gf6h6] } 20... Qf3 { Too much pressure, white is losing. [%csl Gf3,Gf2,Gg4][%cal Gc6f3,Gf3f2,Gf3g4] } ) ( 15. Rg1 { [%csl Gg1][%cal Gh1g1] } 15... Be4 { [%csl Ge4,Rc3,Re2][%cal Gh7e4,Rc3e4,Rf3e2] } 16. Qe2 { [%csl Ge2][%cal Gf3e2] } ( 16. Nxe4 $2 { [%csl Ge4][%cal Gc3e4] } 16... dxe4 { Black's pressure is so strong that white would overpress and lose in the near future. [%csl Gd1][%cal Gd8d1] } ) 16... Bb4 { [%csl Gb4][%cal Gc5b4] } 17. Bd2 { [%csl Gd2][%cal Gc1d2] } ) 15... Be4 { [%csl Ge4][%cal Gh7e4] } 16. Nxe4 $6 { [%csl Ge4][%cal Gc3e4] } 16... dxe4 { [%csl Ge4][%cal Gd5e4] } 17. Qg2 { [%csl Gg2][%cal Gf3g2] } 17... Bb4+ { [%csl Gb4][%cal Gc5b4] } 18. Kf1 { [%csl Gf1][%cal Ge1f1] } 18... Qc4+ { [%csl Gc4][%cal Gc6c4] } 19. Kg1 { [%csl Gg1][%cal Gf1g1] } 19... e3 { [%csl Ge3][%cal Ge4e3] } 20. Bxe3 { [%csl Ge3][%cal Gg5e3] } 20... Nxg4 { Black's pressure is so strong that I highly doubt that white could even
defend and play on in this particular position. The d file is dominated by
black, white's king is stuck. White's kingside is weak and so on. [%csl Gg4,Gg2][%cal Gh6g4,Gh8g8,Gg8g2] } *