[Event "The Caro Kann Defence: Complete Repertoire: Chapter #8: - Classical Variation - Tarkatower (Korchnoi) Variation"]
[Site "https://lichess.org/study/MBQ3N0F8/ZjmFQ31f"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Chapter #8:"]
[Black "Classical Variation - Tarkatower Variation"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/Shreksify"]
[ECO "B15"]
[Opening "Caro-Kann Defense: Tartakower 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 { [%csl Gd5][%cal Gd7d5] } 3. Nc3 { This is the classical way of playing the Caro Kann, you see the classical
way of playing the Caro Kann is quite simple and flexible for white. White
gets easy development and flexible position. White's set up is quite universal since this is often seen aswell against the Sicilian Defence and of
course the Philidor's Defence. Even at the French Defence this is also seen. [%csl Gc3][%cal Gb1c3] } 3... dxe4 { The best way to play against the Classical Caro Kann is to take the pawn
on e4. Other lines also include the move g6 and e6 in which is pretty hard
to play. g6 transposes into a Modern Defence and e6 blocks the LSB. [%csl Ge4][%cal Gd5e4] } 4. Nxe4 { [%csl Ge4][%cal Gc3e4] } 4... Nf6 { [%csl Gg6][%cal Gg8g6] } 5. Nxf6+ { [%csl Gf6][%cal Ge4f6] } ( 5. Ng3 $5 { Ng3!? White wants to preserve his knight hoping to find some more sophisticated game and to keep things imbalanced. However after the move h5! Black gets a strong initiative on the kingside. [%csl Gg3][%cal Ge4g3] } 5... h5 { [%csl Gh5][%cal Gh7h5] } 6. Bc4 { [%csl Gc4][%cal Gf1c4] } 6... h4 { [%csl Gh4][%cal Gh5h4] } 7. N3e2 { [%csl Ge2][%cal Gg3e2] } 7... a6 { [%csl Ga6][%cal Ga7a6] } 8. a4 { [%csl Ga4][%cal Ga2a4] } 8... Bf5 { [%csl Gf5][%cal Gc8f5] } 9. c3 { [%csl Gc3][%cal Gc2c3] } 9... e6 { [%csl Ge6][%cal Ge7e6] } 10. Nf3 { [%csl Gf3][%cal Gg1f3] } 10... h3 $1 { I was hesitant to adapt this move since this has been really quite bit of a risky idea. The h pawn might fall under a couple of sequences. But either ways, once the h file has been open black gets a strong attack on the kingside. [%csl Gh3,Gg3][%cal Gh4h3,Gg2g3] } 11. g3 { [%csl Gg3][%cal Gg2g3] } 11... c5 { [%csl Gc5][%cal Gc6c5] } 12. O-O { [%csl Gg1][%cal Ge1g1] } 12... Nc6 { [%csl Gc6][%cal Gb8c6] } 13. Bg5 { [%csl Gg5][%cal Gc1g5] } 13... Bg4 { [%csl Gg4][%cal Gf5g4] } 14. Qd3 { [%csl Gd3][%cal Gd1d3] } 14... Qd7 { [%csl Gd7][%cal Gd8d7] } 15. Rfe1 { [%csl Ge1][%cal Gf1e1] } 15... O-O-O { [%csl Gc8][%cal Ge8c8] } ) ( 5. Ng5 $1 { Ng5 trying to provoke black's kingside. At first impression this might seem like a waste of tempo. However after the move h6 black's kingside is a bit weakened and therefore white gets a bit of initiative in attacking black's kingside. [%csl Gg5][%cal Ge4g5] } 5... h6 { [%csl Gh6,Gf3,Gf7][%cal Gh7h6,Gg5f3,Gg5f7] } 6. Nxf7 $6 { An interesting idea, quite useful for Blitz and Bullet games. White sacrifices a knight for a long "Fueled" attack on black's king. [%csl Gf7][%cal Ge8f7,Gg5f7] } ( 6. N5f3 { Another alternative, simply move on with your opening principles. Develop, etc... You'll be fine. [%csl Gf3][%cal Gg5f3] } 6... Bf5 { [%csl Gf5][%cal Gc8f5] } 7. Bd3 { [%csl Gd3][%cal Gf1d3] } 7... Bxd3 { [%csl Gd3][%cal Gf5d3] } 8. Qxd3 { [%csl Gd3][%cal Gd1d3] } 8... e6 { [%csl Ge6][%cal Ge7e6] } ) ( 6. N5h3 Bf5 7. Nf4 e6 8. Nf3 Bd6 9. Bd3 Bxd3 10. Nxd3 Nbd7 11. O-O c5 ) 6... Kxf7 { [%csl Gf7][%cal Ge8f7] } 7. Nf3 { [%csl Gc5,Gf3][%cal Gg1f3] } 7... c5 { [%csl Gd1,Gc5][%cal Gd8d1,Gc7c5] } 8. Bc4+ { [%csl Gc4][%cal Gf1c4] } 8... e6 { [%csl Ge6][%cal Ge7e6] } 9. Qe2 { [%csl Ge2,Ge6,Gc6][%cal Gd1e2,Ge2e6] } 9... Nc6 { [%csl Gc6][%cal Gb8c6] } 10. Be3 { [%csl Ge3][%cal Gc1e3] } 10... cxd4 { [%csl Gd4][%cal Gc5d4] } 11. O-O-O { [%csl Gc1,Gd8][%cal Ge1c1,Gd1d8,Gf8c5] } 11... Bc5 { [%csl Gc5][%cal Gf8c5] } 12. g4 { Trying to compromise black's kingside. [%csl Gg4][%cal Gg2g4] } 12... Qe7 { [%csl Ge7][%cal Gd8e7] } 13. Bf4 { [%csl Gf4][%cal Ge3f4] } 13... Bd7 { [%csl Gd7][%cal Gc8d7] } 14. h4 { [%csl Gh4][%cal Gh2h4] } 14... Nd5 { Black is perfectly doing fine in here. [%csl Gd5][%cal Gf6d5] } ) 5... exf6 { B15 Caro-Kann Defense: Tartakower Variation Viktor Korchnoi has played
5...exf6 many times (including in a world championship match). 5...exf6 is
sounder than 5...gxf6!? of the Bronstein-Larsen Variation and offers Black rapid development. [%csl Gf6][%cal Ge7f6] } 6. c3 { [%csl Gc3][%cal Gc2c3] } ( 6. Bc4 { Dislodges Be6, cannot play Be6 since this would horribly weaken black's kingside. Instead play Be7 0-0 and you'll be fine. [%csl Gc4,Ge6][%cal Gf1c4,Gc8e6] } 6... Be7 { [%csl Ge7][%cal Gf8e7] } 7. Nf3 { [%csl Gf3][%cal Gg1f3] } 7... O-O { [%csl Gg8][%cal Ge8g8] } 8. O-O { [%csl Gg1][%cal Ge1g1] } 8... Bg4 { [%csl Gg4][%cal Gc8g4] } 9. Re1 { [%csl Ge1][%cal Gf1e1] } 9... Nd7 { [%csl Gd7][%cal Gb8d7,Gh2h3] } 10. h3 { [%csl Gh3] } 10... Bh5 { [%csl Gh5][%cal Gg4h5] } 11. g4 { [%csl Gg4][%cal Gg2g4] } 11... Bg6 { [%csl Gg6][%cal Gh5g6] } 12. Nh4 { [%csl Gh4][%cal Gf3h4] } 12... Re8 13. Bb3 { [%csl Gb3][%cal Gc4b3] } 13... Nf8 { [%csl Gf8][%cal Gd7f8] } 14. c3 { [%csl Gc3][%cal Gc2c3] } 14... Qc7 { [%csl Gc7][%cal Gd8c7] } 15. Qf3 { [%csl Gf3][%cal Gd1f3] } 15... Bd6 { [%csl Gd6][%cal Ge7d6,Gc1d2] } 16. Bd2 { [%cal Gc1d2] } 16... Ne6 { [%csl Ge6][%cal Gf8e6] } 17. Nxg6 { [%csl Gg6][%cal Gh4g6] } 17... hxg6 { [%csl Gg6,Gf6,Gf7,Gg7][%cal Gh7g6] } ) ( 6. Bd3 $1 { Another move is Bd3 with intention of sacrificing a pawn and get a load of early developing perks. Wrath of aggression would be unleashed. I don't really want you to suffer defending and finding ways to make amends. Just play Bd6 and move on with your standard procedure of the "Korchnoi" Variation. [%csl Gd3][%cal Gf1d3] } 6... Bd6 7. Ne2 O-O 8. c3 Re8 9. Qc2 h6 10. O-O Nd7 11. Be3 Nf8 12. Rfe1 Be6 13. Rad1 Qc7 14. Ng3 Rad8 ) 6... Bd6 { Theres literally not much to be addressed in the Tarkatower. All you have
to do is follow the usual Bd6 0-0 and so on set up and you'll most likely
be fine. There are other fun lines in the Classical Caro Kann with the Tarkatower. I'll include them aswell in here! [%csl Gd6][%cal Gf8d6] } 7. Bd3 { [%csl Gd3][%cal Gf1d3] } 7... O-O { Black is going to do the following here; Re1 Be6 Nd7 Nf8 and h6 if
necessary. This is the kind of set up black should always be aiming for! [%csl Gg8][%cal Ge8g8] } 8. Ne2 { [%csl Ge2][%cal Gg1e2] } 8... Re8 { [%csl Ge8][%cal Gf8e8] } 9. Qc2 { [%csl Gc2,Rh5,Rh6][%cal Gd1c2,Rh7h5,Rh7h6] } 9... h6 { h6 is logical and safer since the move f5!? Seems a bit feasible for me.
But oh well here goes nothing! [%csl Gh6][%cal Gh7h6] } ( 9... h5 $5 { h5! With an intention of attacking white's kingside! With the help of
black's bishop pair white's kingside would be in great danger once black's
attack succeeds! [%csl Gh5][%cal Gh7h5] } 10. O-O { [%csl Gg1][%cal Ge1g1] } 10... h4 { [%csl Gh4][%cal Gh5h4] } 11. h3 { [%csl Gh3][%cal Gh2h3] } 11... Nd7 { [%csl Gd7][%cal Gb8d7] } 12. Be3 { [%csl Ge3][%cal Gc1e3] } 12... Nf8 { [%csl Gf8][%cal Gd7f8] } 13. Rad1 { [%csl Gd1][%cal Ga1d1] } 13... Bd7 { [%csl Gd7][%cal Gc8d7] } 14. Rfe1 { [%csl Ge1][%cal Gf1e1] } 14... Qc8 { [%csl Gc8][%cal Gd8c8] } 15. Nf4 { [%csl Gf4][%cal Ge2f4] } 15... Qc7 { [%csl Gc7,Gh2][%cal Gc8c7,Gc7h2] } 16. Qc1 { [%csl Gc1][%cal Gc2c1] } 16... Rad8 { [%csl Gd8][%cal Ga8d8] } 17. Bd2 { [%csl Gd2][%cal Ge3d2] } 17... Qc8 { [%csl Gc8][%cal Gc7c8] } 18. b3 { [%csl Gb3][%cal Gb2b3] } 18... Bf5 { End of Opening Preparation, black is frankly doing fine and alright in
here. Black needs to exchange some pieces in order to avoid complications
on the kingside. [%csl Gf5][%cal Gd7f5] } ) 10. O-O { [%csl Gg1][%cal Ge1g1] } 10... Nd7 { [%csl Gd7][%cal Gb8d7] } 11. Be3 { [%csl Ge3][%cal Gc1e3] } 11... Nf8 { [%csl Gf8][%cal Gd7f8] } 12. Rfe1 { [%csl Ge1][%cal Gf1e1] } 12... Be6 { [%csl Ge6][%cal Gc8e6] } 13. Rad1 { [%csl Gd1][%cal Ga1d1] } 13... Qc7 { [%csl Gc7][%cal Gd8c7] } 14. Ng3 { [%csl Gg3][%cal Ge2g3] } 14... Rad8 { End of Opening Preparation, black is frankly doing fine and alright in
here. [%csl Gd8][%cal Ga8d8] } *