Against the Caro-Kann

• At a glance

  Against the Caro-Kann

  102 games, 55.9%: against the Caro-Kann, TheChessNerd plays the Advance with 3.e5, then Ne2-g3 and h4 against the f5 bishop. A solid main line, and one reply, 6…h5, that holds out.

  18 cards, one idea each. Swipe to move on.

• The big idea

  Your games: 106× · you score 55%

  Against 1…c6, TheChessNerd plays 2.d4 and the Advance, 3.e5. Against 3…Bf5, the knight goes to e2 and then g3 to chase the bishop, and the h-pawn advances to shut it in.

• The big idea

  Your games: 24× · you score 60%

  Against 3…c5, TheChessNerd takes the pawn and holds it with a3 and b4.

• The big idea

  Your games: 16× · you score 34%

  102 games, 55.9%, above TheChessNerd's score as White (50.4%). The dossier finds one recurring move that Stockfish disputes: 7.Be2 after 6…h5, played 3 times for 17%.

• The big idea

  Your games: 16× · you score 34%

  It is also the hardest position in the repertoire: after 6…h5, 34% in 16 games.

• The big idea

  Your games: 5× · you score 40%

  The thread of the course: the light-squared bishop. White chases it, trades it on d3, then plays on the space the e5 pawn provides.

• The big idea

  Your games: 16× · you score 34%

  The five chapters follow the main line, the two branches of 6…h5, then 3…c5 and 4…h5.

• Principle

  The e5 pawn takes space

  Your games: 93× · you score 56%

  3.e5 locks the center and takes f6 and d6 away from the black pieces. Black has to break the chain with …c5.

• Principle

  Ne2-g3 chases the bishop

  Your games: 50× · you score 49%

  The knight goes via e2 to g3, where it attacks the f5 bishop without blocking the c-pawn.

• Principle

  h4-h5 against the g6 bishop

  Your games: 43× · you score 48%

  The h-pawn threatens h5 and the capture of the bishop. Black has to answer with …h6 or …h5.

• Principle

  Trade on d3

  Your games: 27× · you score 52%

  Bd3 offers to trade the black bishop, Black's best minor piece in the Caro-Kann.

• Principle

  The pawn returns to d4

  Your games: 13× · you score 50%

  After …c5 and dxc5, the d3 pawn steps back up to d4 and hits the c5 bishop: a tempo gained.

• Imbalance

  Space against the break

  Your games: 24× · you score 60%

  The e5 pawn gives White space. Black lives on the …c5 push, which hits the base of the chain on d4.

• Imbalance

  The h5 pawn

  Your games: 16× · you score 34%

  After 6…h5, the black pawn blocks the h4 pawn and takes g4. It looks weak, but taking it opens the h-file for the h8 rook.

• Imbalance

  The d3 pawn

  Your games: 26× · you score 54%

  With cxd3, White recaptures with the pawn: the c-file opens and the d3 pawn can step up to d4 at the right moment.

• The trade-off

  What you gain

  • In the main line, after 6…h6, 52% in 27 games.
  • Against 3…c5, 60% in 24 games.
  • Against 3…c5, 4.Ne2 gives TheChessNerd 86% in 7 games.
  • The same plan keeps coming back: Ne2-g3, h4, Bd3.
• The trade-off

  What you give up

  • After 6…h5, 34% in 16 games.
  • After 6…h5, 7.Be2: 17% in 3 games.
  • After 6…h5 7.Bd3 Bxd3 8.cxd3 Nd7, no points in 3 games.
• That's all

  Your turn

  These ideas only stick once you play the moves. The chapters make you find the right ones.

  Start chapter 1

Card 1 of 18: Against the Caro-Kann

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