Caro–Kann Defence

Caro–Kann Defence

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Moves	1.e4 c6
ECO	B10-B19
Origin	Bruederschaft (journal), 1886
Named after	Horatio Caro and Marcus Kann
Parent	King's Pawn Game

The Caro-Kann Defence is a common chess opening characterized by the moves:

1.e4 c6.

The usual continuation is

2.d4 d5

followed by 3.Nc3 (the Classical Variation), 3.Nd2 (the Classical Variation), 3.exd5 (the Exchange Variation), or 3.e5 (the Advance Variation). The Caro-Kann, like the Sicilian Defence and French Defence, is classified as a "semi-open game", but it is thought to be more solid and less dynamic than either of those openings. It often leads to good endgames for black, who has the better pawn-structure.

The opening is named after the English player Horatio Caro and the Austrian Marcus Kann who analyzed the opening in 1886.

Classical / Capablanca Variation

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Classical / Capablanca Variation

The most common way of handling the Caro-Kann, the Classical Variation (often referred to as the Capablanca Variation after José Capablanca), follows with

1.e4 c6

2.d4 d5

3.Nc3 (or 3.Nd2) dxe4

4.Nxe4 Bf5

5.Ng3 Bg6

This was long considered to represent best play for both sides in the Caro-Kann. White usually continues

6.h4 h6

7.Nf3 Nd7

8.h5 Bh7

9.Bd3 Bxd3

10.Qxd3

Although White's pawn on h5 looks ready to attack, it can prove to be a real weakness in an endgame (Schiller, 8)

Much of the Caro-Kann's reputation as a solid defence stems from this variation being so hard to crack. Black makes very few compromises in his pawn structure, and plays a timely c5 to contest the d4 square. Black has the options of castling queen-side, castling king-side, and even leaving his king in the center. Should things proceed to an endgame, Black often stands well thanks to his solid pawn structure and king-side pawn majority.

Here is a recent brilliancy illustrating White's attacking chances when the players castle on opposite sides in the Classical Variation: Lev Milman — Joseph Fang, Foxwoods Open, 2005 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bf5 5.Ng3 Bg6 6.h4 h6 7.Nf3 Nd7 8.h5 Bh7 9.Bd3 Bxd3 10.Qxd3 e6 (10...Qc7 avoids White's next) 11.Bf4 Bb4+ 12.c3 Be7 13.0-0-0 Ngf6 14.Kb1 0-0 15.Ne5 c5?! (15...Qa5 is usual and better) 16.Qf3 Qb6? (necessary was 16...cxd4 17.Rxd4 Nxe5 18.Bxe5 Qc8 19.Rhd1 Rd8 20.Ne4 with a small White advantage) 17.Nxd7 Nxd7 18.d5 exd5 19.Nf5! Bf6 20.Rxd5 Qe6 21.Bxh6 (21...gxh6 22.Rd6 Qe8 23.Rxf6 Nxf6 24.Qg3+ mates on g7) Ne5 22.Qe4 Nc6 23.Qf3 Ne5? (23...gxh6 24.Rd6 Qe5 25.Nxh6+ Kg7 26.Nf5+ Kh7 with an unclear position) 24.Qe4 Nc6 25.Qg4! Qxd5 (25...Ne5 26.Rxe5 Qxe5 27.Bxg7 Bxg7 28.h6 wins) 26.Bxg7 Qd3+ 27.Ka1 Ne5 28.Ne7+!! Kh7 29.Qg6+!! fxg6 30.hxg6+ Kxg7 31.Rh7# (White is down a queen, a rook, and a bishop!) Notes based on Milman's much more extensive notes in July 2005 Chess Life, pp. 11-12.

Steinitz Variation / Nimzowitsch Variation / Smyslov Variation

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Steinitz Variation / Nimzowitsch Variation / Smyslov Variation

Another solid positional line, this variation follows with the moves

1.e4 c6

2.d4 d5

3.Nc3 (or 3.Nd2) dxe4

4.Nxe4 Nd7

Named after the first world champion Wilhelm Steinitz, and variously called the Nimzowitsch Variation after Aron Nimzowitsch and the Smyslov Variation after the seventh world champion Vasily Smyslov. In modern play, it has been identified with former World Champion Anatoly Karpov, who has used it dozens of times in top-level play. Play is similar to the Classical Variation except that Black has more freedom by delaying the development of his bishop, and is not forced to play it to the g6 square. However, this freedom comes at a cost as White also enjoys added freedom in taking up space in the center, and often plays the aggressive 5.Ng5 to immediately raise some problems for Black. The famous last game of the Deep Blue-Garry Kasparov rematch where Kasparov committed a known blunder and lost was played in this very line.

Bronstein-Larsen Variation and Korchnoi Variation

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Starting point

The Bronstein-Larsen Variation and Korchnoi Variation both begin with the following moves:

1.e4 c6

2.d4 d5

3.Nc3 dxe4

4.Nxe4 Nf6!?

5.Nxf6

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Bronstein-Larsen Variation (5...gxf6!?)

The Bronstein-Larsen Variation arises after:

5...gxf6!?

Black has voluntarily opted for an inferior kingside pawn structure and a practical necessity of castling queenside, but also has some compensation in the form of the open g-file for the rook and unusually active play for the Caro-Kann. It is generally considered somewhat unsound, but former top-10 player Bent Larsen employed it with some success during the 1970s.

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Korchnoi Variation (5...exf6)

The Korchnoi Variation arises after:

5...exf6

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.

Advance Variation: 3...Bf5 and 3...c5

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Advance Variation with 3...Bf5

The 3...Bf5 variation that follows with

1e4 c6

2d4 d5

3.e5 Bf5

has gained popularity after having previously been widely regarded as inferior for many years, owing chiefly to the strategical demolition that Aron Nimzowitsch suffered at the hands of 'Jose Capablanca in one of their games at the New York 1927 tournament:

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.Bd3 Bxd3 5.Qxd3 e6 6.Nc3 Qb6 7.Nge2 c5?! [7...Qa6] 8.dxc5 Bxc5 9.0–0 Ne7 10.Na4? [10.b4! Bxb4 (10...Qxb4 11.Nb5 Qa5 12.Be3 a6 13.Rab1 axb5 14.Bxc5 Nbc6 15.Rxb5 Qc7 16.Bd6 Qd7 17.Rfb1 Nd8 18.Rc5±) 11.Rb1 Qa5 12.Nb5²] 10...Qc6 11.Nxc5 Qxc5 12.Be3 Qc7 13.f4 Nf5 14.c3 Nc6 15.Rad1 g6 16.g4 Nxe3 17.Qxe3 h5 18.g5 0–0 19.Nd4 Qb6 20.Rf2 Rfc8 21.a3 Rc7 22.Rd3 Na5 23.Re2 Re8 24.Kg2 Nc6 25.Red2 Rec8 26.Re2 Ne7 27.Red2 Rc4 28.Qh3 Kg7 29.Rf2 a5 30.Re2 Nf5 31.Nxf5+ gxf5 32.Qf3 Kg6 33.Red2 Re4 34.Rd4 Rc4 35.Qf2 Qb5 36.Kg3 Rcxd4 37.cxd4 Qc4 38.Kg2 b5 39.Kg1 b4 40.axb4 axb4 41.Kg2 Qc1 42.Kg3 Qh1 43.Rd3 Re1 44.Rf3 Rd1 45.b3 Rc1 46.Re3 Rf1 0–1 Nimzowitsch,Aron - Capablanca,Jose Raul [B12], New York New York (3), 1927

It has since been revitalized by aggressive lines such as the Bayonet Attack (4.Nc3 e6 5.g4) or the less ambitious variation popularized by English Grandmaster Nigel Short and American Grandmaster Gata Kamsky (4.Nf3 e6 5.Be2 c5 6.Be3) and regularly appears in top-level play. Modern theory is showing that 3...Bf5 may have more drawbacks for Black than advantages.

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Advance Variation with 3...c5

The 3...c5 variation that follows with

1.e4 c6

2.d4 d5

3.e5 c5!?

is an important alternative and avoids the weight of theory associated with 3...Bf5. It was used by Mikhail Botvinnik in his 1961 match vs. Mikhail Tal (though with a negative outcome for Botvinnik -- 2 draws and a loss). In comparison to the French defense, Black lacks the tempo normally spent on . . .e6, but, on the other hand, White can only exploit this by weakening his own central bind by playing 4. dxc5, when Black has good chances of regaining the pawn.

Exchange Variation and Panov-Botvinnik Attack

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Exchange Variation

The Exchange Variation is 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5.

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Panov-Botvinnik Attack

The Panov-Botvinnik Attack begins with the move 4.c4. It is named after Vasily Panov and the world champion Mikhail Botvinnik. This system often leads to typical isolated queen's pawn ("IQP") positions, with White obtaining rapid development, a grip on e5, and kingside attacking chances to compensate for the long-term structural weakness of the isolated d4 pawn. The major variations in this line are 4...Nf6 5.Nc3 e6 and 5...Nc6.

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Exchange Variation

The "true" Exchange Variation begins with 4.Bd3 Nc6 5.c3 Nf6 6.Bf4 Bg4 7.Qb3. White isn't thought to possess much of an advantage, although the line was tried by Bobby Fischer. Play is somewhat similar to the Queen's Gambit Exchange Variation (1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.cxd5 exd5). Colours are reversed.

Unusual lines

Two Knights Variation: 1.e4 c6 2.Nf3 d5 3.Nc3, as played by Bobby Fischer in his youth.

Fantasy or Tartakower Variation: 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.f3, which somewhat resembles the Blackmar-Diemer Gambit. 3...e6 is probably the most solid response. Maroczy was the first one to play this.

Related to the Fantasy Variation is the gambit 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.f3 (or 4.Bc4 followed by 5.f3), which often transposes directly to lines of the Blackmar-Diemer Gambit. Actually these gambit variations are older than the BDG itself. They were invented by Milner-Barry (4.f3) and Von Hennig (4.Bc4).

Gurgenidze Variation: 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 g6--it is because of this variation that some players believe 3.Nd2 is more accurate (White can then play c3 at some point), though 3...g6 is also playable after that move.

Note that the Caro-Kann or lines similar to it can sometimes be reached by transposition of moves from the English Opening, after 1.c4 c6 2.e4 d5.

2. Bc4? is the Hillbilly Attack, played sometimes by beginners, or those aiming for Scholar's Mate. However, Black can simply play the following:

• 2. Bc4? d5
• 3. exd5 cxd5

Gaining a tempo on the Bishop. It is because of this that the Caro-Kann Defence is a good opening against those trying to play Scholar's Mate.

Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings

The Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings has ten codes for the Caro-Kann Defence, B10 through B19.

• B10: 1.e4 c6
• B11: 1.e4 c6 2.Nc3 d5 3.Nf3 Bg4 (Two Knights Variation with 3...Bg4)
• B12: 1.e4 c6 2.d4
• B13: 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 (Exchange Variation)
• B14: 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.c4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e6 (Panov-Botvinnik Attack)
• B15: 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3
• B16: 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nf6 5.Nxf6+ gxf6 (Bronstein-Larsen Variation)
• B17: 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nd7 (Steinitz Variation)
• B18: 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bf5 (Classical Variation)
• B19: 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bf5 5.Ng3 Bg6 6.h4 h6 7.Nf3 Nd7 (Classical Variation)

Trivia

1. In Frasier Season 3 Episode 18 (Chess Pains), Martin Crane beats Frasier for the first time when he accidentally stumbles into the Panov-Botvinnik attack.