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Dear Readers, This month focuses entirely on the Caro-Kann. I know that many of you are interested in other openings, but surprisingly (or perhaps not) the Caro-Kann has been played and analyzed a great deal recently. Over the next few months I will try to make more room for the other openings, the Scandinavian (don't miss the new eBook!), Pirc and Alekhine.
So many interesting Caro-Kann games were played in March in that it was not even easy to make the choice of which games to pick for this article.

Download PGN of April '15 1 e4 ... games

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Caro-Kann Advance 3...c5 4.c4 [B12]

We will start with the ever popular Advance Variation, and the Nisipeanu - Antal game from the recent Austrian League. The 3.e5 c5 sideline always has its followers:

The game reached the same position as last month's Schroeder-Kazhgaleyev, but here White preferred to play 8.Bb5+ Nc6 9.Bxc6+ before recapturing on d4. I think that White had the better chances but somehow misplayed it.


Caro-Kann Advance 3...Bf5 4.c4 [B12]

Muzychuk,A-Goryachkina, played in the World Championship for Women, is a very interesting game with plenty of possibilities. After the initial moves 3.e5 Bf5 4.c4 e6 5.Nc3 Ne7 6.Be3!? it is worth a serious look for both sides:

White followed-up with c5 and f4 taking lots of space.


Caro-Kann Advance 3...Bf5 Short System 5...c5 6.Be3 [B12]

Probably one of the most interesting games is Bartel - Laznicka from a recent Bundesliga round, in which the Polish GM launched a completely new and seemingly very strong idea. After 3.e5 Bf5 4.Nf3 e6 5.Be2 c5 6.Be3 cxd4 7.Nxd4 Ne7 8.0-0 Nbc6 9.Bb5 Bg6 10.c4 a6 he first played the rare 11.Ba4!?:

and then ... well, I will not reveal everything in the intro!


Caro-Kann Advance 3...Bf5 Short System 5...Nd7 6.0-0 f6!? [B12]

Hansen - Mamedyarov Reykjavik 2015, is another try in the rare line we saw in last month's article, 3.e5 Bf5 4.Nf3 e6 5.Be2 Nd7 6.0-0 f6:

It seems that this line is not to be taken lightly, as Black had no problems whatsoever.


Caro-Kann Advance 3...Bf5 4.h4 h5 5.Bd3 [B12]

The Onischuk - Burmakin game is also interesting from a positional point of view, the opening went 3.e5 Bf5 4.h4 h5 5.Bd3 Bxd3 6.Qxd3 e6 7.Bg5!?:

Such aspects are very important.


Caro-Kann Advance 3...Bf5 4.h4 c5 [B12]

Predojevic - Nilsen from the Norwegian league is also another interesting game that requires careful study, where 3.e5 Bf5 4.h4 c5!? was played:

White won convincingly, but nothing was forced for some time in the game so it is possible to look for other possibilities for Black.


Two Knights Variation 3...Nf6!? 4.e5 Ne4 5.Ne2 [B11]

The very interesting game Adams - Motylev was yet another Bundesliga encounter. After 1.e4 c6 2. Nc3 d5 3.Nf3 Nf6!? 4.e5 Ne4 5.Ne2 we have a rare but highly intriguing line:

Adams managed to gain the initiative and win, but many questions remain to be answered.


Caro-Kann Smyslov's Line - 4...Nd7 5.Ng5 [B17]

Finally, a game from Reykjavik that can seriously question how we look at preparation and openings, Stefansson - Granda Zuniga, in which White lost in 18 moves!

After 3...dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nd7 5.Ng5 Ngf6 6.Bd3 e6 7.N1f3, the immediate 7...h6 is considered a bad move order for Black, but is it?

8.Nxe6 is the well known piece sac that allows White a strong attack, but, on the other hand, Black is a piece up.



I hope you will enjoy this month's coverage, till next month, sincerely yours Milos.

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