Advance - Solid Variation 4.c3 & ...c5
The ideal instructive reply to break through the white chain
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.c3 e6 5.Nf3 c5 6.Be2 Nc6 7.O-O Qb6 8.dxc5 Bxc5 9.b4
Move by move
- 1.e4 – White takes the center with the pawn and frees the Queen and the f1 Bishop. Against 1.e4 this course answers with the Caro-Kann, which prepares ...d5 without shutting in the c8 Bishop.
- 1...c6 – Caro-Kann Defense: the c6 pawn prepares ...d5 and supports it. Unlike the French, the c8 Bishop's diagonal stays open: it can come out to f5 or g4 before ...e6.
- 2.d4 – White builds the e4-d4 center: Black has not attacked it yet and White gains space.
- 2...d5 – Black attacks e4 with the support of the c6 pawn: after exd5 it will recapture cxd5, keeping a pawn in the center. White chooses between e5, Nc3, exd5 and f3.
- 3.e5 – Advance Variation: White closes the center and gains space. Unlike the French, Black can bring the c8 Bishop out before closing the chain with ...e6.
- 3...Bf5 – The Bishop comes out before ...e6, so it will not stay locked in behind the pawns: this is the main advantage of the Caro-Kann over the French.
- 4.c3 – White reinforces d4 at once, before developing: a solid but slow choice, which leaves Black time for ...e6 and ...c5.
- 4...e6 – Black closes the chain with the Bishop already out and prepares ...c5.
- 5.Nf3 – The Knight defends d4 and supports e5: White completes the c3-d4-e5 chain with development.
- 5...c5 – Black moves the c-pawn for the second time to attack d4: with the center closed the loss of time does not matter.
- 6.Be2 – White prepares castling; on d3 the Bishop would be traded with ...Bxd3.
- 6...Nc6 – Second attack on d4: the Knight joins the c5 pawn.
- 7.O-O – White castles and leaves d4 under pressure.
- 7...Qb6 – The Queen lines up on d4 behind the c5 pawn and attacks b2, tying the c1 Bishop to its defense.
- 8.dxc5 – White trades on c5 to then gain a tempo with b4 against the Bishop that will recapture.
- 8...Bxc5 – Black recaptures with development: the Bishop and the Queen form a battery against f2.
- 9.b4 – White drives the Bishop away with tempo and gains space on the queenside, preparing b5 against the c6 Knight.
How to exploit the position
Black is well developed and presses on f2 and b4; White has gained space with b4, but the c3 pawn and the c4 square are weak.
- Retreat the Bishop to e7: after ...Bxb4? cxb4 Nxb4 Black would have only two pawns for the piece.
- ...a5 attacks b4 and opens the a-file for the Rook.
- ...Nge7 and ...O-O complete development; the e7 Knight can go to g6 against e5.
- ...f6 breaks the chain on e5 and opens the f-file, with the b6 Queen aimed at g1.
Master tips
Against b4 retreat the Bishop without sacrifices
After 9.b4 the Bishop goes to e7: Black keeps active pieces and White is left with weak squares on c3 and c4.