Advance - Short System 4.Nf3 & 5.Be2
The modern treatment of the Super GMs: positional development controlling the g4 square
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.Nf3 e6 5.Be2 Nd7 6.O-O Ne7 7.c3 h6 8.Nbd2 Bh7 9.Nb3 Nf5
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.Nf3 – Short System: quiet development. The Knight supports d4 and e5 and White prepares Be2, O-O and c3, without attacking the f5 Bishop at once.
- 4...e6 – With the Bishop already out, Black closes the e6-d5 chain without problems and frees the f8 Bishop.
- 5.Be2 – The Bishop prepares castling and, later, the Nh4 jump to trade off the f5 Bishop.
- 5...Nd7 – The b8 Knight goes to d7, from where it controls e5 and supports the future ...c5 break.
- 6.O-O – White castles; its plan is c3, Nbd2 and perhaps Nh4 against the f5 Bishop.
- 6...Ne7 – The g8 Knight goes to e7, heading for f5 as soon as the Bishop has found shelter on h7, or g6.
- 7.c3 – White reinforces d4 with the pawn in view of Black's pressure with ...c5 and ...Nf5.
- 7...h6 – It prepares the ...Bh7 retreat: the Bishop will avoid the trade with Nh4 and leave the f5 square to the Knight.
- 8.Nbd2 – The b1 Knight develops: it can go to b3 to control c5 or to f1-g3 on the kingside.
- 8...Bh7 – The Bishop gets to safety on h7, where it cannot be traded with Nh4 and stays on the b1-h7 diagonal. Now f5 is free for the Knight.
- 9.Nb3 – The Knight controls c5 and hinders the ...c5 break, Black's main lever.
- 9...Nf5 – The Knight occupies f5: it attacks d4 and controls e3, g3 and h4. Black prepares ...Be7, ...O-O and the ...c5 break.
How to exploit the position
Advance structure with the black Bishop outside the chain: White has space, Black well-placed pieces (Knight on f5, Bishop on h7) and the ...c5 lever still to prepare.
- Prepare ...c5 with ...b6 or with ...Qb6: the b3 Knight controls c5, so the break must be supported.
- ...a5-a4 drives the b3 Knight away and frees the c5 square for the break.
- ...Be7 and ...O-O: the King gets to safety, while ...h6 has already taken g5 away from White's pieces.
- If White drives the f5 Knight away with g4, retreat it to e7: the g4 pawn will have weakened f4 and the white King.
Master tips
Develop the Bishop to f5 before playing ...e6
The great strength of the Caro-Kann over the French is that the light-squared Bishop does not stay locked behind the pawns. Always play 3...Bf5 before closing the e6-d5 triangle.