Caro-Kann Defense

Karpov - Dodging the smothered mate 5.Qe2

In the Karpov Variation the move 5.Qe2 sets a trap: after 5...Ngf6?? 6.Nd6# the black King is shut in by its own pieces and the e7 pawn is pinned. With 5...Ndf6 Black challenges the e4 Knight and leaves the d7 square free.

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nd7 5.Qe2 Ndf6

Move by move

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 2.d4 – White builds the e4-d4 center: Black has not attacked it yet and White gains space.
4. 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.
5. 3.Nc3 – Classical Variation: White defends e4 by developing the Knight. Black usually trades on e4 at once to develop the c8 Bishop with tempo.
6. 3...dxe4 – Black gives up the center but eliminates the e4 pawn: now it can develop its pieces by attacking the Knight that recaptures.
7. 4.Nxe4 – The Knight recaptures and centralizes on e4, where however it can be attacked with tempo by ...Bf5, ...Nd7-f6 or ...Nf6.
8. 4...Nd7 – Karpov Variation: the Knight prepares ...Ngf6, so after Nxf6+ Black recaptures with the Knight without doubled pawns.
9. 5.Qe2 – Trap: the Queen goes to the e-file. If now 5...Ngf6??, 6.Nd6# is smothered mate, because the e7 pawn is pinned by the Queen and cannot take the Knight.
10. 5...Ndf6 – The correct answer: the d7 Knight challenges the e4 Knight and frees the d7 square for the King, so Nd6+ is no longer mate.

How to exploit the position

Black has avoided the trap and has a normal position: the f6 Knight attacks e4 and the white Queen on e2 hinders the f1 Bishop.

• If Nxf6+, recapture ...Nxf6: healthy structure and comfortable development.
• ...Bg4 attacks the e2 Queen with tempo, or ...Bf5 develops the Bishop on the active diagonal.
• ...e6 and ...Bd6 or ...Be7, then short castling: as long as the Queen stays on the e-file, always watch the Knight's jumps to d6.

Master tips

The smothered mate Nd6#

With the white Queen on e2 the e7 pawn is pinned: before playing ...Ngf6 check that the King has a free square. With the Knight on d7, Nd6 is mate.