Caro-Kann Defense

Classical - Punishing the mistake 5.Bc4?

In the Classical Variation 4...Bf5 attacks the e4 Knight, which must move (usually 5.Ng3). If White develops another piece, like 5.Bc4, Black takes the Knight with the Bishop and wins a piece.

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bf5 5.Bc4 Bxe4

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...Bf5 – Capablanca Variation: the Bishop develops attacking the e4 Knight, which must move: Black comes out with tempo.
  9. 5.Bc4 – Mistake: White develops the Bishop toward f7 but leaves the e4 Knight attacked by the f5 Bishop and with no defense at all.
  10. 5...Bxe4 – Black takes the Knight: no white piece can recapture on e4 and Black is a piece up.

How to exploit the position

Black is a piece up with no compensation for White: it only has to complete development calmly.

Master tips

The e4 Knight must move after ...Bf5

In the Classical White almost always plays 5.Ng3: after 4...Bf5 the e4 Knight is attacked and no piece defends it.