Caro-Kann Defense Exchange Variation


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This lesson is designed for chess beginners, and it will give you initial knowledge on the Exchange variation of the Caro-Kann Defense. The Exchange variation is one of the most popular in the Caro-Kann. See the official data, description and video below. A short PGN file on this variation of the Caro-Kann may follow.

Caro-Kann Defense, Exchange Variation: Official Data


Variation Name: Exchange variation of the Caro-Kann Defense
Variation Moves: 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5
ECO codes: B13-B14
Parent Opening: Caro-Kann Defense

Exchange variation of Caro Kann Defense

Within the Caro-Kann Defense, the Exchange variation has almost the same popularity as the 3.Nc3 variation. The Exchange variation of the Caro-Kann is B13-B14. After 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5, there are 2 playing lines. Line 1 runs via [3... cxd5] 4.c4 (Exchange, Panov-Botvinnik attack).

Line 2 runs via [3... cxd5] 4.Bd3 which is Exchange, Rubinstein variation. Line 1 with 4.c4 on the Exchange, Panov-Botvinnic attack is approximately twice more popular than Line 2. The main continuation of the Panov-Botvinnic attack is 4.c4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e6 6.Nf3 Be7 or 6... Bb4.

Caro-Kann Defense, Exchange Variation: Video


The Panov-Botvinnic attack of the Exchange variation may be characterized by a beautiful chess opening structure with 2 isolated pawns on d4 and d5. You can see this in the video, which follows. It will show how to correctly play 2 proven lines of the Caro-Kann Exchange:




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To the Main Page of Caro-Kann Defense

On this page of chess-openings-for-beginners.blogspot.com you have studied the Exchange variation of the Caro-Kann Defense chess opening, which has almost the same popularity as the 3.Nc3. The variation starts with 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5; it occupies ECO code B13-B14 in the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings.

Caro-Kann Defense 3.Nc3 Variation


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This information is designed for chess beginners, and it will give you initial knowledge on the 3.Nc3 variation of the Caro-Kann Defense. The 3.Nc3 variation is one of the most popular in the Caro-Kann. Please read official data, text, and see video below. A short pgn file on the variation will follow.

3.Nc3 Variation: Official Data


Variation Name: 3.Nc3 variation of the Caro-Kann Defense
Variation Moves: 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3
ECO Codes: B15-B19

3.Nc3 variation of Caro Kann Defense

The Nc3 variation of the Caro-Kann Defense is ECO codes B15-B19. Officially, this variation has 15 subvariations - all of them run through the following 3 lines: • 3.Nc3 -- dxe4, • 3.Nc3 -- g6, • 3.Nc3 -- b5. The line 3.Nc3 -- dxe4 is the most popular one; the second popular line is 3.Nc3 -- g6.

The 3.Nc3 variation is sometimes called the Modern variation. It is common at the chess master level and at the top level of chess. For example, in the year 2010 the variation was played by V. Ivanchuk (2764), T. Radjabov (2744), P. Eljanov (2742), J. Polgar (2686).

Caro-Kann Defense, 3.Nc3 Variation: Video


The most popular line of the Caro-Kann, 3.Nc3 variation is 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bf5. To get a feel of the 3.Nc3 variation of the Caro-Kann, the next video (3 min. 26 seconds) will show you its 1 proven line. The video will also show how to estimate your success in playing any chess opening:




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To learn more, you are welcome to download a PGN file on the 3.Nc3 variation of the Caro-Kann. The file is 20 games played by chess masters in 2010. The games were analyzed by a computer program and sorted by lines. Best middlegame line for each game is shown:

Download the Caro-Kann, 3.Nc3 Variation PGN File (19 KB)

Note 1. The above file is to be downloaded from Google Drive. First click the above link to open, then click the download icon to download.
Note 2. To read the above PGN File and see chess games inside, you will need a PGN Viewer software. See Lesson 16, which explains how to download a decent freeware PGN Viewer Program.

To the Main Page of Caro-Kann Defense

On this page, you have learned the 3.Nc3 variation of the Caro-Kann Defense chess opening which is also called the Modern variation of the Caro-Kann...

Caro-Kann Defense | Lesson 40


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This page is designed for chess beginners, and it will give you initial knowledge on the Caro-Kann Defense chess opening. Here on this page you can find official data and description of the Caro-Kann Defense chess opening, see chess video "Caro-Kann: General Information", and find more links to this opening at the bottom.

I. Caro-Kann Defense: Data and Description


Chess Opening Name: Caro-Kann Defense
Type: Semi-Open Game (Semi-Open Games begin with 1.e4   other than e5)
Moves Order: 1.e4 c6
ECO Codes: B10–B19

Caro Kann Defense chess opening

The Caro-Kann Defense is a Semi-Open Game chess opening -- it begins with 1.e4   other than e5. It has reputation of solid and strong defense for Black with creating a good pawn structure for endgame. It is named after the English player Horatio Caro and the Austrian's Marcus Kann. They both analyzed this chess opening in 1886.

The Caro-Kann is a popular opening, and the following is the answering statistics:
• 2.d4 - 80%. • 2.Nc3 - 6%. • 2.c4 - 5%.
• 2.d3 - 3%. • 2.Nf3 - 3%.   Total: 97%.

The following is 8 common variations of the Caro-Kann:
• Caro-Kann, 3.Nc3 variation: 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 - B15.
• Caro-Kann, Exchange variation: 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 - B13.
• Caro-Kann, Advance variation: 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 - B12.

• Caro-Kann, Classical variation: 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bf5 - B18.
• Caro-Kann, 3.Nd2 variation: 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 - B12.
• Caro-Kann, Tartakower (fantasy) variation: 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.f3 - B12.

• Caro-Kann, 2.Nc3 variation: 1.e4 c6 2.Nc3 - B10.
• Caro-Kann, Anti-Caro-Kann variation: 1.e4 c6 2.c4 - B10.
To see description of the Caro-Kann in a visible way, please find the video below.

II. Caro-Kann Defense: General Information Video


The video will show the designated moves of the Caro-Kann Defense opening, ECO codes, general description, answering statistics, 8 most common variations. The video consists of 4 parts and runs 2 minutes 40 seconds. To see the video, click the Play button below:




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III. Caro-Kann Defense: Find More Links


Because this is the main page for the Caro-Kann Defense chess opening on this website, below you will find more links on Caro-Kann:

Caro-Kann, 3.Nc3 Variation [text, video, pgn]

Caro-Kann, Exchange Variation [text, video]

Caro-Kann, Advance Variation [text, video]

Caro-Kann, Classical Variation [text, video]

See all lessons on chess-openings-for-beginners.blogspot.com:

Links to All Chess Opening Lessons

Note. You can use this page as the main page for learning the Caro-Kann Defense chess opening on this website... Thank you!

Semi-Open Games General Information | Lesson 39


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This chess information is designed for beginners and intermediate chess players, and from this lesson on we start to learn the Semi-Open Game chess openings. To get initial information on the Semi-Open Games, please read the text below and see the video "Semi-Open Games: General Info" at the bottom of this page.

Tip: Semi-Open Game chess openings start up with the following moves: 1.e4 ... other than e5.


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Semi-Open Games: Information


A Semi-Open Game chess opening

Notes: The Semi-Open Game chess openings begin with 1. e4   other than e5. For examples: 1.e4 c6 (Caro-Kann Defense); 1.e4 c5 (Sicilian Defense); 1.e4 e6 (French Defense ); 1.e4 d5 (Scandinavian Defense); 1.e4 Nf6 (Alekhine's Defense)...

The Semi-Open Games are the chess openings which start with 1.e4   other than e5 -- for example 1.e4 c6 (see above); 1.e4 e6; 1.e4 c5. Note. An Open Game chess opening starts with 1.e4 e5. The other name of a Semi-Open Game is Single King Pawn Game because only White moves his king pawn on his 1st move while Black not.

Unlike the Open Games, the Semi-Open Games are more positional in play.
And there are the following 6 main Semi-Open Game chess openings:

• Caro-Kann Defense 1.e4 c6, B10–B19.
• French Defense 1.e4 e6, C00-C19.
• Sicilian Defense 1.e4 c5, B20-B99.

• Alekhine's Defense 1.e4 Nf6, B02-B05.
• Scandinavian Defense 1. e4 d5, B01. Synonym: Center Counter Defense.
• Pirc Defense 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3, B07-B09. Synonym: Ufimtsev [Yugoslav] Defence.

Semi-Open Game Chess Openings: Video


The next video will show you more information -- very interesting -- on the Semi-Open Game chess openings in a visible way. The video runs for 2 minutes 56 seconds. It will show you how to recognize a semi-open game, 6 main semi-open game openings by the initial moves, and you will see their characteristics:




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See all opening lessons on chess-openings-for-beginners.blogspot.com:

Links to All Chess Opening Lessons

On this page, you have got a general information about semi-open game chess openings which start with 1.e4 other than e5. On the next lessons, we will study the Semi-Open Game chess openings one by one: Caro-Kann Defense 1.e4 c6, B10–B19; French Defense 1.e4 e6, C00-C19; Sicilian Defense 1.e4 c5, B20-B99; Alekhine's Defense 1.e4 Nf6, B02-B05; Scandinavian Defense 1. e4 d5, B01; Nimzovich Defense, Pirc Defense, etc..