Fear not: Caro-kann alive!
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Kevin Pacey
Wells' book GM Secrets on the Caro called the move 5...Nc6 'quite a spirited defence', as should be apparent (barring the Endgame Variation, that might be considered a mainline), which I was admittedly extrapolating by when it comes to 5...e6 (which Wells calls 'solid'). All my books have respect for either move. Wells says 5...Nc6 may be sounder, while IM Jouska says it may be riskier, even though she recommends it. Schandorff is a serious writer, and 5...Nc6 is his recommendation for Black too. To me, either move is worthy of mainline status, and who says there has to be just one mainline (well, Karpov's old co-authored book is the only one suggesting that 5...e6 is the one and only 5th move mainline, of the many books that I have)? Fwiw, as Black (and merely being a national master) I play 5...g6, and that's definitely not a mainline (though it is spirited), IMHO. In any case I could throw out names of many elite players who have played 5...Nc6 too, some of them the same ones who use 5...e6 at least now & then, e.g. (not counting the earlier mentioned Kramnik, or Ponomarionov, Euwe, and G. Kasparov): Bareev, Dreev, Leko, Adams...
Yes, Karpov calls it the main line. I think his opinion is extremely qualified... not only was he World Champion when he played those games, no other living GM has ever defended the black side of a Panov in OTB games more often than he has. Dozens and dozens of games against the best players in the world.
If the fact that 5...e6 is played more than twice as often as 5...Nc6 doesn't make it a main line, it baffles me what criteria we are to use when calling a variation the main line.
As for books, here are a few more:
Gallagher, "Starting out The Caro-Kann"
1) He can defend his centre with the solid 5 ... e6. This is Black's most popular way of meeting the Panov-Botvinnik and is the line that often leads to the classic IQP position.
2) He can rapidly develop his queenside with ... Nc6 and ... Bg4 (or ... Be6). This would be quite risky if it wasn't for the fact that it is backed up by a lot of theory.
IM Edmar Mednis, "Understanding the Caro-Kann defence":
5...e6! By far Black's soundest procedure in the Panov. The critical d5-point is now sufficiently protected to allow Black to complete his Kingside development easily with . . . Be7 (...Bb4!) and . . . 0-0.
If this is too tame for you, there are two other important variations you may consider. You should know, however, that these other variations require much greater technical and tactical mastery than the main line and that Black also runs the risk of landing quite suddenly in an unfavorable position.
Jacob Aagard: "Easy guide to the Panov"
Those who do not wish to defend the endgame (and trust me, it's a painful task!) in the variation 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd cxd 4.c4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.cxd Nxd5 7.Nf3 Bg4 8.Qb3 Bxf3 9.gxf e6 10.Qxb7 Nxd4 11.Bb5 Nxb5 12.Qc6 Ke7 13.Qb5, often avoid it as follows:
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd cxd 4.c4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.cxd Nxd5 7.Nf3 Bg4 8.Qb3 Bxf3 9.gx Nb6 However, White should have the better chances in this middlegame due to his bishop pair.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Kevin Pacey
I hope you're not trolling, as that's not taken too kindly on this discussion board by the moderator. Otherwise, perhaps a calmer approach will help any further discussion.
I beg your pardon??
I do not agree with your views or comments on this variation, I have a completely different opinion about it. I'm sorry that you regard this as trolling and that you need to get the admins to review my posts because I simply disagree with you.
I have not attacked the person, but the ideas, and I have backed them with evidence from both books and GM practice. I just think people who read your post could be missled about this variation, and they deserve to read a different view so that they can make up their own minds.
5...e6 can lead to one of the most fascinating type of positions (IQP) that the chess world has seen over the last 50 years, positions which GMs still don't agree on despite the use of computers. To compare that to the boring endgame that you can get in the 5...Nc6 variation and still call 5...e6 "unspirited" is, to my eyes, both wrong and utterly unfair.
And then you say " against the less spirited 5...e6 and 5...g6 lines. A bit of additional work, but at least White can be rewarded with his share of fun by playing the Panov.". "a bit of additional work"?? Really?? It has taken Masters years to understand those positions and play them well!
Kevin, I know your enthusiasm and contributions to this community have been nothing short of fantastic, I'm not taking away any of the credit that you have so deservedly earned, but in this particular case, you're portraying an unrealistic picture of how hard it is to master those variations.