The Caro-Kann Defense

This is not a very common defense, but it is good. The purpose of this opening is to give white a pawn center to immediately knock it down. This has a close relation to the French Defense. The difference is instead of blocking in the light bishop, you block a square from the knight. The main line reads 1. e4, c6 2. d4, d5. Because it isn't used very much, there is little information, so this is one of the smaller sections. This is to your advantage because there are less strategies to attack it.

The Caro-Kann Defense

	A	B	C	D	E	F	G	H
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1

The diagram of the Caro-Kann Defense is on the left. This has a reputation for being a safe and sound opening for black. White, unlike in the French Defense, has a higher win percentage when he pushes rather than exchanges. However, if white chooses to push, black can respond by playing f6. If pxp, Nxp and black is up in development. This isn't as commonly played as other openings, but it is still in the top ten openings for black out of about 200. Plus, there are less variations on this and how to attack it well. This could be your opening move if you practice with it. Commonly after e5, black moves Bf5. My favorite move here is h4. Black tries to release both of his bishops with e6 most of the time, but if he does so here, then g4 kills the bishop. Most people will not be that stupid...although I have succeeded with this on multiple occasions. Bd3 is also common and white can get a significant advantage with such moves as c4 and 0-0-0. Black is safe but has virtually no attack.