Caro-Kann Defence
1.e4 c6
This opening was named after the two German players Horatius Caro and Marcus Kann. This opening enjoys a very solid, respectability and has played frequently in World Championship matches by Karpov and Botvinnik. 1...c6 prepares 2...d5 challenging the centre without imprisoning the Queen's bishop as is the case in the French Defence. On the other hand, the pawn on c6 takes away a natural developing square for the black knight on b8.
White has three main options after 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5
Classical Variation
3. Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4
A. 4...Bf5 5.Ng3 Bg6 6.h4 h6 7.Nf3 Nd7 8.h5 Bh7 9.Bd3 Bxd3 10.Qxd3 e6
B. 4...Nd7 (Karpov Variation) 5.Ng5 Ngf6 6.Bd3 e6 7.N1f3 Bd6 8.Qe2 h6 9.Ne4 Nxe4 10.Qxe4
Exchange Variation
3. exd5 cxd5
which can lead to the Rubinstein Variation with 4.Bd3 Nc6 5.c3 Nf6 6.Bf4 Bg4 7.Qb3 Qd7 8.Nd2 e6 9.Ngf3
or the Panov-Botvinnik Attack with 4.c4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e6 6.Nf3 Be7 7.cxd5 Nxd5 8.Bd3 0-0 9.0-0
Advance Variation
3. e5
Flank Attack 3...Bf5 4.Nc3 (4.h4 h5 5.c4 e6 6.Nc3 Ne7 7.Nf3 Nd7) 4...e6 5.g4 Bg6 6.Nge2 c5 7.h4 h6 8.Be3 Nc6 9.f4 Qb6
Short Variation (championed by British Grandmaster Nigel Short.) 3...Bf5 4.Nf3 e6 5.Be2 c5 6.0-0 Ne7 7.dxc5 Nec6 8.a3 Bxc5 9.b4 Be7 10.c4
