Fighting 1. d4: The Caro-Kann Expansion Pack Presenting a…
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Fighting 1. d4: The Caro-Kann Expansion Pack
Presenting a Lichess study I've been working on for a while now: Fighting 1. d4: The Caro-Kann Expansion Pack. https://lichess.org/study/GJDEIejV/wH66DXwL
"What do I play against 1. d4?" is one of the commonest questions on this sub, and it's a very difficult question to answer for beginner-intermediate players. One size fits all hypermodern answers like the Dutch or KID aren't very principled, sign you up for quite a bit of theory at a higher level, and don't suit a lot of players. Other glib answers like "play the QGD" or "play the Nimzo" are papering over a lot of complexity: what about the Catalan? And especially, at lower levels, what about the London? If you're 1000 rated and trying to tackle the London, finding an intuitive line against it that doesn't bore you to death is not easy.
This study is based around the Classical Slav out of a 1...c6 move order and is designed especially for people who already play the Caro-Kann: it has stylistic and pawn-structure similarities. But it's totally possible to play pretty much everything in it out of a 1...Nf6 move order as well - I play most of what is in this study in my own repertoire, alongside the Sicilian.
I would say this is suitable for anyone up to 2000 rating, although I don't think players below about 900 should be attempting to memorize specific opening lines. But the ideas in it are all beginner-suitable: it's solid structures and principled counter-strikes in the center. So you can start playing this move-order at any rating and dip into the study for ideas as needed.
This is my answer from now on for "what should I play against 1. d4", especially for Caro-Kann fans.
#games
source
Presenting a Lichess study I've been working on for a while now: Fighting 1. d4: The Caro-Kann Expansion Pack. https://lichess.org/study/GJDEIejV/wH66DXwL
"What do I play against 1. d4?" is one of the commonest questions on this sub, and it's a very difficult question to answer for beginner-intermediate players. One size fits all hypermodern answers like the Dutch or KID aren't very principled, sign you up for quite a bit of theory at a higher level, and don't suit a lot of players. Other glib answers like "play the QGD" or "play the Nimzo" are papering over a lot of complexity: what about the Catalan? And especially, at lower levels, what about the London? If you're 1000 rated and trying to tackle the London, finding an intuitive line against it that doesn't bore you to death is not easy.
This study is based around the Classical Slav out of a 1...c6 move order and is designed especially for people who already play the Caro-Kann: it has stylistic and pawn-structure similarities. But it's totally possible to play pretty much everything in it out of a 1...Nf6 move order as well - I play most of what is in this study in my own repertoire, alongside the Sicilian.
I would say this is suitable for anyone up to 2000 rating, although I don't think players below about 900 should be attempting to memorize specific opening lines. But the ideas in it are all beginner-suitable: it's solid structures and principled counter-strikes in the center. So you can start playing this move-order at any rating and dip into the study for ideas as needed.
This is my answer from now on for "what should I play against 1. d4", especially for Caro-Kann fans.
#games
source
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