A line in the Caro-Kann (this may extend a bit to mid game)

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CatoTheElder

I have played this line in the caro-kann several times with black (with mixed results) I am wondering if it is sound play for both sides. It seems to me that black should have an advantage in most end games although will be a bit strapped for space getting there.

Ideas on this line?

 

ItalianGame-inactive

I play something very similar to that

ItalianGame-inactive
Fiveofswords wrote:

I also really, really dont understand why you think black would be better in most endgames.


The key to winning the endgame is to have a good pawn structure, active king, active rook. ROOKS BELONG BEHIND PASSED PAWNS! That is the first rule of endgame play

DrizztD

Yes, but if all the pieces came off and it was the rooks, pawns, and king, I don't see how black has won.

CatoTheElder
Fiveofswords wrote:

I also really, really dont understand why you think black would be better in most endgames.


I think the kingside pawn majority and the weakness of the g pawn (which will likely force the e pawn to be stuck backward.

Cutebold

White extends his h-pawn which can lead to an attack, but it's also a target in the endgame. Black has solid chances and there certainly isn't anything wrong with securing the draw, at any rate.

Chess_Enigma
Fiveofswords wrote:

if black trades his c pawn for whites d pawn then he might get a kingside majority, but white also has queenside majority...and 3 pawns vs 2 make a passed pawn much quicker and easier than 4 vs 3 in general. The comment you made about an e pawn is just strange, because white doesnt have an e pawn...


First black will trade the c pawn for the d pawn and double on the c file forcing c3.

Black's pawn structure is much better because he has a minority attack on the queen side 2-3(liquidating pawns to create a weak one). Combined with the h5 weakness to play against, black has every chance to win the endgame.

Of course it would be beyond the scope of the post to go indepth of how to exploit the weaknesses or which minors are better here.