Accelerated Panov

White opens with the unfortunately traditional 1. e4, and Black responds with the Caro-Kann defense, 1. ..c6. White, being an aggressive sonofabitch, responds with the Accelerated Panov, 2. c4, thus challenging the inevitable 2. ..d5 typical of the Caro-Kann. The board looks like this:

In all the games I've seen black either continues with the Caro-Kann (2. ..d5) or anticipate it with the supporting 2. ..e6--but it seems to me that 2. ..Nf6 is actually a much better move. What gives? How come nobody is playing this response to the Accelerated Panov?

No. Actually, I am recommending 3. Nc3 e5.

White has not developed the Kingside, has a hanging pawn, and black has three defenders on d5. It seems to me that this line is better for black.

(here it is after the third move:)

3.e5 seems possible.

Reminds me of a weird looking English opening that had a baby with a Nimzo Indian formation 

1.e4 c6 2.c4 Nf6? 3.e5 seems ridiculous for black.

2...e6 is probably a transpositionnal move since black will follow with d5, although it looks strange to play e6 when u can play 2...d5 directly (there are some reasons but it would be off topic here).

Usually, black answers in 2 ways : 2...d5 (Caro Kann mode), or 2...e5 (old indian mode).

2...g6 may be possible to play a kind of king's indian or grunefeld, and 2...d6 waiting white's next move to go for e5 or g6, transposing.

Doesn't seem much of a mystery 2...Nf6 3e5 is immediately unattractive for black.

When u begin to play like this (2...Qa5), instead of normal moves, that the good way to be crushed.

Try to play normal chess at your level.

1.e4 c6 2.c4 d5 3. cxd5 cxd5 4. exd5 Nf6

now, what to play as white? @IM poucin, any ideas?

Bb5, Qa4, Nc3 are all good moves...

@ IM poucin,

thanks 😃 is there some middle game plan to those moves? I generally try to do kindside fianchetto in this position, so I play Nc3. Does kingside fianchetto work in this setup?

After Nc3, white will follow with d4, then with an isolated pawn.

Bf1 would have nothing to do in g2...

U will have to develop it at d3 or c4, sometimes b5 according circumstances.

5.Bb5+ and 5.Qa4+ also lead to IQP positions, though their idea is to bother black to recover d5, with concrete ideas...

@ IM poucin,

thanks a lot.😀

yeah, I wanted to play IQP games with this line. But, all my opponents seem to be capturing that IQP immediately with the horse. And I don't know what to do in such situations?

If your deciding to play Nc3 and d4, there doesn't seem any benefict to the accelerated Panov move order. In fact by delaying d4 making lines with Nd5 xNc3,  or g6 more attractive for black.

Most good middlegame books explain ideas in IQP positions, and for example Smyslov annotates quite a few of his games with IQP, in best games book(s).

The IQP refers to your d4 pawn (d2 will go to d4), so I don't understand what u are talking about.

Then it is just typical IQP play, with some concrete ideas in move orders...

1.e4 c6 2.c4 d5 3. cxd5 cxd5 4. exd5 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nxd5.

Now, we don't have an IQP. How to go about this position. Play Bc4? & Ne2? & d5?

I think this is called the "Steiner System".

it is not a "true" IQP but u still have an isolated pawn on d2, the play will be similar.

so, Bc4, Ne2 is the continuation?

Why do u want to develop your Ng1 on e2?

Almost always Nf3 to go for e5 with an isolated d4 pawn.

The Bf1 will go on c4 or d3, sometimes b5, according black's continuation.