Advice on the Caro-Kann

As I have never used any particular as black, I recently started to look a bit into the theory of the Caro-Kann defense. I found myself a bit lost in the advance variation because I don't really know what to play after 3.e5

What do you think could be a good response and how should I play afterwards?

The whole point behind the Caro-Kann is you are willing to waste a move in order to get the Bishop out, unlike the French, where Black goes full steam ahead, playing c7-c5 in 1 go, at the cost of having a bad bishop.  If you know how to handle a bad bishop, I think it is stronger than the Caro-Kann, but if you do not know what you are doing, the French can be lethal to Black in the form of good knight vs bad bishop ending.

So if Black is going to waste the time with his pawns just to get the Bishop out, then really 3...Bf5 makes the most sense against the advance, and thus is why it is by far the most played move, 3...c5 coming in at a distant second and pretty much all other moves are just outright bad.  Those 2 moves are Black's only 2 real options.

I think that c5 is the best

then take d4 if white does nf3

pretty equal position 

You won't be able to take on d4.  White gets a small advantage with 4.dxc5.

Also, do you just "think" that 3...c5 is best because that is what you play?  Or do you have any basis behind the move, like how I explained above the point of the Caro-Kann and the reasoning behind 3...Bf5.

I am not saying 3...c5 is bad.  4.dxc5 is only a slight advantage for White.  But you give no basis for your answer except an idea that SHOULD never happen!  Sure, if White has no idea what he is doing, great.  But never assume or hope for bad moves!

ok then

but nf3 isn't a bad move 

its the best move in that position

Hey Thriller. How's it goin it Charlotte? I haven't seen u since Asheville 2018. Has Peter still got the club closed? I saw that he was having some club games online but r they all unrated? 

You are 1000 in rapid, why did you even post?

Tuesday night rated play started late July.

No Saturday events planned until at least Q2 2021.

Actually, Nf3 is dubious at best.

If White is going to play the advance against the caro, he needs to know to play 4.dxc5 vs 3...c5.  Otherwise he has nothing!

3...Bf5, of course. The goal is to play ...e6 next, securing your bishop outside the central pawn chain.

But, you'll need to learn responses to each of White's 4th move tries, as they each involve different strategies.

If you want to go the free route, use an online database, such as:  https://old.chesstempo.com/game-database.html

Look at 3...Bf5, then look at the most common responses after it. See if you can understand why the most popular moves are played.

If you'd like a more in-depth study approach, I recommend getting the book: "Grandmaster Secrets: The Caro-Kann, by Peter Wells". It covers a lot of the ideas for Black, in a very thorough manner.

There's a lot of theory in the Advance Caro. After 3...Bf5, white has a lot of ideas

Most of these moves are rare so there's no need to study them all. From my experience playing Caro, 80% of the time I was getting 4.Nf3 e6 5.Bd3 which I always followed by Bxd3 6. Qxd3 Qa5+ 7.c3 Qa6! . I originally found the idea in Lars Schandorff's GM rep book and it allows black gain some queenside initiative.

For the other 4th moves I never had time to study them so whenever I faced them I just just tried to develop my pieces and play c5 at some point.

iv been playin the CK and my black win rate is like 61% iv been satisfied

In my personal experience, I have 60% win rate as black answering 1.e4 with e5. When I start with 1.e4 and black responds with the CK I find it very easy to prevail. But that is just me at 1200 rating and no theoretical knowledge whatsoever.

I think 1200 ranked players are not that good with the caro kan

He is an expert at losing, he is blessing us with his advice on how to lose. But sadly the Caro-Kann is a great opening and he is probably just bad at it so his advice doesn't apply.

After e5 you want to get your bishop out to f5. Thereafter you play to get c5 in and build pressure on the d4 square. 

Eventual Nc6, Qb6 and Nge7 to f5 are ways you keep building pressure vs their d4 pawn.

In the advanced Caro-Kann white has space, but at the cost of potential weaknesses black can try to take advantage off. Black has a really solid position.