Caro kann 5. …g6

In my country, we call it the Caro-Pirc

it's a hybrid between the pirc Defense and the Caro-Kann.

I've always played the Modern with 1...g6, and I really liked this line with c6.

Nowadays, I prefer the Caro-Kann.

The move g6 is very useful in many variations.

For example, if you've never studied the Fantasy Variation or the Two Knights Variation, you can always play this magical g6 move that saves the day.

Interesting, I’ve never considered playing g6 vs the fantasy or two knights. I usually play e6 vs the fantasy and go for that kingside queen check trap but even going up a pawn and the opponent losing castling rights it’s still not an easy game due to the huge center. Seems like a good way to stay safe vs an attack-happy caro kann opening trap player. I play the fantasy as white and have never come across g6 as far as I can remember.

Yes, this setup with c6 and g6 is quite universal

you can use it against almost any opening White plays, and the good thing is that it’s inevitable. Your opponent can't really stop your idea.

For example, against 1.d4 you’d play d5 followed by c6, Nf6, g6...

Against 1.c4, you’d start with 1... c6 and do the same; against Nf3, same thing, etc.

Obviously, against the Bird or the London System, it’s not very logical to play c6 when they’re letting you freely play c5 although c6 is still possible if you want to stick to that philosophy.

4.Ng3???

What on earth is that move?

Haha - I have played g6 out of a Caro Kan before, but I have to admit I have never got into it using those move orders.

Karpov Move Order offers more possibilities.

It’s fairly common I think. Ng3 followed by nf3, restricts the ability of black to get the light squared bishop out. After h4 black has to retreat or trade a bishop for a knight in the opening, and put a knight on the rim of the board to recapture.

Really?

I guess I have never seen it played.

I have seen the above move and Black has to decide what capture to do.

I have seen the above move. It is a Gambit line.

Yeah, that’s the only 2 moves I have never seen.

The first one is the tarkatower line which I actually prefer, it’s fun to play and black can launch a big attack. It’s actually fairly uncommon, probably some caro players try to avoid it.

The only downside is the inferior pawn structure but the doubled pawn actually has its merits. Black needs to avoid an endgame.

the second is the alien gambit which I consider just an annoying trap that once black learns the defense of the myriad traps, white is worse as soon as black regains the initiative. It’s kind of like the Englund gambit , very effective against people who don’t know it, but it stops working.

i find more players go for the trappy caro kann lines as white, but I have good responses for all of them. Really I find the exchange , classical variation and panov as the most problematic for me.

Knight takes Knight has been the most played move in my experience.

In fact, I quit playing Nf6 because of the Knight trade line.

I don’t like the position for Black.

I switched to Classical & Karpov variation.

For short amount of time.

I think that’s why it’s relatively uncommon , because it seems like black lost the opening, so caro players avoid it. But it is perfectly playable and can actually be quite deadly. A lot of players as white will instinctively take the knight without thinking. But not bothering to study this line and taking it can be a mistake! The attacking themes are very hard to see and I’ve gotten many players with the trap I’ve posted above. The other advantage is black has an extremely safe king and there actually are cases where a pawn “cube” is formed in front of blacks king which can actually be quite good despite how silly it looks.

the best strategy for white is to trade down to an endgame with a winning pawn structure but that is easier said than done!