Chess Opening Tutorial : Caro-Kann Defense

2.d4 d5 3.f3

Black has several reasonable lines.

• The natural 3...e6 brings the game back into variations similar to the French. The line 4.Nc3 Bb4 (4...Nf6 or 4...b6) 5.Bf4 (5.Bd2) 5...Ne7 (5...Nf6 6.Qd3) 6.Nge2 (6.Qd3) shows many of the ideas that are possible for both sides. A curious line is 4.Be3 dxe4 5.fxe4 (5.Nd2 is also possible), because of 5...Qh4+ 6.g3 Qxe4 7.Qe2, and if 7...Qxh1? 8.Bg2 Qxh2 9.Bxc6+.
  
  
• Black can maintain the central tension a different way with 3...dxe4 4.fxe4 e5. A good continuation is 5.Nf3 Be6 or 5...Bg4, but not 5...exd4 6.Bc4 and 7.O-O.
  
  
• Black can also steer the game into more unusual positions with 3...g6. Possible now is 4.Nc3 (4.c3) 4...Bg7 5.Be3 dxe4 (5...Qb6).
  
  

The move 3.f3 is an interesting attempt to avoid the long variations resulting after 3.Nc3.

Index: Chess Opening Tutorial : Caro-Kann Defense

1. Introduction
2. 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bf5
3. 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nd7
4. 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nf6
5. 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.c4
6. 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.Bd3
7. 2.d4 d5 3.e5
8. 2.d4 d5 3.f3
9. 2.c4
10. 2.Nc3