THE CARO-I{ANN!

IN BLACI( AND 'VIIITE

hy GM ANATOLY KAHI'OV (FIJ)E WOItLIl CIIAMI'ION)

and GI\1 i\(,I';XANlllm III~LIA VSK V
with a FOl"lvlInl by GM (ton n"nl,·y

The ChcssUnsp UlliVCI'sily Opening S"I'ies (CIIU 3040)

It & I> I'lIhli~hin2

A Dh'lsioll or 41\1 I>nl:i Sysll'lns, Inc.

ii 11riCaro-Ka,m! In Black and While

e Copyright 1994. R&D Publishing. All Rights Reserved.

ISBN 1-883358-16-7

No pnrt of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval syslem, or

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R&D Publishing
c/o Box 133
Hagerstown, MD 21741
(800) 524-3527 (Orders only)

Senior Editor: Paul Hodges

Proofing (Russian manuscript): 1M Evgeni Oik
Translation froon the Russian: OM Alex Fishbein
Cover Art: Gary Fersler & Keith Baumbach
Cover Layout: Dawn Maddox
Typesetting: 1M Productions
 The Cara-Kann! In Black and While
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
by Paul Hodges
(Senior Editor, R&D Publishing)
ANATOLY KARPOV
Born: 5/23/5 I, Ziatoust, Chelyabinsk,
USSR
Grandmaster: 1970
World Champion: 1975-1985
FlOE World Champion: 1993-
A list of all of Anatoly Karpov's
accomplishments in the world of chess
would require a book unto itself. It is far
simpler to state that Anatoly Karpov, is
without doubt, one of the greatest
chessplayers who ever lived. After
winning the World Junior
Championship in 1969, Karpov became
a grandmaster in 1970 and rose rapidly
through the ranks of young Soviet chess
stars to establish himself as a legitimate
World Championship Contender.
Karpov became World Champion In
1975 - a title he would hold for the next
ten years. Most recently, he recaptured
the FIDE crown in 1993 by defeadng
Timmnn in the Holland/Indonesia FIDE
World Championship Match. He is the
most successful tournament plnyer of
all time, and it is a testament to his
resolve and talent that this seemingly
forever young knight of the chessboard
recently posted the most spectacular
iii
result of his career by winning the 1994
Linares "Supergrandmaster" event by
a crushing margin.
Anatoly Karpov is probably the
world's leading expert on U,e handling
of the Caro-Kann Defense. His
practical, no-nonsense style of writing
and elucidation will ably serve the
reader as a guide through this
strategically and tactically complex
defense.
AJ.EXANDER BELIAVSKY
Born: 12/17/53, Lvov, Ukraine. USSR
Grandmaster: 1975
World Championship Candidate:
1983,1985
"Big AI" was World Junior
Champion in 1973 and became a
grandmaster in 1975. He has been one
of the world's leading grandmasters for
a,e better part of the last two decades
with numerous tournament wins to his
credit, including four Soviet
Championships: 1974, 1980/81, 1987
and 1990, He was twice a World
Championship Candidate.
iv The Cora-Konnl In Black and While

CARO-KANN BOOKS-ON-DISK
"Caro-Kann! Power Playl Part I"
(Cla..<;.<;ical, Nimzovich, Tartakower and Smyslov-Petrosian Systems)
by "Team Karpov"
Ches.c;Base USA "Book-on-Disk"
CBU259pp

"Caro-Kann! Power Play! Part 2"

(Panov Attack, Two Knights, KIA, Exchange
and Advance Variations)
by ''Team Karpov"
Ches.c; Base USA "Book-on-Disk"
CBU262pp

are available exclusively from ChessBase USA

for use with ChessBa..c;e, Access, Fritz & KnightStalker programs
and can be used as companion disks to
''The Caro-Kann! In Black and White"

ChessBase USA
Box 133
Hagerstown, MD 21741
(800) 524-3527 (orders only)
 The Caro-Kann! In Blacle a"d While v

CONTENTS
About the Aulhors by Paul Hodges .................................. iii
Introdu~tion by GMs Anatoly Karpov & Alexander BeUavsky • • . . . . . . . .. vii
Forward by GM Ron Henley ....................................... Ix

Parll - Caro-Kann! White Viewpoint

(by AlelLander Beliavsky) ..•.•••.••..••...•••••.•..••...•....•.•••
IW The Panov Attack ...•.....•.....•..•. , .•............•.. , ...• , 3
2W The Advance Variation ...................................... 27
3W Nimrovicn System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . . • . . . . . .. 47
4W The S... exf6 System ..•...................................•.. 61
SW The Classi~al System . . . . . . . . . • . . • • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . .. 67
6W The Petrosian-Smyslov System .......... .. . . .. .. .. .. .. • .. .. ... 83

Paa111 - Caro-Kann! Black Viewpoint

(by Anatoly Karpov) ..•.•.•.••••...••..•. , .•..•....•...•...•.••• <n
IB The Panoy At~k ...•...•..........•....•........ " . . • . . . . . .. 99
2B The Advance Variation ..............•....................... 121
3B Nimzovicb System .......................................... 141
4B The 5 ... cxf6 System. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . •• . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 147
5B 1be Classical System. . . . . . .. . .. .. . • .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ... 153
6B The Petrosian-Smyslov System ••.•....•.•.••..••.•...• , •.••• " 169

Index of Complete Games. . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . . . .. • . . . . • .. .. ... 193

~ Coro-Kann! /n Bid ami 1Y,1UII!!
 17,e Caro-Kann! In Black arid Wllire
INTRODUCTION
by Anatoly Karpov & Alexander Beliavsky
This book is devoted to the Caro-Kann
Defense and is presented in an unusual
fonnat. The two authors, A.Beliavsky
and A.Karpov, take different points of
view. Beliavsky is an advocate for
white's interests, while Karpov defends
black's. This two-sided approach to the
Caro·Kann helps the reader undersUmd
the various nuances . plus and minus -
of this popular opening. The Caro-Kann
Defense, in fact, occurs frequently at the
highest levels, including world
championship matches. Each of the
authors has selected 25 crucial games,
which were played by well-known
grandmasters, mainly in the past five
years, and which reflect the current state
of the opening. However, this book is
not a manual or a textbook, and
therefore, we did not cover systems
which are now rarely played. These
systems include:
The Gambit Variation
(1.e4 c6 2.d4.dS 3.0)
The Exchange Variation
(1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.~d3
lOc65.c3)
vii
Systems with an early ...g6
(l.e4c62.d4d5 3.10:3 g6or4.~2g6)
Systems without d2·d4
(Two Knights Variation: l.e4 c6 2.1t:l0
dS 3.lOc3)
King's lndian Attack
(1.e4 c6 2.d3 d5 3.~2)
Other rare systems
(1.e4 c6 2.b3; 1.e4 c6 2.lOc3 d' 3."0;
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.lOc3 b5)
As for our book, we have concentrated
our attention on the following
variations:
I. The Panov Attack: 1.e4 c6 2.d4 dS
3.exdS cxdS 4.c4 and the analogous
Steiner system: l.e4 c6 2.c4 dS 3.exdS
cxdS 4.cxdS.
II. The Advance Variation: 1.e4 c6 2.d4
dS 3.eS .i.fS.
III. TheNimzovichsystem: l.e4c62.d4
dS 3.lOc3 dxe4 4.1·oxe4 It:lf6 S.lt:lxf6+
gxf6.
IV. The system 1.e4 c6 2.d4 dS 3.lOc3
dxe4 4.lt:lxe4lt:lf6 S.lt:lxf6+ exf6.
V. The Classical System: 1.e4 c6 2.d4
dS 3.lOc3 dxe4 4.lt:lxe4 .i.f5.
viii :pre Caro-Kann! In Dlackand White
VI. The Petrosian-Smyslov System:
l.e4 ,,6 2.d4 dS 3.~xc3 dxe4 4.~xe4
tbd7.
Different variations of Ihe
Caro-Kann Defense are defined by the
position of the white and black pawns.
Although in this opening pawnslructure
does not direct! y determine the plan
(unlike, for example, in the King"s
Indian DefehSe), we slill precede each
system with a diagram, picturing the
typical pawn chains.
The first part of the book was written
by Alextinder Seliavsky, the second by
Anatoly Karpov.
Note that while the first part contains
only two drawn games, in the second
half about half of the examples end in
draws. This is understandable - when
black achieves ""equal rights"" in any
opening it should be regarded as a
success and the Caro-Kann is no
exception. In quite a few cases, the
authors enter into a sort of running
debate, and each one supplements and
makes more precise the other"s
recommendations.
In the processes of annotating the
games, we cover not only the opening
but also the middlegame and the
endgame, w hioh often arc closely
connected with the opening"
Incidentally, the rcader will find in the
notes about twice as many other
examples from games. Therefore, we
believe that there is sufficient material
here for the book to be useful and
interesting to all chess lovers
(regardless of their level of play) and
even those who have not yet included
the Caro"Kann in their opening
repertoire. In conclusion, we would like
to thank Evgeny Gik, a chess maslerand
wri ler. for his aid in this work: he
carefully read the entire \ext and helped
make one book out of two.
Alexander Beliavsky
Anatoly Karpov
 771e Caro-Kann! In Black and While
FORWARD
TIlE CARO-KANN AT TIlE HIGHEST LEVELS
by GM Ron Henley
I first met Anatoly Karpov in Mexico
at the end of 1988. He invited me to
work on his team of seconds far his
upcoming Candidates match with
Hjartarson, an assignment I was happy
toaccepl. Ever since then we have been
good friends, and I have been his second
during two of his World Championship
malehes (against Kasparav in 1990 and
during the recently completed flOE
championshi p in 1993).
I have always been impressed with
the practical side to Karpov's ""lure.
Once he decides that a variation i. not
important, he quits looking at it. He
exhibits great discipline in this respect.
I know many top players who often get
sidetracked and continue to analyze
beyond the point where it is practical. I
believe that this discipline is a critical
ix
ingredient in the makeup of any great
player, and it is clearly evident in
Karpov.
During the recent match with
Timman, Anatoly defended the
Caro-Kann successfully four limes.
Much of tile critical analysis presented
in this book by Karpov and his
co-author Alexander Beliavsky was put
through a rigorous "analytical filter" at
our regular training and study sessions
before and during the match. I can think
of 110 beUer pilol to na vigale the often
perilous seas of the Caro-Kann Defense
with than Anatoly Karpov.
And now let me present four Karpov
Caro-Kanns from the vanlage point of
the stage backdrop....
x TIre Caro-Ko",,! In Black and' White
Tlmman-J(arpov
FIDE WO/'fd Championship
(Zwolle) (m/l), 1993
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.ltx:3 dxe4
4.lZlxe4 lZld7 S. .ic4 ttlgf6
6.lZlgS e6 7••e2 lZlb6 S..id3
h6 9./l)5f3 c5 10.dxc5 .ixcs
1l.lZleS lZlbd7 12,lZlgf3 .c7
The major alternative for black in this
variation is 12.. .tllxe5 13.ttJxe5 0·0
14..*.f4 "'dS 15.0-0-0.
13•.if4
For the less ambitious move 13.0-0
see Game 47 - Ivanchuk-Karpov,
Reylqavik 1991.
13.••.ib4+ 14.lbd2
Novelty. The move 14.wfl Was seen
in many games previollSly, with black
holding his own. [Editor'S Nol~: A ,'ery
recelll example cOlltil,ued: I4... .td6
I S.:df fiJh5 16.g3 liJxf4 I7.gxf4 0-0
18.:g1 a6 19.1'i:u:d7 .txd7 20.fiJe5
LeS 21fte5 .tc6 22.:el IS 2J....'1S
W!.8 24.1I.e3 .*.e8 25. "",4 'IJf7 26. "'c4
ll.e7 27....xc711.xc7 28.We2:d8 29.c3
g5 30j4 gxf4 31.:1,3 Wh7 32.'1lfI :c5
33.f1.Jif4 :XeS 34.W/l Wg7 3Hlf/,411S
36.:d4 :ed5 37.:g3+ W.f6 38.:XdS
1I.xJ539.We2!14 40.f1.g8.*.I,5+ 41.Wd2
alld White Ruiglled (0-1),
Moro"ic-Korpo,', 4th match gam~, Las
Pa/mas, 1994.}
14.•..ixd2+ 15.~xd2
{Editor's Note: Karpovdiscussts the
,'OriatiollS 14. Wll and I4.fiJd2 Ld2+
15.Wxd2 ill I,;s 1I0tes to Game 47.}
15...0-0
Interesting Is 15... fiJc5!?
16.D.hdl
If 16.Wc1 :dg 17.g4 fiJxg4 18.fiJg6
e5 19.fiJe7+ WfB 20.fiJdS (20.ttJxc8
:axc8 is good for black), black secures
counterplay with 20 ... 1Ifd6. The
alternative 16.:adl?1 1Ifa5+ 17.c3
"')(82 favors blaclc.
16•••• b6! 17ltlc4
Losing quickly for white is 17.fiJxd7
1Ii'b4+!, or 17.:abl? 1Ii'b4+. Perhaps
17.ciocl!? is playable.
17••••c618.'iltfl!?
After 18.fiJes, black has the reply
18...1Ifa41 (Adequate from a theoretical
point of view is IS ... 1Ifb61? as the
burden is on whi te to prove an opening
advantage.) 19..*.g3 fiJcs 20..*.e4 a6
with counterplay. IS.We!!? fiJcs (After
IS ...'iltxg2 19.fiJe31 1Ith3 20.l:Igl white
gets a slrong kingside attack for the
pawn.) 19.b3 fiJdS 20 ..*.xh6 gxh6
21.1Ifg4+ WhS 22.fiJe5! ...c723 ....d4!
ttJxd3+ 24.:xd3 wh7 25.:h3 f6
26.1Ifh4 "'g7 27.:g3 fxe5 2s.:xg7+
Wxg7 29.1Ifg3+ with equality, (analysis
by GMLarry Christiansen, commenting
on the match for Chess Life).
18•••lbd5!
Black has obtained adequate
counterplay.lnstead 18...1Ifxfl 19.9xfl
fiJds 20..*.g3 b6 21.fiJd6 is good for
white.
 The Caro-Kann! In Black and White
19.93
If 19.-*.g3, then black equalizes with
19... ~5. By threatening to eliminate
the -*.d3, black maintains the balance.
Not \9 ..Q.d6? bS 20 ..Q.xfS bxc4 with a
clear plus for black.
19...~S 2o..bh6?
The continuation 20.lOe5 1II'a4!
21.~e2 IOxd3 is good for black. We
discovered the following variation
while analyzing after the game: 20..Q.d6
b5! (20".lOxd3 21 ..Q.xfS1II'xc4 22.cxd3
1II'd4 23 ..L3 bS 24.Lcl as 25.b3 b4
26.~4 1II'e5 27•.Q.cl J.a6, and black
has compensation.) 21.J.xfS bxc4
22.J.xcS cxd3 23.b4 dxc2 24.lldc 1 as,
and now if 25.a3 J.b7 26.~el axb4
27.axb4 Ilxal 2S.llxaI1ll'a6! and black
wins.
20 ... gxh6 21.1Irg4+ Wh8
22.loeS
Not 22.1II'h4 eS 23.lOxe5 'It'f6
24.1II'd4 IOxd3, winning.
22...1Ira4!
Stronger than 22.....c7 23.1II'd4.
when white hns compensation.
xi
23. W'hS wg7 24.~g4 llh8
2S.~S
If 2S.1II'eS+ f6 26.~xf6 "b4+
(stronger !han 26...~f6 27.1II'xcS when
black is better, but white can fight)
27.c3 1II'xb2+ 2S.J.c2 IOxf6 29.1II'xcS
10:4+, black Is winning.
25...111'8
If2S ...1II'aS+ 26.b4 (Black wins after
26.~cl "c7 27.1Ig4+ ~fS 28.1II'd4
IlgS 29.c4 iOd7) ...1II'xb4+ and now,
white has no good choices, e.g.,
27.~cl? 1II'a3+ 2S.~d2 (2S.~bl
~3#) ...1II'aS+! (By triangulation black
will bring !he queen hack to the ideal c7
defensive square. wi!h an extra pawn in
hispockeL)29.~cI1ll'c7 or27.~e2IlfS
2S.lllg4 1II'f4! 29.h4 IOxd3 30.llxd3
lOt'6. and black is winning.
26.~411h8
Sosonko found 26..:iII'b4+! 27.~e2
1II'f4! 2S.c4 eS 29.lOxeS lieS and black
wins.
27.~S1Ire8?!
Slronger was 27".'ill'b4+ 2S.~c\
IOxd3+ 29.llxd3 111' .. 7 30.llf3 fS
xii . n. Caro-Kanll! III Black and Mule
31."g6+
advantage.
"'fS and black has a clear
28."g4+ ~t8 29."d4 IOlId3
30.lOg6+ r"g6 31.'lfxh8+ </;e1
32.'IIIxe8+ 'it>"e8 33.~d3 bS
Black is slightly better, but must
work if he i. to bring home the poinL
34.:el 'it>e7 3S.:eS gS
36.:ael Wr6 37.l:lSe4 i.d7
38.h4 :f8!? 39.c3 as
40.'it>d4?! l:tc8 41.0
Only black benefits from 4l.hxgS+
hxg5 42.:h \ IZc4+ 43."'d3 IQb4+!
44.cxb4 IZxe4 45.'~xe4 (45.Jlh6+ "'g7)
...~c6+ winning.
41...a4!
Now Analoly is finnly in the driver's
seat again.
4Z.l:lc11Oe7 43.~d3 eS!
Much better than 43 ... ~c6, when
white is back in the game with 44.1Ib4
~d5 4S.b3.
44.We2 i.c6
Possible is 44 ...... f5!? 45.:b4
(45..11.3 "'e6 46. 'i>t2 .ba2, winning)
. ..... e6! (4S ... lQc6 46.lZxb5 IiId4+
47 .cxd4 .IIxc \ 48.dxeS+ is very good for
black) 46."'£1 (After 46.b3 axb3
47.axb3 lOds, white has problems wilb
his c3-pawn and Ibe 1Ib4.) ....lleS! 47.b3
(not 47.83 "'c4 winning) ... axb3
48.axb3 lOc6 (or 48 ..•li:lds) 49.lZe4
"'xb3 and black wins.
To no avail is 4S.lIa\ h4+ 46."'f2
lId8 47.b3 .IId2+1 48."'el (48."'e3
1102*) .•.lIh21 and black wins.
45......xaZ 46Jlce1 :cS!
Black is winning. The game enters
the technical phase.
47.hxgS+ hxgS 48.f4 LOg6
49.fxeS+ IOxe5 SO.Jld4 J:ld5
SUbdS .bdS S2.~3 .i.c4
53.l:ldl <t>fs
Intending 54..."'g4.
S4.l:ld4iDd3!
Also good was S4 ..•lQg4+ SS."'fJ
IQf6 S6.g4+ "'.s, etc.
55.g4+
If 5S.lIxdJ ~J[d3 S6. "'xd3 "'g4, elc.
55...~5 S6.l:le4+
Or S6.lIxd3 ~xd3 S7."'xd3 "'f4 and
black wins.
S6...Wf6 White Resigned (0-1)
An important victory for Karpov to
s ..•..ta long match, but ju.~t Ibe beginning
 The Caro-Kann! In Black and WI,i,,,
of investigations into 141012!1. Notes
by Hcnley.
Timman-Karpov
FIDE World Championship
(Zwolle) (m13), /993
l.e4 c6 2.d4 dS 3.li)d2 dxe4
4.lLlxe4 lLld7 S.j,c4 lLlgf6
6.lLlgS e6 7.1IM lLlb6 8.j,d3
h6 9.lLlSfJ cS IO.dxeS j,xcS
1l.lZ:les lLlbd7 12.lZ:lgfJ 'llre7
13.j,f4 j,b4+ 14.lLld2 j,xd2+
IS.<t>xd2 0-0 16.:hdl 'llrb6
17.<i>cl!
Thnman's improvement on 17.~4
from Game 1 of the match.
17...lLldS
One ofblack's main problems in this
variation is how to get this bishop
dev~loped. As a rule, if black can play
his pawns to f6 and eS followed by
either .i.cS-e6 or .i.c8-fS then black has
at least equal chances. OIlen black can
even activate this bishop by sacrificing
a pawn 3t dS (when white plays
xiii
.i.c4l1tOdS). By accepting such B
modest development for the bishop at
d7, Anatoly is signaling that the opening
has already gone wrong for black. Both
19.. .f6 20.tOg6 lidS 21..i.xdS exdS
22,1-iJe7+ and 19...lIe8 20.'ifhs!? look
good for white.
20.lLlxd7!
Timman plays very logic311y to gain
a positional advantage. Instead
20..i.lIdS1! would activate the black
pieces. Considering the white WC\ and
the undeveloped IInl, this would be a
foolish thing to do, e.g., 20..i.xdS?!
exdS 21.lIxdS (21.tOxd7 tOlId7
22 ..I%xdS l[[e8 yields the initiative to
black) ....i.e6 22.:.i2 Zlac8 and black
has adequ..te compensation.
2o...lLlxd7 21.a4!
Jan prepares to develop his Zla 1 via
a3, and gains space on the queenside.
Again the win of a pawn with
21..i.xdS1! exdS 22.ZlxdS allows black
activity and compensation after
22 ....I%fe8 23.1Idl tOf6 24.lId6 1Ic:5.
21 ...:ac8
Karpov continues to offer the
dS-pawn as bail. Passive defense will
leave white with the bishop-pair
advantage and a clear plus.
22':a3!
Jan won't be seduced into capturing
on dS and acti valing the black pieces.
Instead he continues his development
knowing the long-term prosects favor
his bishops.
21..:iI'h4!?
xiv The Caro-Kann! In Black and While
Karpov continues to fight for the
initiative, as 22... ~7f6 23 ..i.e5 looked
pretty unpleasant for black.
23 •.bd5!
Finally Jan captures on cIS, not to win
a pawn, but to force a favorable ending.
23..•exd5 24.'i'b5!.e4
By threatening 25 .. :tlrxc2/1, Karpov
is able to avoid the cnding for one more
move. After 24 .. :tlrxb5 25.axb5, white
would immediately win at least one
pawn.
25.'lfd3!
Timman persIsts in forcing a
favorable endgame.
25...ltJf6
Dubious is 25.. :l'x82?1 because of
26:tlrxd5 'ill'xdS 27.:xd5, and now:
27 ... ~c5? 28.-*.d6 winning, or
27...itJb6 28.:b5 (Not 28.:&5? ~4)
... ~ 29.l:d3 b6 30.:d7 86 31.:bdS
and white has a serious advantage, or
27 ... ~f6 2Ula' (Black's queenside
rawns Are· weak, and the i.g3 take.
away the b8 and c7 squares from the
black rook.) ...a6 29.:b3, and white is
winning.
26•• xe4
At last Jan has achieved the strategic
objecti ve of reaching the endgame.
26... dxe4
The black e-pawn is a bit extended
and thus vulnerable; white has a 3-2
queenside pawn majority; the white
rooks arc more active; and the
long-range white bishop is superior to
the short-range black knighL This adds
up to serious winning chances (or
Timman.
27Jlb3
Immediately provoking a weakening
queens ide pawn advance, while
activating his rook.
27... b6 28.%lb5
Now the threat of a4-&5 is hanging
over the black position.
2S..Jle629Jld6!
By exchanging one pair of rooks, Jan
reduces the possibilities for
counterplay. He also aChieves the :+-*.
vs. :~ ending that Fischer was so
famous for winning.
29 ...1bd6 30 •.i.xd6 %leS
31.h3!
Timman further reduces prospects
for counterplay by eliminating the
... lDf6-g4 maneuver.
31 .. ':c632•.i.f4it:ld7
 The Caro-Konnl In Black and While
Karpov threatens 33 ... iLlc5
(attacking the a4-pawn, and threatening
34 ... iOd3+) and brings the knight back
to regroup defensively.
33.JLe3
Also looking promising for white is
33.b4li>fg 34."'b2 followed by "'b2-b3
and c2-c4.
33...~f8
Karpov brings his king to the center
34.a5 "'rs
to bolster his defenses. Not 33...1Lle5
35.axb6 axb6 36.:xb6!
IIxb6 37.i.xeS+ winning.
34Jlb4!?
Ian probes the weak e4-pawn to see
how Karpov will defend.
The move 34.aS also puts black
under tremendous pressure, e.g.,
34 .. 1"'107 35.axb6 axb6 36..t.d4 f6
37."'d2.
34../01"6
If 34.•.:e6, black would surrender
the c-fiIe after 3S.lIc4 "'e7 36.lIc1,
willi advantage to while. Also the pawn
xv
advance 34•• .£S is a bit loosening after
3S.lIbS ILles (3S ... g61 36..i.xh6+. If
3s ... lIf6 then 36.g3! prevents fS-f4, and
white Is better after 36..."'e7 37.aS)
36.b4!? f4 (36...iLlxa4 37.lIxfS+ is good
for white) 37..t.xcS+! (Better than
37.bxcS fxe3 3g.fxe3 IIxcs 39.lIxcs
bllcS40."'d2 "'e7 41.""=3 "'d642."'c4
"'c6, equal) ... bxcS 38.lIxcs IIxeS
39.bxcS "'e7 40."'d2 and white has
winning chance. in the'" + (0, endgame.
3S.bJ?
Playing 100 cautiously to preserve his
advantage and make the time control at
move 40, Jan misses the moment to
strike. Instead 3S.aS! would have forced
a virtually winning rook ending. For
example, 3S ••• iLldS (After 3S ...bxaS
36.lIb8+ "'107 37.lIb7+ "'e6 38Jlxa7,
the exposed as-pawn is surrounded.)
36.lIxe4 (36.8xb611 iLlxb4 37.b7 iLla61)
.•. iLlxe3 37.lIxe3 bxaS 38.:eS : ..6
of "'b
39."'b1 and white has the simple plan
1-a2-a3-a4. Analysis after the
gan.e convinced even Karpov that
black's chances of saving a draw are
very slim.
Freeing his knight so it can play to
dS.
36Jlb5
Preventing 36...iLldS.
Contemplating bringing the king to
,,6 to help bolsler the queenside pawns.
37.85
xvi 17re Caro-Kann! In Blacle and White
While still thematic, the most
dangerous moment for black has
passed. . break through.
37 ••• tDd7 38.axb6 axb6
39.c4?!
Jan could preserve his chances by
centralizing his king with 39."'d2 "'d6
40.~d4 (40..i.xb6?7 "'c6) ...f641."'e3
"'c642.c4.
39.. Jlg6 40.g3 l:td6
Preventing ~e3·d4, and cutting the
white king off from e3.
GM Yasser Sejrawan (Timman's
second) suggested 41.h4! to restrain the
black g-pawn.
41 ...gS!
With this advance Karpov gains
space on the kingside plus potential for
later counterplay based on n-fS and
fS-f4.
42.h4 f6 43.~ 'i'e6 44.Wb4
<i>e7! . .
Having set up his defensive fortress,
Anatoly wails to see how Jan will try to
45.<t>c3
If' 4s.lldS!? (with the plan of
Wb4-bS) ... llxdS 46.c:xdS Wd6 47."'c4
(47."'bS? "'xdS 48.~xb6 IOxb6
49."'xb6 gxh4 SO.gxh4 fS, wins for
black) ..."'eS! and black holds.
4S.. Jld3+ 46.Wb4l:td6 47.cS
Timman produces a passed b-pawn.
47... bxcS+ 48.l:txcS!?
The capture 48.~xc:S would allow
black c:ounterplay in the rook ending,
e.g., 48...lOxcS 49.JlxcS 1ld2!.
48...<i>e6!
Far better than 48... lOxcs 49.~xcS fS
50.hxgS! hxg5 Sl."'c3 f4 52.g4!
(52.gxf4 gxf4 SJ..bd6+ Wxd6 S4."'d4
e3 SS.fxe3 be3 S6."'xe3 WcS, equal)
... e3 S3.fxe3 f3 S4.~xd6+ Wxd6
SS.Wd2 and white wins.
49Jlc4 Draw (112-112)
After 49 ...lOeS!? SO.Jlxe4 fS Sl.lld4
(S l.JlxeS+ WxeS 52.hxgS hxgS
s3.LgS is slightly better for while)
.. .Jlxd4+ 52.~xd4 gxh4 S3.gxh4 (If
S3.~xeS, S3 ...h3! wins) ... m 54.b3
hS, black obtains counlerplay. Another
po!OIibility is 49...<t>fS!? with the plan of
ft)d7 -eS and black is not worse
according to Karpov. Notes by Henley.
 The Caro-Kann! In Black and White
Timman-Karpov
FIDE World Championship
(Alllstel'dam) (ml7), 1993
1.e4 c6 2.d4 dS 3.lbdl dxe4
4.lbxe4 lOd7 5 • .t.c4 lllgf6
6.lbg5 e6 7.We2 lllb6 8 •.*.d3
h6 9.lbsfJ cS lO.dxcS .*.xe5
1l.lbeS lObd7 12.111gfJ We7
13•.t.f4 .*.b4+ 14.111dl i.xd2+
15.'i>xd2 ()"O 16.l%hdllbcS!?
Novelty. Karpov deviates from
16... '1'b6 as played in Games 1 and 3 of
the match. The plan here is to
immediately start harassing the white
bishops.
Trying to keep both bishops with
17 ..t.c4 involves further loss of time
after 17 ...bS!? This counterattack is the
sharpest response to white's time
consuming strategy. Now after
18 ..t.xbS Jlb8, black has various tactical
threats(19.. :l'aS+,19...a6,19.. :tI'b7,or
knights going to e4 with check) and
white faces practical difficulties.
xwi
It is often useful 10 make this bishop
declare his intentions. Black can then
react accordingly.
18.i.gJ
Now Anatoly no longer has to wony
about .t.xh6 sacrinces.
18...lOxd3+ 19.1%xd3
Ti mman plans to double rooks on the
d-file and profit from his strong IDeS.
19... b5!
An excellent move, whereby
Anatoly Secures the dS-square for his
knight, which in tum neutralizes the
d-fi1e.
20.e3
White threatens 21.IOg6 as ... 'III'aS is
no longer a check. With the text white
also has the positional threat of 21.a4!
exchanging the black bS-pawn. This
would be followed by c3-c4 eventually
ejecting the black knight from d5. But
not 20.1Og6? "as+. winning material
for black since 21.b4lOxb4 doesn'l help
whir...
xviii 11.e Cara-Kilnn! In Black and While

20...1IIb7!
Karpov removes his queen from the
sights of the j.g3, and meets the
positional threat as well. Now on 21.a4
86 22.axb5 axb5 is possible, as the 'l'b7
defends the black :..S.

2IJladl Draw (lh_lh)

Seeing no way to get past the
barricading ItXIS, Timman offered a
dmw. We were surprised this was the
last time Jan played this variation in the
match. Certainly we will see more of it
In the future though! In the final
position, black can play 21 ...~d7 with
an equal game. Anatoly will simply
continue with ... :"c8, .. .llfeS and a
timely ... f7-f6 to eject the white knight
from eS. It seems black has successfully
solved his opening problems. Notes by
Henley.
Timman-Karpov
FIDE World Championship
(Jakarta) (mlI7). 1993
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.eS.if5 4.lllc3
e6 5.g4.ig66.lOge2c57.h4 hS
8.lOr4 lOc6 9.lOxg6 fxg6
lO.lOc2 lOge7 1l.lOr4 cxd4!?
12.~h3
Increasing pressure against the
e6.point.
12 .. .liheS 13.We2 ~7c6
14.~xe6 1IIaS+ lS,Wn
After 17.£4 in order to pry open the
e-fiIe, then 17 ... lOxg4 IS.1II'xg4
(18.lOc7+ Wd7 J9.lOxa8 IOf6, or
IS.lllxg7+ wf7 win for black) ...1lle7
J9.lllxg7+ <lwf7 20.'iie6+ Wxg7
21.'iixd6 1II'a6+ 22.1II'xa6 bxa6, the
position is unclear.
17...1Ita618.'llidl ~xg4
Karpov suggested IS ... d3 after the
game, e.g., 19..i.f4 dxc2 20.1II'xc21llb4
21.1Oc7+ Wf7. The conclusion was
black was not worse at all.
19.'ifxg4 M 20.'ifxd4 'ifc4
Karpov naturally seeks to ellchange
the well-centralized white queen.
21.'ilfxc4 dxc4
This recapture improves the black
pawn structure, but also opens the d-lilc
for white to use. Not 21...lllxc4?! 22.b3
IOb6 (22... j.eS 23.:bl IOb6 24.:el
wins for white) 23.j.b2, with a clear
advantage for white.

Or IS.j.d2 ~b4. 22..ie3

lS ... hxg4 16 •.i'xg4 .id6

17.Wg2
 The Caro-Konn' 1n Black olld White x.ix.

Sitting in the audience, J was more It was clear Ihat black needed 10
concerned about the move 22 ..*.f4 develop a rook, bUI each move requires
(pressuring the ltJe:i). care.

22...<t>d7!
Bringing the king 10 relative safety
on the queenside, while forcing the
knight to declare its intentions.

23.lOgS
If 23.1o,.g7 llagB.
23... i.e7!
Relocating the bishop to f6, while
keeping an eye on the lQgS and the
h4-pawn. Noone in the press center
predicted this maneuver. Karpov finds
the right defensive set up 10 alleviate the
preSsure on his loose position.
24Jtadl+ ~6 2S.lOe6 i.f6!
26.lOd4+ ~b61
32.i.gS?!
Due 10 the match score, Jan grasps
for straws with this winning attempt.
32 ...lOt7!
Jan overlooked this excellent
rejoinder as the fllf7 protects the
d6-square, while attacking g5.
33.i.e3
An admission that 32 . .*.g5 was
faulty. If 33.fllf3 .*.xb2 34.11bl c3
35 ..*.cl Rxel 36.fllxelllxh4 and black
begins 10 take OYer.
33...<t>a6! Draw ('11-111)

This is the brilliant point 10 Katpov's

defensi ve scheme as white has no useful
discovered checks.

27.lOl3+ c;t>c6 28.lOd4+ ct>b6

29Jthe1 l:lae8!
xx The Caro-Kann! In Black and 'While

Black can now claim a slight

advantage according to I(arpov lIS the
white pawn on h4 is attacked. A draw
pulled Anatoly critically closer to match
victory, and each side had only S
minutes left to reach move 40. Another
possibility was 33••.~5 which would
allow black to claim a threefold
repetition. After 33 ...<1>a61 34.1£10 (To
protect the h4-pawn). black has
34...-*.xb2. The point of 33 .•.<1>a6! is
white cannot use his rooks to pin this
bishop on the b-ftle. Notes by Henley.
 The Caro-Kann! In Black and White
PART I - CARO-KANN DEFENSE
White Viewpoint
Introduction by Alexnndcr Bclinv~ky
Although in this book I play the role
of the prosecutor of the Caro-Kann
defense, it is very unlikely th.,t one can
prove a clear advantage for white in this
opening. Let me remind you that the
Caro-Kann has been played in serious
competition for over a century
(Noah-Winawer, London 1883 being
the defense-s debut) and has a
reputation of being one of the moslsolid
and "fire-proof" of openings.
Therefore, in this part of the book we
can only talk about preferences for
certain types of positions, in which
while develops an initiative in cases
where black defends somewhat
passively.
While working on this book,l aimed
to help the reader learn varIous
positions in which the pawn structure
has been largely determined and to
show the connection between the
opening and the endgame. Among the
selected games are mallY which have
played an important role in the
development of this opening. I use these
examples to illustrate the technical
methods of solving typical problems
and to show sttolegical plans. In
accordance with my role in this book, I
have, of course, gi ven preference to
games in which while had the advanlage
In the struggle (almost all of them ended
in white's favor). Most of these games
are quite important at the present time
and have been played very recently. We
can use these examples to study the
evolution of the opening Ideas of world
champions, world championship
candidates, and many other
grandmasters.
Let me point out that modem chess is
chamclerized by both sides striving for
complex, dynamic play. Structurally,
the Caro-Kann is a somewhat passive
opening, so its practitioners are forced
to exhibit a fair amoWlt of optimism (I
must admit that my co-author may have
a different opinion!). It Is noteworthy
that the permanent rivals, aarry
Kasparov and Anatoly Karpov, are on
theopposile poles of this opening. Their
exciting game concludes the fi rst half of
this book.
And so, to the Caro-Kann Defense,
from whi Ie 's point ofview ....
- Alexander Beliavsky
2 7'he Caro-K,mn' I" I/lack and While
 11,. Caro-Kann! III Black and W},ite

CHAPTERIW
THE PANOV ATTACK
(1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.c4 ~f6 5.~c3)

The Panoy Attack appeared in the TYPE I. The pawn structure with the
praxis oftheCaro-Karul much later than isolated pawn on d4 can occur if black
the other systems, after the Soviet takes with the knight
master Panoy published an analysis of
it in 1930_ TI,e wealth of ideas and plans
made it quite prominent_ Alekhine's and
Botvinnik-s inclusion of the Panoy
Attack in their opening repertoire was
its best recommendation. White attacks
the center according to the scheme of
the Queen's Gambit and seeks active
piece play. Usually, black does not want
to cede the center. His main methods of
playare:
a) Defending by holding the
dS-pawn, as in the Queen's Gambit or
the Nimzo-Indian Defense with the This type of position has its
mOYes IOg8-f6 and e7-e6. characteristic methods of treatment.
b) Organizing counterplay against White aims to develop a piece attack on
the d4-pawn with IObB-c6 and .i.c8-g4, the kingside, using the eS-square as a
or fianehettoing the king·. bishop and base for his pieces. TI,e eS-square is
counterattacking as in the Gruenfeld supported by the isolated d4-pawn.
Defense. Black U.es the blockading square, dS,
If white releases the tension in the for his piece play. Along the way, he
center, four types of possible structures tries to exchange pieces and approach
can result. After the exchange c4xdS, the endgame. In the endgame, the
black can achieve one of two kinds of weakness of the isolated pawn
I'0sitions, depending on how he increases.
recaplures.
4 The Caro-Kann! In Black and White
TYPE 2. A symmetrical pawn
structure appears if black recaptures on
dS with the pawn.
Here, the advantage of the extra
move provides white with a small but
Iasling advanlage, as his pieces are more
active. But the absence of pawn
weaknesses gi ves black chances for
successful defense.
TYPE 3. The pawn structure with the
advanced cS·pawn occurs If white plays
c4-cS.
The cS-pa;"n constricts black's
queenside and allows while" to organize
a further pawn advance on the
queenside, thus forming, a passed pawn
there. Black looks to undermine the
c5-pawn and to plant his knight on the
e4 square, thereby creating counterplay
in the center and on the klngside.
TYPE 4. The pawn structure with
doubled pawns on d4 and dS OCCUIS
when black fiancheltoes his klng's
bishop and sacrifices his dS-pawn.
White will try to mainlain his extra
dS-pawn for as long as possible. At the
right moment, the idea is to return it for
positional plusses, and usually this Is
accomplished by the movedS-d6. Black
develops his pieces to active positions
and organizes pressure against the
doubled dS- and d4-pawns.
 17IB Caro-Kann! In Black and White
GAMEt
Sveshnikov - Spraggett
Palma de Mal1orca, 1989
1.e4 c6 2.d4 dS 3.exdS cxdS
4.c4lLlf6 S.li~c3 e6 6.lLlfJ .ib4
The fashion of the modem times.
Black strives for active counterplny.
The Idea of this bishop sortie draws its
influence from the Nimzo-Indian
Defense, which leads to positions that
are similar in substance to the positions
that arise in this variation of the Panov
Attack. This confluence of two
openings is quite typical in today's
chess.
The c1assicol continuation 6... ~e7 is
discussed in Game 3.
The developing move 6...~6 is
justified in case of 7 .cxd5 ~xd5
because the ~6 becomes actively
involved in the battle for the central
squores. But, with the iOc6, the advance
7.c51 markedly gains in strength,
because whi te can execute a dear plan
- exchanging this knight and seizing the
eS-square. For example, ofter 7•.. ~e7
8.~bS .ltd7 (more energetic is 8 ...0·0
9.0-0 ~e4) 9.0-0 0-0 10.:el a6
II..ltxc6 .ltxc6 12.b4 ~4 13.'lII'c2 f6,
black, while preventing the penetration
of the while ~, weakened his e6-pawn
(Amason-Hart, Debrecen 1992). White
could have utilized this weakness with
the maneuver 14.~2 ~xc3 15.'IIf,,03
1II'd7 16.f4 followed by ~2-0 after
which white would maintain a stable
advantage.
7.cxdS
White accepts the isolated pawn on
d4, looking to dellect the black knight
from the kingside and allack there,
particularly via the bl-h7 diagonal.
Another popular plan is 7 •.td3 dxc4
8..*.xc4, and the next game i. devoted
to this method.
7 ...lLlxdS
Sometimes black prefers a stable
pawn structure with 7 ...exdS. Strange as
it may seem, this position, with the ~b4,
has not yet been well researched. The
advantage of the fi tst move In a
symmetrical position must mean
something. After normal development
8.~d3 0-0 9.0-0 ~g4 10.~gS, white
threatens ~xr6, and black mUst decide
the fate of the ~b4. If he retreats with
10... ~e7, white has a small but lasting
advantage, while if 1O... ~xc3 Il.bxc3
iObd7 12.'tIfd21 LO 13.gxO, he gets
the two bishops and the opportunity to
attack on the g-file. Sveshnikov
persistently defends the move 8..tb5+,
but in the game against Savan (Moscow
1991), he sutTered a fiascoafter8 ...~d7
9.1II'e2+ ~ 10.0-0 ~xc3 Il.bxc3 0-0
l2.~d3 :e8 13.~5 ~c6 14.~xf7
1II'f6! (It is dangerous to take the knight
with 14...~xf7 l5.'llfh5+~f816.L3+
:e7 17.~xe4 dxe4 18.d5) 15.~e5
~xe5 16.dxeS 1II'xeS 17.~e37! (White
6 The Caro-Kann! In Black and White
should have settled for 17.i.b2)
... /l)xf2! 18.lIIxf2'1ixh2withdangerous
threats, the tnain one being 19...::'xe3
20.'iII'xe3 JUlI+ 21.lIIe2 :eg.
S:lIc2
Alternatives are S.i.d2 and S.'ill'b3.
8..,Ioc6 9.~e2
1he tnodem tnethod of treating these
positions. White will defend the
d4-pawn with the rook, so as to be ready
for ...tt:lf6. But noone has been able to
seriously question the correctness of the
natural move 9 ..*.d3 since after 9... tt:lr6
10.0-0 it is dangerous to take the pawn
with 10 ... tt:lxd4?! 11.tt:lxd4 'lixd4
12 .::'d 1 be"ause' of lagging
development. In Sveshnikov-Tal (Kiev
1984), black chose IO... h6 11.:dl 0-0
but after 12.a3 i.d6 '13.tt:le4 tt:lxe4
14 ..*.xe4 .*.d7 15.dS! white firmly
grasped the initiative.
9 ...0-0 10.0-0 ~e7 lUldl
"d6
After other continuations, white also
achieves active piece play. On 11 ....tf6
he can attack the king with the standard
method 12. 'ill'e4 tt:lce7 13.i.d3 g6
14 ..th6 :"S IS.h4. The alternative
I l...tt:lr6 is relatively safer, with the idea
of relocating the knight to ciS, but after
12.a3 .td7 13.t1:le5 white retains the
initiative. For i""lance 13..•:c8 14..tfJ
.teS 15.i.e3 /l)d7 and now in
Sveshnikov-Adams (Tilburg 1992),
instead of 16.tt:lc4 bS! 17./l)xbS t1:las,
after which black was free, white could
have kept all the advantages of his
position with the m:meuver 16.'lie4tt:lr6
(not 16...(57 17.tt:lxc6) 17.'lid3.
12.lt)gS
Also possible is 12..*.gS. In
Benjamin-Miles (USA 1988) black
exchan8ed the knights with 12... /l)xc3
13.bxc3 and was under attack after
13...b614.'lie4 i.b7 lS.i.d3 g616.'i11'h4
:fe8 17.:e1. More careful was
12...t1:lf6.
12...g6 13.1IIe4 f6
Black cannot tolerate this knight too
long. On 13...lZd8 14.'ill'b4 tt:lf6 IS.i.(4
'lll'b416.i.eScanfollow.13 ... h614.tt:lf3
IIIg7IS.t1:les also has its faults, as white
switches the attack over to the g6- and
h6-pawns. But now the weakness of the
e6-pawn is fell
14.lt)fJ ~d7 15.~c4 It)cb4
16.1le1 llfeS 17.~d2 ~f8
18.~b3
After 18.a3 black CQuid maintain the
blockade on ciS with 18... /l)xc3 19.bxc3
IOdS with the follow-up b7-bS. Now
white has a crucial tempo after
18...lt:lxc3 bxc3 t1:lds 20.04. In addition,
the c2-square is protected with the
bishop retreal.
lS...bS?!
 The Coro-Ko"n'III Bloele olld While
'l'his outwardly aggressive mOVe
weakens the c5-square, whicb will later
become important. It was necessary to
activate the bishop with l8...~c6.
19.'i!fh4 lOxc3 20..be3 /Ods
21.lOd2 g5
White thteatened the knight raid, and
black has to accept further weaknesses,
because after 21. .. -*.g7? the cS
weakness manifests Itself with 22.~
1II'f4 23.1II'xf4111xf4 24.l2lc:S ~c8 2S'83
l2lds 26.IO"e61 ~xe6 27.:"e6! Rxe6
28.-*.xdS and white wins a pawn.
22 ... ,,4 "f4 23."xf4 lOxf4
24.lOe4 ot>g7 25.g3 lOd5
26.~d21bc8 2?":ac1ot>rm
The exchange of queens has not
eased black', troubles. Hi, desire to
move hi, king closer to the center I,
natural, but his last move Is mistimed
Black has created a geometric motif in
the position; his king and rooks are ripe
for a knight fork on d6. Wbile
immediately utilizes this fact, and, in a
IacLical way, gains control of the c-file.
Black could bave played his king move
after 27 ...l:lxc 1 28Jlxc I. Now after
28 ...Wf7 29.lOcs the bishop retreats
7
with 29 ... -*.c8 (not 29 ...~c67 30.IO"e6
Zbe6 31.:xc6! :xc6 32.~xdS+ l:le6
33.Wf! winning a pawn) and after 30.a4
bxa4 31 ..txa4 l:ld8 32.-*.aS 1Ob6 (or
32.. lId6) black i, still alive. He could
also defend tenaciously in a different
sort of ending with 28 ... l:lc8 29.lOcs
.ixcS 30.dxcS WO.
28.:c5! .ic6
On 28... -*.~cS, of course 29.dxcS
follows.
29.:ecl .ixcs 30.dxc5 :ed8
31.~aS <tie? 32..ixd8+ :xd8
33.:el a6 34.lOd6 <bd?
Tbe maneuver ILld6-fS-d4 was
threatened.
35.a3:18 36.lOe4! h6?!
Black does not realize that his king i.
overloaded. Necessary was 36... Wc7 or
36...1Oc71 37.l:ld1+ ~ds 38.1Oc3 Wc6.
3?lOc3! :C81
Black loses the ending without a
fight. He could ,till bave tried to defend
the the dS-pawn with 37 ... l:ld8 38.l:ldl
We7 39.-*.xdS J.xdS (an ending like
39...exdS 40.1Oe2 followed by 1Od4 Is
very difficult for black.) 40.lLlxdS+
exdS 41.b4. Of course, e~cbanBing Into
a king and pawn ending will always be
very dangerous because of the c'-pawn,
but, with the rooks on the board, black
could put up resistance.
38.:dl ~e7 39.tbxd5+ exdS
40 . .i.xdS .ixdS 4I.:xdS
Black Resigned (1-0)
8 The Cara-Kalln' In Black and Wllire
GAME 2
Dolmalov - Speelman
Hastings, J 989/90
l.e4 c6 2.d4 dS 3.exdS cxdS
4.c4lZlf6 S.lZlc3 e6 6.lZll'J ~b4
7.~d3 dxc4 8.~xc4 0-0
The immediate 8 ...'llfc7 (in the style
of the Nimzo-Indian Defense) is
premature because of9. We2! 0-0 10.0-0
fi:lbd7 I !.~b3! Wc612.a3 J.e7 13..tgS
and black's queen is misplaced.
9.0-0 lZlbd7
Before us' is anolher type of the
isolated pawn position, where the fi:lf6
defends the king.
10.~g5
White must play energeticalty, for
otherwise black will transfer the other
knight to dS with tempo and have a solid
position, for example, 10.We2 a6 II.a4
I.Db6 12.-*.d3 ~bdS. After 10.-*.d3 b6, a
known Nimzo·lndian position is
reached.
Possible is 10... b6 1l..1d3 .i.b7
12.:el (or 12.:cl with the
prophylactic idea 12 ....i.xc3 13.:xc3)
...:c8 13.:c1 .i.e7 14.i.DeS, but black
decides to accept the pawn sacrifice.
1l.bxc3 Wc7 12•.tdJ
It is wrong to avoid the sacrifice.
After 12.Wd3?1 b6 13 ..1b3 .tb7
14.:fe1 Rac8 black has no problems,
but the bishop could al!lO have retreated
tob3.
12 ..:Wxc3
Of course not 12...b6? 13.c4 with a
clear advantage.
13':c1 WaS 14.lZleS!
When playinl! 10..11!5, Dolrnatov
already had in mind this knight
maneuver. The preliminary 14.:el?
fails to 14... b6 lS.i.DeS .i.b7 and white
has no compensation for the pawn.
14...lZlxeS
Now 14...b6?! is insufficient because
of 15....f3 WdS 16.'ilfh3 and white has a'
strong initiative.
lSlI.cS WaJ 16.dll.eS
Unconvincing is 16.JbeS ~dS
followed by 17... f5.
16.... xcS
Black cannot move the knight away.
If 16 ...1.De4 17.:xc8 I.Dxg5 lRlba8
Rxa8 19.h4 86 20..i.bl! or 16...00
17.:bS! an~ while has a big advantage.
17..bl'6
 17,e Caro·Kann! In Black a"d While
17•• Jl.eS
Now white develops a deadly attack.
17 ... gxf6 was much more stubborn.
Dolmatov gives the following variation:
18."g4+ (After 18.-*.xh7+ ~xh7
19."hS+ ~g8 20."g4+ ~h7 white
only hss a perpetual) ...~h8 19."ifh4
(not 19.exf61 lIg8 20."ifh4 hS!) ...fS
20."£6+ ~g8 21.:el b6 22.J:le3 "xe3
23.fxe3 -*.b7 24.h4 :fd8 with an
uncleior game.
lS ..bh7+! ""'h7
18... ~f8 loses to 19.... g4 gxf6
20."xf6.
19....S+ ~gS10.•gS.1'8
The only defense to the mate threaL
9
21Jld1!!
11,e point of the entire combination.
Black has I1t1 extra rook, three tempi and
yet he cannot save himself.
11 ••• b6 22.lId4 .to6 23Jlg4
.tel 24•.txg7!
An effective conclusion to the
combination. White simply converts the
position into a technically won
endgame. Attempts to win the game
immediately do not work. e.g .•
24."xg7+ "xg7 25.:xg7+ ~h81 or
24.llg3 RedS 25M lId3 26.f3 lIdl+
27.~h2 -*.ell 28.-*.xg7 "cS.
14••• .txg4 2S •.txrS+ <t>xfS
26•• xg4l1.ac827.M
More exact is 27.1II'8S!? and tlte
h·pawn is unstoppable. while the black
king cannot RIll away to the queenside.
17 ... <t>e7 28 •• gS+ ~d7
29.'iIf(4 as 30.'ilfx:(7+ ~c6
31.'ilff3+ 'it>cS 32••e3+ ~e6
Whlte's assignment is simple: Push
his Idngside pawns and slop black from
forming a passed pawn on the
queenside.
33.'ilf13+ WcS 34••83+ ~e4
3S.'ilfb3+ lPeS 36 .•4 lI.bS
37.'illc3+ WdS 38.f4 We4
10
39.1110+?!
This prolongs black's resistance.
39."c4+ <t>e3 40.g3 would have won
immediately.
39... <t>d4 40•• c6 <t>e3
41.Wc1+ <t>e2 42.hS lIeeS
43 ••£1+ <t>d2 44.WbS <t>e3
45.g3 ot>d4 46.ot>g2 <t>cJ 47.h6
And now according 10 Dolmalov,
47.g4 !:I.e!! 48."d7 <t>b4 49.<t>g3 was
much simpler. After the lext, the game
lasts another twenty moves.
47...l:thS 48.Wd7 b5 49.axbS
a4 50.b6 a3 51.Wa4 Wb2
52.Wb4+ roPa2 S3.h71 Rbc8
On S3...I:bh7 Dblmalov gives
54."d2+ <t>b1 SS."d3+ <t>b2 S6."xh7
a2 57."a7 Jlhs 5S.b7. If S3 ... J:lb7
S4."d2+ <t>b1 SS."d3+ <t>b2 56."e2+
Wal S7."f3·<t>b2 58....xb7 a2 59."g7.
54.b7 lIc2+ 55.~f3 lIb2
56•• c4+ lIb3+ 57.Ws!4 Wb2
5S••e8 lIxh7 59.bS" Rg7+
60.<toh511gxg361.Wd611h3+
62.<tog6 lIbg3+ 63.<ton lIh7 +
64.<toxe6 Ah6+ 6S.WfS Axd6
66.exd6 a2 67.d7 al.
6S.Wb7+ Black Resigned
(1-0)
GAMEl
Vaganian - van der Wlel
Rotterdam, 1989
1.c4 c6 2.e4 d5 3.exdS cxdS
4.d4
By transposition, the standard
position of the Panov Attack has
OCCUlTed. With such a capacity of the
modem openings for metamorphosis,
black has 10 be prepared for all kinds of
developments in the opening.
4...tLJf6 5.tOc3 e6 6.tLJO j,e7
This continuation Is consIdered
classical and has been actively deployed
since the 1930·s. White is now at a
crossroads.
7.exdS
Time 10 solve the problem of the
pawn tension. Nowadays, this exchange
is considered, in effect, 10 be the main
continuation. On 7 ..i.gS, black can
release the tension with 7 ...dxc4 8 ..i.xc4
0,-09.0.0 1llc6 followed by 1M3.aS, or
simply castle, and not fear c4-<:5, since
later. after 't:If6-e4 the bishop exchange
siniplifies the defense. The advance
7.cS, so popular in the old days, is
almost never played. The general
evaluation has been known for years -
black gets rich counterchances,
combining the push b7-b6 which
challenges the cS wedge, with a7-85
which gets at b4, as well as the
penetration tt:le4 with active play on the
klng1:ide. After 7 ...0-0 and the strongest
 Tire Ca,'O-Ka,m! In Dlack and While
move, 8.i.d3, Black continues with
8... b6 9.b4 as 1O.1t)a4lObd7 (10 ... lOfd7
is also secure) in connection with the
freeing advance 06-e.5, e.g. I1.a3 axb4
12.axb4 bxc.5 13.blr.cS eSt or ll.irc2
irc7 12.'13 axb4 13.axb4 eSt, and on
I 1.i.f4lOhS 12.i.g3 fS is good. And if
8.b4, black energetically counterattacks
in the cenler with 8... lOe4 9.'III'c2 ~6
10.bS (or 10.a3 eSt) ...lOxd4 1l.lOxd4
i.xcs 12.lOxe4 i.xd4 13.tOe3 J.d7!
14.J.b2 lieS IS. 'll'd2 J.b6 with the
threal of dS-d4 and i.b6-aS.
7...exdS
If black captures with the knight,
7... lOxd.5 then S.i.d3 0-0 9.0-0 ~6
10.Ll1.ads to a peculiar "tabiya:' It
can arise from various openings, first
and foremost from the Semi-Tarrosch
Defense of the Queen's Gambil, and
this is where theory conside", its place
lobe.,
8.J.d3
With the symmetrical central pawn
sInlclure, Ihe posilion is stable, and
while'sextra lempo makes a difference.
While· can develop his pieces to active
positions, while black must defend and
for a .while delay the preparation of
counlerplay. The move S.J.bS+ is also
played. Now if 8 ••. J.d7 9.J.xd7+
lObxd7 10.0-00-0 11.~3lOb612.lIel
h6 (otherwise 13.J.gS) 13.a4, while has
8 stable initiati ve, He threatens to
weaken the queenside by the advance of
the a-pawn, and also get at the d5-pawn
with the help of the maneuver
J.c l-f4-e5 with the threat of
exchanging the knighl. In
Adams-Larsen (Cannes 1989) black
defended more actively with 8 ...tOe6,
1\
but after 9.0-0 0-0 lO.lOes 'll'b6 (or
10... J.d7 1I.lIel J.b4 12.J.xc6 J.xc6
13.J.gS) 11.i.gS lOd8 12.'II'd3 lOe6
13.J.e311d8 14.f41Oc7 IS.J.a4! white
achieved an edge after 15 ... '11'06
17."lr.a6lOxa617.fS~f818.J.b3~7
19.941. On 15 ... 'II'xb2, Adams had
planned a rook swing to the kingside, in
order to support the attack: 16.l%abl
'11'03 17."c2 g6 18.lIb3 "d6 19.£.5!
with on attack.
8...0-0
Afler 8... i.g4 9.h3, 10 play 9 ... i.h5 is
dangerous due to 10.ira4+ lObd7
II.lOeS. Therefore black must
exchange on fl, conceding the two
bishops. This advantage is especially
effective in open positions.
9.h3ilX6 10.0-0 .ie61l.i.e3
White has in mInd the maneuver
lOf3-eS, and this move, all of a sudden,
has a psychlogical effecL Black defends
impulsively. Also good was II.J:tel,
eUlllng maximal control over eS and
planning a more aeti ve development for
the bishop. Now if 11 ... 'lll'eS, with the
idea of exchanging the light-squared
bishops, while plays 12.J.gS, indirectly
allacking the dS-pawn, with the
follow-up J:tac I. If II. .. lle8, then
12.i.f4 i.d6 13.J.e5 allows white to
seize the e5 square. In Salov-Nogueiras
(Barcelona 1989), while's chances were
better after 11. .. lIc8 12 ..i.£4 lOhS
13.J.h2 g6 14.1rd2 lIe8 IS.lIadl .i.f8
16.i.n a6 17.lOes b5 18.lOxe6 llxc6
19.i.eS.
11 ...~7?!
A passive relreat: true, black takes
the e5-square under control, but he
12 The Caro-Ktmn! In Black and White
weakens the support of the d5-pawn.
More logical is 11. ..Ilc8 or even
11. .. 'ilfc8, trying to exchange the
light-squared bishops.
12.IO!2Wb6
13.ItlC4
With this knight maneuver, white
Wlderscorcs the drawbacks of ~6-d7.
He not only threatens the dS-pawn, but
also the .i..6. Note that it is dangerous
to grab the b2-pawn because of
13 ... 'ilfxb2?! 14.llbl 1Iha2 lS.~x.6
fxe6 16.llxb7 llad8 17.~gS .i.xgS
18 . .i.xgS and white's attack is
fearsome.
13•• .llac814.Wbl h61S..th7+
It>h8 16.1US .txfS l7.WxCS
o!i)f6 18.lllxdS o!i)xdS 19.WxdS
.tf6 20.ltadl
This and only this rook! On 2o.llfd I,
black can capture the 'pawn with
20 ... 'III'xb2 21.llabl '111'02 22.ll<12 'lll'a6.
But now on 2O ... 'ilfxb2, white simply
regains the pawn with 21.llbl 'lll'xa2
22.llxb7. So, the result of the knight
maneuver to f4 is an extra pawn for
white.
20...1O!7 21.WhS llc2 22.dS
The passed d-pawn is in rapid transit
to d7. Black cannot block it with
22 ... 'ilfd6? because of the tactical
solution, 23 ..i.xh6 gxh6 24.'1'xh6+
Wg8 2S.~gS. If 22 ...'ilfaS, 23 ..i.xh6! i.
also strong.
22 .....a6 23.d6. o!i)g8 24.d7
"xal
24 ...llxb2Iooks like a tougher move.
Black can then try to push back the
queen with ...lI:bS. He also indirccUy
prevents ..i.cS, because of the pin
following the same rook move.
2SJl.fe1
White cannot do without this move.
If 2S..i.d4, black has a defense with
2S ... 'III'e6 26.:fel 'lll'xd7! 27 ..i.xf6
~xf6.
2S...lld8 26•.tgS! llc7
By tactical means, whlte eliminates
the defender of the lld8. On 26...'ilfaS,
Vaganian had in store a queen sacrifice:
27 ..i.xf6! 'ilfxhS 28..i.xd8,andthepawn
i. unstoppable after the bishop move.
away from d8.
27.IO!S
With decisive effecl, the knight
concludes the attack. Black's pieces are
tied up in chains. Material losses are
inevitable.
27 .. .'~h7 28 •.txf6 o!i)xf6
29.Wf5+ ct>h8 30.lld6! Black
Resigned (1-0)
 The Caro-KafJ1J! In Black and While 13

GAME 4 maneuver, 8 ..te3 e5 9.dxe6 .tc5

Sveshnikov - 011 10.exf7+ We7, was conclusively
analyzed by Boleslavsky: II.h4 JldS
Moscow, 1992
12.00 .tg4 (dangerous is 12..:lIIxb2
13.0-0! "xc3 14.Jlcl Wb2 IS.Jlel WfB
1.e4 c6 2.d4 dS 3.exdS c:xdS 16.tOxd4 .txd4 17."d31 with a brutal
4.c4 ~f6 Mk3 .!2k6 attack) 13..txd4 Jlxd4 14:lIIe2+ WfB
This piece attack of the center is one IS ..tb3 as 16.0-0 a4 17 ..tdl!, and
of the main methods for black, along white consolidates his position while
with 5... e6. retaining all ils worth. But even stronger
is g.tOf31 "xb2 (more careful is
6.~gS 8...tOxO+ 9."xfl .td7) 9.Jlc I tOxO+
10."xO .td7 II..tc4! Jlc8 12..tbJ,
and white's advanbge is obvious after
hecostles.
Instead of 6...dxc4 and 6...'iIfb6 the
moves 6... e6, 6... J.e6 as well as 6 .....SS
deserve attention.

This move became very well known

after Botvlnnik used It against Flohr in
their 1933 match. White continues the
assault 00 the dS-pawn and forces black
to make some decisions in the center.

6 ...dxc4
Black concedes the center, aiming The other critical line is 7.dS. But
for piece play against the opposing here white has recently run up against
d-pawn. The move 6 .. :ilfb6 became some difficulties (see next diagram).
widely known after the game
Botvinnik- Spielmann, Moscow 1935,
which went 7.cxd5 "xb2? 8.Jlcl! tOM
9.tOa4 'l!fxa2 10..tc4 .tg4 II.tOf3
.txO i2.gxO and black resigned in
view of the loss of the piece after
12..."a3 13.Jle3. The conect move for
black is 7 ... tOxd4. The gambit
14 The CQro-Kann! In Black aPld White
Already in 1930. Panov
recommended a conlinuation he", thai
is still the main line today: 7...~ 8.b4
(8.lOf3 is more secure) ...cxb3 9.axb3
.t.d71 10.b4 lIc8 11.lObs 10:4 12.lOxa7
(12 ..t.xf6.t.xbS 13.. .t.clI1:'ld6 is also in
black's favor) ... e6! 13,'ffb3 'lIfb6
14.lOxc8 .t.xb4+ IS.We2 'lIfc5 with a
dangerous black attacking position
(Sveshnikov-Ropert. Budapest 1988),
Also possible is 7 ...I1:'leS 8.'lIfd4 h6
(8 ...11:'ld3+ 9 ..t.xdl cxd3 1O.1bf:31 favors
white) 9 ..t.f4 IOg6 10."'g3 e6 Il.d6
1t'le7 12.lIdl I1:'ledS 13.'lIfe5 11:'ld7. and
now in Anand-Seirawan (Amsterdam
1992), white's best was seUling for a
"'petition with 14."d4 107f6 IS.'lIfe5.
since 14....e21 IOxcl 15.bxcl g6 tumed
oul 10 be in black's favor. Anand also
points out the possibility 12...l1:If5
Il ....xc4lLlxg3 14.lLlbS lLlds 15.iO:7+
IOxc7 16.dxc7 'lIfxdl+ 17.WxdllOxhl
with an uncle!" position.
7...'ilxd4
Risky is 7 ... lLlxd4 8.lLlf3 lOx£)+
9.'llfxf3 - white is too fa, ahead in
development. Of course. black can
refuse the pawn sacrifice with 7...e6
B.lLlr3 .i.e7. QRd then an isolated queen
pawn position that is typical of the
Queen's Gambit arises. Possible i.
9.0-00-0 10.lIel b611.a3 .i.b7 12.'lIfdl
~ 13.L211e8 14.lXadl g6 IS.I1:'leS.
with an attacking position.
8. 'ifxd4 lLlxd4 9.0-0-0 eS
10lllO!
After the exchange of his only active
piece. black will find it difficult to
defend. Exchanging the other white
knight with lO.lLlb5 lLlxb5 11 ..i.xbS+
.i.d7 12..txf6 .i.xb5 ll ..i.xeS overly
simplifies the position.
IO...lLlxO
Por the sacrificed pawn. white has a
large lead in developmenl Black has to
concern himself with the safety of his
king. which has precariously stayed too
long in the center. If 10... -*.g4. the
exchange sacrifice. Il.IOxeS .t.xdl
12 ..i.xf7+ <i>e7 13.llxdl :d8 14.11:'lc4.
is possible as black's king is very
uncomfortable. Black also has no time
to castle with 10....t.c5 11./Oxe5 0-0. as
after 12 . .i.el lLle6 Il.-*.xc5 IOxcs
14.lLlxf7 .i.e6 15 ..t.xe6 IOxe6 16.I1:'leS
white has an extra pawn.
ll,gxO iie7
Black cannot try to keep the pawn:
1l...11:'ld77 12.tnb5!
12.:Jiel 0-0 13':xeS .id8
In the future. this bishop will be
under attack in quite a few variations.
Sveshnikov recommends 13 ....t.b4.
Now if 14 ..t.xf6 gxf6 IS.lIg1+ Wh8
16.lIh5 .t.xc3 17.bxc3. white's
advanlage shrinks. But he should not
rush to exchange. More logical is
14.'t>c2. aiming not to worsen his pawn
 71.£ Caro-Kann! In Black and WI.ile
structure. If 14 ....t.d7. then IS..t.xf6
8"f6 16.:h5, and, In addition to his
hanging bishop. black has to worry
about the threat of the attack with
Zldl-gJ+ and .t.c4-d3.
14.~4
In spite of the relative simplicity of
the position. white's advantage is
obvious. All of his pieces are maximally
active; while all of black's pieces are
stalled. White once again offers to
exchange the most active of them. 'This
would lead to the win of a pawn:
14 .. .tl~xe4 IS.:xd8 .t.e6 (after
IS ...itlxgS? 16.:ee8! the rook is lost)
16.Zlxa81ba817..t.xe6itJxgS 18..t.dS.
It is probably best 10 immediately give
up the pawn with 14....t.e6 lS ..t.xe6
fxe6 16..*.xf6 ~xf6 17.:xe6 :""8+
18.~bl Zlc7. thereby activating his
pieces.
14...Itld7 15':f5 ~f'6
Black has to return, because the :1'8
is overloaded with the defense of the
pawn and the bishop. 15...ltJb6 loses a
pawn to 16.~xf7+ ~h8 17..*.86!
16.llr4 .ie6 17•.ixe6 fxe6
18.~xf6+ .ixf6
IS
18 ... gxf6 allows a mating attack:
19..t.h6:17 20.:g4+ ~h8 21.:dgl.
19•.ixf6 lIac8+ 2O.Wbl gxf6
21.lIg4+! Wh8 22Jld7
One of the concepts made famous by
Nimzovich. the absolute control of the
seventh rank. is in full force.
22 ••• lIfd8 23.lIgg7 IIxd7
24.lIxd7 IIg8 2SJlxb7 IIg1+
26.'t'c211g2 27Jlx07 Rxfl+
28.¢>c3 1I,f3+ 29.'itc4 lin
lO.&4 r5 31.115 IIb2 32.04
Black Resigned (1-0)
GAMES
Belinsky - Wells
London. 1985
l.e4 c6 2.c4 d5 3.exd51Of6
This is the so-called Steiner system.
a sister of the Panov Attack. The usual
continuation is 3 ... cxdS. By sacrificing
a pawn. black gets compensation in his
active piece play. But while declines the
sacrifice. preferring to direct the game
in a familiar mold.
4.lOc3 cxd5 S.cxd5 ~xd5 6.d4
~6 7.~f3 .ig4
By lzansposition we have arrived at
one of the best-known ""sitions of the
Panov Attack. TIle traditional move
order is 2.d4 dS 3.exdS cxdS 4.c4 itlf6
5.ltJc3ltJc6 6.W .tg4 7.cxdS itlxd5.
8.Wb3
The ancient move 8..tbS. which goes
back to Nimzovich-Alekhine (Bled
16 17re Cara-Kann! In Black and White
1931), has a worthy defense, as shown
by Nimzovich himself: 8 ... lI:c8! 9.h3
.i.xf3 10.'Ii'xf3 e6 11.0-0 .i.e7.
8...~xf3 9.gxfJ e6
Here, black was at a crossroads. He
prefers, in this game, the most popular
continuation - a forced Ironsilion into
the endgame. A sharp mi dd1egame, but
with a certain risk for black, awaits him
after 9 ... ~ 10.dS. It is easier for black
to defend after 10 ..i.e3 e6 11.0-0-0 .i.e7
12.dS exdS 13 ..i.xb6 'li'xb6 14.'Ii'xb6
axb6 lS./t)xdS :xa2 l4Ii.Wbl :as! with
an equal e"dgame. In Anand-Karolyi
(Frunze 19S7), white chose to keep the
bishop: 13./t)xdS iDxdS J4.JlxdS 1IIc7
IS.Wbl 0-0 16.f4 ~b4! 17.lI:d4 ~6
IS.JldI .i.f6 19..i.&2, but it seems that
black·s position is quite defensible.
After 10.dS lOl4 1 ..1IIdl eS 12.dxe6
fxe6 13 ..i.e3 .i.cS, we arrive at the
extremely sharp position shown in the
next cIi"8ram.
The practice of the last several years
shows that black can maintain equality.
Here are several examples: I) 14 ..i.g2
"Wh41S.0-0.i.d616.h3m 17.'Itb.30-O
IS.1Ixe6+ WhS 19.1Ie4 1If6 20.1Ig4
'ilff7, and black has sufficient
compensation for the pawn (Malaniuk -
Yudasin, USSR Championship,
Moscow 1991),or2) 14.b40-0 IS.bxcS
~xf3+ 16.¢>e2 Wf617.cxb6 (17..i.&211
~c4! is in black·s favor) ... lI:adS
18.'IIc2 ~+ 19..i.xd4 'ilfxd4 20.~
'1118 1 21..i.g2 'lieS with mutual
chances (Hansen,L-Kuijf, Graested
1990).
lo.1hb? /t)xd4 1l •.ibS+
/t)xbS 12.1Ifc:6+ <tie? 13.1IfxbS
For a short time, the capture 13.~xbS
arouSed some curiosity. The idea is that
12...86 13.~4 is unpleasant for black
due to the threat of 14..i.gS+. But the
game Zhuravlev-Stecko (USSR 1971),
which continued 13...JlbS! 14.~4
1Id7 lS ..i.eJ Jlxb2 16....c4 f6 17.Jldl
¢>f7 Is.lOb3 h7, with advantage to
black quickly ended the curiosity.
13••••d7
 The Caro-Kann! In B/aekand While 17

exdS 17 _.i.e3, and yet this doe.~ not give

white any advantage. By following the
main line of development with
17_..~e6!, black keeps the game level.
For instance, IB.O-O-O .i.b4 19.a3
llhc8+ 20. -t>b 1 .t.cS 21.:he I .i.xe3
22.:xe3+ Wd6 23.:de 1 :c4, and the
weakness of the h2-pawn is felt
(Belikov-Dreev, Moscow 1992). If
18.~e2, then 18....i.d6 19.:hcl :hbB!
20.:c2 .t.eS is good.

IS, ..exdS
The natural-looking intermediate
exchange 13_ .•lOxc3 14.bxc3 with the
goal of compromising white's pawn
structure turns out to favor white.
1be b-file opens up, and the white
rook puts it to good use. Black,
meanwhile, experiences difficulty In
camP/fling his kingside development.
The game Fischer-Euwe (Leipzig
Olympiad 1960) serves as an excellent
iIIustralion of white's play in an ending
of this type: 14.....d7 IS.:bll Rd81!
(more tenacious Is IS .....xbS 16.:xbS
~d6, although after 17.:b7 the rook is
After a brief opening shootout, the
boss on the seventh rank) 16_.i.e3 'W'xbS
game has been transformed into an
17.:xbS :d7 IB.~2 f6 19.1ld1l llxdl endgame with the isolani on dS. The
20.~xdl ~d721.:bBWc622..ba7gS true evaluation of this position
23.a4, and the extra passed pawn
detetmines how secure the entire plan
decided the fate of the game. with S...lOc6 is, because modem theory
Apparently stronger is 14 ... f6, considers this position the optimal
preparing the evacuation of the king:
achievement for white in this variation.
IS_1Irb7+ .-t>e8 16.:b1 1I'cBI is not The presence of the doubled pawns on
dangerous, as black plays ~f7 next. If the f-file is compensated by the
white plays the obvious Is.L3+ -t>rr
possibility to atlack the weak dS- and
16.:d1 "1'8 17.:d7+ Wg8, the kin8 a7-pawns in black's position.
hides from the threats after h7-hS. Obviously, the key freeing maneuver
14.lilxd5+ .xdS IS,.xdS for black is We7-e6 with the
development of the bishop. But this
Sometimes white decides to induce t.1kes lime. The evaluation of this
the weakening of black's position with endgame depends upon how white can
the intermedin'" IS..t.gS+ f6 16.'I!I'.dS utilize this time. Jumping ahend a bit, I
18 The Caro-Konn! InBlackantl White

can say that I was able to make An important prophylaxis. If black

something out of my chances, although manages to push his isolated pawn lod4,
often black manages to hold this his difficulties will be behind him. For
position. instance, 18...te3 ..to? 19.:acl ..tr6
20.~S :hd8 21.b4 <t>e6 22.bS d4 and
16.0-0 black's cenlral counlerplay
compensates for white's nank activity.
The queenslde castling plan is Black also equalizes after 19.:ad 1
considered most critical: 16..t.e3 ri>e6 :hd8 20.:d4 gS! 21.:cdl <t>e622.:el
17.0-0·0, and now while immediately <t>rs 23.:ed 1 ri>e6 (Ivanov,A -
hits the a7 and dS pawns. But the open Seirawan, USA Championship 1992).
position of the king allows black to
make his pieces cooperate well if he 18...lld8
defends accurately. Here are several
possibilities: 1) 17... l%c8+ 18.ri>bl .t.c5 It is a good idea to immediately
19.1%hel <t>d6 20..t.f4+ <t>c6 21.l%e2 protect the dS-pawn. Later, black plans
:hd8; 16..t.f4 ri>.617.0-0-0 .t.b418.a3 to use the bishop to support its advance.
:ac8+ 19.<t>bl LS20.l:lhgl g621.b4 Less precise is IS...ri>e6 19.:d3 .t.cS
.t.b6 22.:ge 1+ <t>rS, and black prolects 20 ...tf4 :hd8, as the white pieces
everything (I.Polgar-De long. Wijkaan penetrate into black's camp after
Zee 1990), or 2) 17 ....t.b4 (stopping the 21.:c 1 ..tb6 22.:c6+ <t>f5 23 ...to7 and
chec:k from el) 18.<t>bl (or 18.a3 Rhcg+ white has the better game.
19.<t>bl .t.cS) ... :hd8 19.:d3 :d7
20.~ I :b8 21.:c6+ <t>rS 22.:a6 (the 19 •.ie3 Itd7 20.ltac1 .ie7
pin 22.:b3 is parried tactically: 22... d4! 21.lld4!
23 ..t.d2 .t.xd2 24.:xb8 d3 25Jlc4
.t.h6, and the passed pawn ties down
white after d3-d2) ...:bb7 23.a3 .t.e7 -
black transfelS the bishop to f6, from
where it controls the blockading square
d4. This is an important factor in the
defense of positions like this. with the
isolaled pawn. Black keeps the equal
chances (Brunner-Adorjan, Germany
1990). If while tries 16..t.f4, in order to
keep the black king fl'\'m d6, the black
king goes to f5 with tempo. For
example,16... <t>e617.0-0-0.t.b4IS.a3
:ac8+ 19.<t>bl .t.a5 20.l%hgl g621.b4
With this move, whi~ looks 10 aHack
..tb6 22.:8el+ ri>f5, and all is well for
the .7 -pawn and simultaneously
black (Brunner-Slering, Luxembourg
1989). threatens to disc:oordinate the black
forces by l:ld4-f4. The wide-open black
16...We617.llel+ <t>fs 18.lld1 king in the cenler allows the white rooks
to reach the greatest possible activity.
 Tlte Caro-Kann! In Black and Wllile
Black should have defended against this
last tllreat with 21...gSI for if 22.Jlc6
Jlhd8 23.~f1 i.f6 24.Jlb4 .teS! and
black is ready to push his central pawn.
But black apparently does not yet sense
the danger.
21 •••.tf6 22.:r4+ ct>e5
This is awkward for the king and the
bishop. But the natural 22 ... ~e6 Is
answered by the simple 23.b3, and now
23...d4 is impossible due to 24.Jle4+
~dS 2S ..bd4 i.xd4 26.:xd4+ ~xd4
27.Jldl+. Black also has no time to
support the dS-pawn with 23 ...Jlhd8
because of 24.:" I ~d6 25.Jla4 Jla8
26.i.f4+ as now black's king is in
danger.
23.'.:a4d4
Here, this move also makes white's
life simpler, as 23 ...Jlb8 24.b3 Rbb7 or
even 23 ... ~S would have been more
stubborn.
24Jla5+
1£ 24.:cS+. black holds with
24 ...~e6. After the text, 24 ...JldS is
unplayable because of 2S.i.d4+!
24•••~6 2S•.tf4 :b7
26.Jlc6+ was threatened. On
2S ....tdB 26.JleS+ ~f6 27.Jlc6+ wins.
26.b3 :d8 27.wn d3
This is a very natural reaction to
white's last move, as the king aims for
the blockading d3-square. But perhaps,
27...h6 was a better defense, with g7-gS
to fol1ow. In the game, the white rook
utilizes the newly opened 4th rank, to
undertake a bypass maneuver. The
19
enemy, exh.,usled from the rook threats,
agrees to exchange a pair of rooks, and
this decreases the potential of the
d3-pawn.
28.:el+ Wd729.lle4! .i.e7
Black should have stoically
continued with 29...<i>c6.
3O.:d5+~8
Here also, 30... <i>c6was moreaclive,
keeping in slate the defemi ve resource
31.JlxdS .txd8 32.Jld4 Jld7. Now, after
the rook trade, a curious rook and
bishop dance ensues. and it ends in the
fall of the a7-pawn.
31.:xdS+ ct>xdS 32.~el
.1b4+ 33..1d2 .1c5 34•.1e3
.ib4+ 35.c.t;>dl .iel 36.:c4
.ie5 37.r4 .if6 38':&4 .iel
39•.ixa7l:lb4
The bishop ending is easily winning.
Black should have kept his rook alive
with 39... ZlbS, aiming at the white
kingside pawns.
40.11xb4 .1xb4 41 •.td4 g6
42.h3 ct>d7 43•.ib2 ~c6 44.&3
.1c5 4S.f3 .id6 46.f5 .tf4
47.a4 gdS 4S •.id4 <i>dS
49•.10 ~6 SO.b4 WdS 51.aS
Black Resigned (1-0)
GAME 6
Dolmatov - Adams
Hastings. 1989/90
l.e4 c6 2.M d5 3.exdS cxdS
4.c4 ~ S.1Dc3 g6
20 The Caro-Kann! In Black and While
Fianchettoing the bishop has in
common with the Gruenfeld Defense
the ideas of coordinating pressure on the
d4-pawn with the bishop along the
diagonal with the queen or rook along
the d-file_ Here. however. it is coMected
with sacrificing the dS-pawn.
6.1Ifb3
The mai n continuation. after which
black is practically forced to sacrifice a
pawn. since 6...e6 7.li:lf3 .ig7 8.cxdS
exdS 9 ..ibS+ or 6...dxc4 7..ixc4 e6
8.dS! are completely inconsistent with
the fiancheUo. AflL:r 6.cxdS black does
nol have to sacrifice the pawn. After
6 ... li:lxdS 7 ....b3. the continuation
7...li:lb6 8.dS .ig7 9..ie3 0-0 10.:dl
to.6 I t..ie2 'l!fd6 12.m ~S 13."bS
~a4 14.li:'le4 leads to very sharp play
with some initiative for white. After
simplifications with 7...~c3 8 ..*.c4!
e6 9.bxc3 ~6 10.li:lf3 .ig7 11..ia3
.if8 12..ixfl! (if 12.0-0 li:laS! black's
defense is easier) ...~xf8 13.0-0 ~g7
14..ie2 whiie's chances are a bit better.
But usually black doe. not sidetrack
from the main idea of the variation and
plays 6....ig7. In this case, it is simpler
for white to complete his development
and gain the Positional plusses which
will result from black spending too
much time to regain his pawn. Still
white must exercise certain care. For
instance, the maneuver 7..1bS+, which
aims to discoordinate the black forces,
isjustified in case of7 ....id7 8 ..ic40-0
9.1ifb3!, but after 7... li:lbd7 black has
tiine to respond to white's main
positional idea 8.d6! exd6 (or 8 ... e61!
9.dS!) 9."e2+ "'e7 10..if4, wilh a
retum pawn sacrifice 8 ... 0-0! 9.dxe7
1IIlIe7+ 10.fi)ge2 a6 11..ixd7 "'xd7,
with the follow-up b7-bS and .ic8-b7,
getting active piece playas
compensation.
The main continuation is 7..ic4 0-0
8.fi)ge2 ft:lbd7 9.ft:lf4 (also possible is
another method of defending the
dS-pawn: 9..i8S fi)b6 10..ixf6 .ixf6
I t....b3 .ifS 12.0-0 with the sequel
li:'le2-g3 and 'IIdl-fJ) .•.ft)b6 JO..ib3
.if5 (in white's favor is 10•.. .ig4?1
11.13 .ifS 12.g41) 11.0-0 h4 12.~e4
ft:lxe4 13.'IIf3 ft:lf6 14..i.d2 as IS.a3
~8 16..ia2 11M 17..ic3; and white's
chances are preferable. (Lutikov -
Bronstein, USSR 1982).
6 ... .1g7 7.cxdS 0-0
8.i.e2
Black's plan is obvious: After
developing the knight via ~8-d7-b6 or
ft)b8-a6-c7, he will attack the dS-pawn,
using the d6-square as a foothold. White
has to find the most rational way 10
position his pieces so as to prevent
black's plan.
One of the main positional resources
for white is to give the pawn back with
dS-d6, in order to close the d-file to give
life to white's bishops. This method was
first shown by Spassky in his 1966
 The Caro-Kann! In Black and Whire
match wilb Petrosian and Is actively
employed in current practice.
With the text, white prepares
develDping Ibe -*.f3. AnDlber possible
idea is fianchettDing Ibis bishop, but
afler Ibe direct 8.g3 while has \0 deal
wilb Ibe witty pawn sacrifice, 8 ...e6!,
suggested by Gipslis. The main idea is
\0 exploit white's lack Df development
after 9.dxe6 Itlc6! 10.exfl+ Wh8
11.~ge2 "e7 12.-*.e3 ~g4. Therefore,
white first develops with 8.~ge2 ~bd7
(dDubtful is8 ... ~69.g3'il'b610."xb6
axb6 11.-*.g2 ~b4 because after 12.0-0
l::Id8 13.d6! white has a positiDnal
advantage) 9,83 ~b6 10.J.g2 J.fS
11.~f4 (after 11.0-0 as 12.a4 J.d3
13.d6 ,exd6 14.J.xb7 Ilb8 black has
certain compensation for the pawn) ...h6
(11...gS 12.ltlfe2 h6 is premature
because Df 13.h4) 12.h4 Ilc8 13.0-0
"d7 14.a4 ~4 IS.aS Ilfd8 16.l:la4
~617.lldl,anditisnoteasyforblack
tD regain the pawn
(A.Sokolov-Tsiganov, Helsinki 1992).
8•••lObd7
FianchettDeing the bishDp with
S... M, wilb the idea Df transferring !he
knight to c7, lakes \00 long, and while
can comfqrtably develop: 9.-*.0 -*.b7
10.~ge2 "ifd7 11.-*.gSI ~6 12.0-0
~c7 13.J.xf6 -*.xf6 14.lladl
(S.PDlgar-Drazlc, NDvi Sad 1990).
9.~f3lt:lb6 10.lt:llle2
On 10.J.gS -*.fS I I.lld I as 12.~ge2
h6 13.-*.xf6 exf6! 14.~0 a4 IS.'iI'bs
ReS 16.~g3 -*.d7 17.1rd3 fS! is
possible, with active counlerplay.
10...~f5
21
Also playable is 10...-*'S4, wilb Ibe
aim of exchanging !he defender of !he
dS-pawn.
11.0-0 05
After 11...J.d3, black must be ready
fDr 12.d6 exd6 13.J.xb7 IlbS 14.J.f3,
allhough it is true Ibat black has certain
compensation In his active pieces. On
11..:tIt'd7 12.a4 Ilfd8 13.d6! is quite
effective.
12.~f4 ~dJ lJ.d6!
We already knDW that this pawn
sacrifice is always successful fDr white
because the bishDps becDme active.
13...exd614.1Ifdl
Of course, white did not sacrifice !he
pawn with 14.-*.xb7? Ilb8 IS.-*.f3
~bdS In mind. The retreat of Ibe queen
begins a regrouping which restricls Ibe
Itlb6 and black's light-squared bishop.
In Drder t'1 understand Ibe upeoming
play, it shDuld be kepi in mind that black
sh'1uld not advance his d-pawn unless
abs'1lutely necessary, because it
weakens several of his dark squares, in
particular, eS and cS.
22 The Caro-Kann! In Black and While
14_..-*.a6 IS.b3 h6 16.h31l1h7
17.g311c818•.i.gZ lIe819.l:tel
IlIr6 ZO.l:tcl'ilfd7 2l.1IfdZ ~h7
ZZ.ie3
22...dS?!
An impulsive decision! Young
Adams does not withstand the pressure
of uncertainty and pwihes the pawn,
thus making it easier for white to form
a plan_ What' possessed him? Black has
done,itseems, the besthe·could 10 reach
a safe piece placement. and yet he is not
satisfied with his position. He does not
have a clear plan and always has to
walch his as-pawn. which has been cut
off by the hanging lilb6. ~ite. on the
other hand. can vary his plans. attacking
the d5-. d6- and a5-squares with
maneuvers like lile2-f4. 'iIId2-b2-a3.
keeping in reserve a possible dS at a
convenient moment. ht spite of all this.
black should havecontinuedthc waiting
game with something like 22 .....d8
23.lOr4 Jle7.
23.tt~r4 lIc7 24.llId3 -*.xd3
The resull of ...d6-dS. Due to the
threats of lilcs and liles black has to
give white the two bishoPs.
25_.xdJ J:[cc8 26_a4
Blocking the as-pawn. While begins
combining threats against the weak
pawns on as and dS.
26 ... .i.f8 27 . .t.dZ lIxel+
Z8.l:txel 'iIId8 29.ll)e2Il1a8
An unfortunate fate for the knight.
The alternative 29... <tlbd7 would be
answered by the same maneuVer as in
the game.
3O.1lIf4 b6 31.1Ib5
Now it is all over. The weakness of
the dark squares has culminated in the
wealatess of the dS-pawn. which is
destined to fall.
31...l:tc2 32•.i.e3 .i.b4 D.lIel!
lIxcl+ 34•.i.xcl ~7 3S.ie3
.t.d6 36.l.OxdS f:Dc7 37.llIxe7
1Ixe7 38.1Ic6 'iIIe7 39.'illxb6
-*.xg3 40.WxaS .i.d6 41.WbS
as 42.&5 Black Resigned (1-0)
GAME 7
Miles - Beliavsky
Biet, 1992
This" game features a chameleon
opening. which started out as a Slav
Defense and sUddenly became a Panov
Attack. I had the occasion to experience
for myself the problems that black faced
in our previous game. In addition. I was
facing a specialist in this system.
1.c4 c6 2.e4 dS 3.c:xdS c:xdS
4.exdSIlIf6
 The Caro-Kann! 1n Black and While
5_i.b5+
The main continuation of the Steiner
System, which aims to destroy the
coordination of black's development
and to limit black's choice of opening
buildup. He Is practically forced \0 play
the system with the fianchet\oed bishop.
IncaseofS.lo,3~xdS6.~f3,blackcan
respond with 6...06 7.d4 .ib4 and get a
Nimzo'Indian type position, which we
discussed in Game 1. For example,
Beliavsky-Tal <Moscow 1982)
continued 6...~xc3 7.bxc3 g6 8.h4 h6
9.d4 .ig7 10 ..ie2 ~611.0-0 0-0
12..if4 .ig4 13.Jlbll ltd7 14. 'il'd2
¢lh7 lS.dS! with a serious initiative for
white. But, later Karpov found a more
exact move order: 8....ig7 9.hS ~6
10.Jlbl 'il'c7 and achieved good
chances. After S. lta4+ltJIxi7 6.~3 g6,
white can choose between the solid
7 .~f3 .ig7 8. ltb3 0-0 9 ..ic4 ~6
10.d3 and the sharp 7.g4.
Korchnoi-Salov (Amsterdam,I99I)
continued 7 ....ig7 8.gS IllliS 9.~e2
0-0 1O.~83 e6 11.IOxhS 8mS 12.d4
IOb6 13JI'dl exdS 14.ltxhS .irs, and
'black's piece activity compensates fora
small material deficit
5 ..,1l)bd7
23
The most critical response. but also
possibleisS ....id7 6 ..ic4 ltc7! 7.d3 bS
8•.1b3 as with sharp play for both sides,
e.g., 9,a3 'lib7 10.1If31Oa6 11.~3 a4
12 ..1a2 86, or 9.a4!1 bxa4 10..1c4
lteS+ 11 ..1e3 ~xdS.
6.tO:3g6
Also logical is 6...86, looking \0 kick
the bishop back: 7."a4 86 (also
possible is 7...JlbS) 8.M (in case of
8.d4 .1g7 9 ..1e2 0-0 10..1f3 bS 11.1tb3
~b612 ..1gS .1b7, black soon regains a
pawn with an active position) ....1 g7
9.0-0 0-0 10..1xd7 .ixd7 II. 'l'b3 bS
12.d4 "as 13.it)eS and white only has
a slight Initiative.
7,d4 i.g7 8.d6!
In this system the thematic
countersacrifice Is also quite effective.
It is as If while "passes the baton" of
taking care of the dS-pawn \0 black,
who will now have \0 solve problems
with the d6-pawn. Black cannot decline
the sacrifice with 8 ... e61 9.dS! eS
10.M with advantage \0 white.
8...exd6 9, "IIeZ+ "IIe7
The evacuation of the king with
9...¢lf8 10.~f3 h6 11.0-0 ¢lg8 12.JleI
¢lh7, as in Shirov-Vyzmanavin,
nlburg 1992, lakes too long. With
13 ..1f4 <in the game, after 13. lte7~!
black was able to defend) ... Jle8
14.ltd2, white could have exploited
black's lagging development.
On 10... dS, 11..1d6 is unpleasant:
white has a long-term inltlallve.
24 The Caro-Kann! In Black and While
11.~xe2!
The bishop retreats and relocates 10
f3, from where it will control the
cIS-square, applying pressure on black's
queenside. The routine 11./t)gxe2 We7
12.0-0-0/t)b613.:lhcl-*.e6givesblack
an easy game. The gam~ has reached an
ending, bypassing the middlegame, and
black has very difficult problems 10
solve. His position is conStrained and he
cannot simplify it for now. The play in
the position revolves around the
d6-pawn, which white wants on dS, as
this will badiy weaken the eS- and
cS-squares. Black naturally tries 10
avoid moving it. The upcoming play is
for control of the d6- an~ cIS-squares.
1l...'it>e7 12•.10 iZlb6 13.b3
A prophylactic move, which can only
be understood with the history of the
variation in mind. The natural
continuation is 13./t)ge2. Now if black
passively defends the b7- and d6-pawns
from the white bishops, he runs into
serious difficulties. For example,
13 ...h6 14.h4 :ldS (in case of 14 ...a6
15.0-0 ZlbS 16.Zlfel -*.e617./t)g3 Wd7
IS./t)ge4, black's king steps into his
own pieces, which leads to the loss of a
pawn) 15.0-0 :lbS 16.:lfel -*.e6
17.:ladl WfS IS.lt)bS It)cs 19.1t)ec3
It)es 20.cIS -*.d7 21.lOI4, and white gets
a big positional advantage
(Stohl-Bagirov, Gausdal 1991).
However, if black continues the
sacrificial strategy, which is essential 10
the fianchetto variation (13 ... -*.e6!?
14.-*.xb7 RabS 15.-*.f3 ~), his very
active pieces will gl ve him sufficient
compensation for the pawn.
13 •• Jlb8
Given the Wtprotect.ed state of the
ttlc3, the pawn sacrifice with
13 •.. -*.e6!? 14.-*.xb7 :labS 15.-*.f3
/t)bd5 16./t)xdS+ /t)xclS 17.-*.g5+ Wd7
(17 ... f6 IS.-*.d2 /t)b4 19."*.xb4 :lxb4
20.lt)e2 is in white's favor) IS.lt)e2
it:lb4 deserved allention. Black has
sufficient compensation, for instance:
19.Wd2 :lhcS 20.-*.e4 cIS 21.-*.bl 10:6
22.-*.e3 :lb4 and black regains the
pawn.
14./t)b5 iZle8
Possibly 14•..:ldS is stronger, as In
case of lS./t)xa7 -*.d7 16.i.e2 lOfclS
17.i.g5+ "*.f6 18."*.xf6+ Wllf6 19./t)b5
/t)f4, black's counterplay is quite
effective. After 15.Wd2 a6 16.:lel+
"*.e6 17.lt)c7 :ldcS 18./t)xe6fxe6, black
can also defend successfully.
ls.iZle2 a6 16.iZlbc3 iZlc7?!
An unsuccessful maneuver. Now
black will have to struggle very hard for
equality. More logical was 16...lbf6
17.0-0·0 "*.g4, and black exchanges the
ncti ve bishop and eases the defensive
task.
p.O-O-ObS
 The Caro-Ka1l1l! 111 Black a1ld While
On 17 ... i.e6 (with the idea of
.•. ll:Ic7-d5), 18.d5 ~f5 19.94 can
follow, with a space advantage to white.
18J1.he1
18.h3 deserved attention.
18 ••• ~g4 19.~e4 %lhc8
20.li>bl itJe8 21.h3 ~d7
22J1.d3 <;Pf8
Black is forced \0 defend passively
and keep the d6-pawn under control.
Bad is 22...1ilf6? because of 23.ll:Ig3
Iilxe4' 24.lilgxe4, and the d6-pawn is
defenseless.
23.%le3 Ii>g8 24.i.f3 ~f8
2S.g4?!
The correct 2S.~g51 maintained
white's advantage. Now black can
simplify the position, easing the
defenSe.
2S... hxg4 26.hxg4itJf6 27.gS
After 27..IIg I ~e6, black would gain
the important dS-square.
27 ... ll:Ig4 28.i.xg4 .txg4
29.ll:Ig3
2S
On 29.f3 ~e6 and ... Il:Ib6-d5 would
follow, but now black plays a well
calculated small exchanging
combination.
29 ... %lxc3! 30.%lxc3 itJdS
31.%lc2
After 31.~d2 Iilxc3+ 32.~xc3 dS,
black has a more pleasant position.
31 ... itJxf4 32.%le4 ~dl
33.%lxf4
On 33Jld2 IDdS, the knight slips
away.
33....txc2+ 34."Pxc2 dS
Finally black has freed himself, but
even this ending is better for white
because blnck now h.,s to denl with his
weak d5-pawn.
3S.ll:In .fie7 36.%lg4 <;Pf8
J7.ll:IeJ %ld8 J8.~dJ .fiaJ
39.%lgl ct>e7 40.%lel Ii>f8
41.itJg4 ~d6 42.iOes
If 42.lDf6, 42 ...~f4 was possible.
42 ...Wg:7 43J1.e3 %le8 44.ll)g4
%lh8 4SJl.t3 %lh4
With the active rook, black's main
problems are behind him. White now
tries \0 look for chances in the rook
ending.
46.ll:IeS .fixeS 47.dxeS %le4
48.%le3 %lr4 49.OO!
The final resource. Now if 49...fxe6
50..IIxe6 lIxf2 Sl.lIb6 lIxa2 S2.lIxh7+
¢'f8 53. <t>d4, the white king penetrates
into black's position, with very
dangerous threats. But black has
26 The Caro-Konn! In Black and While

anolher defense. After a brief lense

moment, the situation clarifies to
black's satisfaction.

49 ••• <;tf8! 50.l1eS l1:dZ

51.l1xd5 l1xaZ 5Z.11d7 fxe6
53.lbb7 .l:[a5 54 ..I:[a7 Rxg5
55Jba6 <;t>t7 56. b4
When the speed of passed pawns
decides, the question of material
becomes of secondary importance.

56 ••.11g1 57.b5 g5 58.b6 l1bl

59.<;tc4 g4 60.Wc5 g3 6lJla2
<;tC6 62.~c6 <;tIS 63.b7 e5
. 64.1181 l1b2 65.1102 l1b4
66.l1a4 .l:[bl 67 •.1:[81 l1b3
68.1103 .l:[xb! Drs,,; (lh_lh)
 The Caro-KIlnn! In Black and Wllire
CHAPTER2W
THE ADVANCE VARIATION
(l.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5)
The advance of the e-pawn, which
characterizes the Advance Variation,
creates a pawn chain with the wedge at
loS, which has been driven into black's
position. The stable pawn structure
makes the game more positional in
character.
After black brings out the bishop
with 3 ... -*.f5, his further development is
usually connected with the move e7-e6,
the formation of his own pawn chain,
and COWIterplay against white's base of
the chain, the d4-pawn, withc6-cS. This
forces white to support the base, yet at
the same time white has possibilities to
vary his plans.
27
The Advance Variation and the
interest toward it have historically
developed in a wave-like fashion. In the
beginning of the 20th century, when it
was considered necessary for white to
exchange light-squared bishops with
4 ..id3, black quickly fOlD'ld ways to
organize COWIlerplay in the eenler and
on the queenslde, and the mancover
Wl'd8·b6-a6, found by Nimz:ovich,
played a big role. The variation with
3.e5 became to be consIdered
ineffective. In the 1960's, mainly
thanks to efforts by Tal, it was shown
that while does not at all have to trade
bishops and can choose energetic
continuations, 4.h4 or 4,fi'lc3, with a
forceful pawn attack against the black
bishop, with the aim of gaining a space
advantage and with it, definite plusses
in the middlegame and In the endgame.
The modem wave of popUlarity of the
Advance Variation is due to Short's
method of play with 4.00 e6 S..i.e2,
which looks unpretentious but greatly
restricts black's cOlD\terplay.
28 The Ca'O-f(Qnn! In Black anti While
 The Caro-Kann! In Black a"d White 29

GAMES 4.10:3
Short - Seirawan
The idea of this continuation is 10
Rotterdam, 1989 begin a pawn attack with S.g4 after
4".e6. This system was invented by the
1.e4 c6 2.d4 dS 3.eS .irs Sovielmasler Freiman in the 1930'sand
bas been revived in our time. Another
We quote Capablanca: "The
modem idea, 4.tOO, will be considered
drawback of 3.eS is that it immediately
later.
frees the black bishop. In addition, due
to the nature of the resulting position 4... hS
white will have to trade his king's
bishop for black's queen bishop, and
this 'is usually done only for a very good
reason. In most openings, black
experiences difficulty developing his
queen's bishop, while white's king'.
bishop usually plays an important role
in the attacks that develop immediately
as a result of the opening. This is why
we cannot recommend for white a
system which leads 10 the exchange of
his king's bishop for black's queen'.
bishop."
These thoughts of the then-World
Champion are in relation to his famous A Iittle-studied continuation which
game with Nimzovich (white), played aims 10 once and for all prevent g2-g4.
in New York in 1927, in which after lbe next game is devoted 10 4".e6.
4.i..<13 i..xd3 5.1IIxd3 e6 6.lDc3 'lI'b6 There is yet another possibility: black
7.t08e2 cS 8.dxc5 i..xcs 9.0-0 tOe7 allows the advance of the g-pawn,
10.tOa4 (better is 10.a3) ".'I'c6 retreats with the bishop to the
11.tOxcS 'I'xc' 12.i..e3 'fIe7 13.f4lDfS queenside, looking to utilize the
14.<:37! (Alekhine recommended weakening of white's kingside. The
14.:ac1lDc6 IS.i..f2 h5 16.04) ".lDc6, maneuver 4".'11fb6 S.g4 i..d7 6.tOa4
black achieved a better position. 1IIc7 (see the next diagram) serves this
Capablanca's reasoning concerning the purpose.
premature bishop exchange, of course
is well founded, but it should not ~
interpreted as meaning that 3.e' is
necessarily bad. In fact, the advance has
its advantages, and white does not at all
have 10 exchange bishops immediately.
In the last decades this system has been
enriched with neW ideas.
30 The Caro-Kann! In Black anI/. While
Now after 7.10:5 e6 8.1013 (on the
knight exchange 8.iLlxd7 iLlxd7 9.f4 cS
10.c3 iLlc7 l1.iLlfJ h5 12.gxh5 iLlfS!.
black easily equalizes) ...c5 9.dxc5 .i.b5
(also possible is 9...iLla6 10.iLlfJ iLlxc5
11.iLlxc5 -*.xc5 12..i.d3 iLle7 with equal
chances) 10.f4 .i.xcs 11.iLlf3iLle7 12.a4
-*.xd3 13.-*.xd3 iLlbc6 14....e2 hS! and
black achieved an excellent game in
Kamsky-Adams. London 1989. In
Timman-Kamsky. Tilburg 1990. white
played the stronger 7.-*.e3! e6 8.-*.g2.
Now on 8 ... c5. the continuation
9.iLlxcSI ~xcS 10.dxcS is good and
10 ...... xe5? 11.iLlf3 'Ihb2 12.-*.d4
'Ifb4+ 13.c3.leads to a clear advantage
for white. The game continued 8... iLlc7
9.f4 iLla610.lt:lfJ hS l1.h3lt:lg6 12.lt:lc3
-*.e7 13."'e2lt:lh4 14.iLlxh4 -*.xh4+ and
now instead of 15..i.f2. which allowed
black to even the chances, Timman
recommends IS.¢>fl .i.e7 (g4-gS was
threatened) 16.gxh5 0-0-0 17..i.fJ. and
white stands better. And yet the current
practice of the variation 4 ...'ilfb6 S.g4
allows black to expect to achieve
counterplay, and. possibly for this
reason. white has again turned to the
bishop exchange idea with S ..i.d3. Now
S..."'xd4, accepting the pawn sacrifice.
Is dangetous because of 6.iLlfJ "'g4
7.h3! 'ill'hS (7 ...... xg2 8.ltgl 'ill'xh3
9.-*.fl leads to material loss) 8.0-0
-*.xd3 9.cxd3 with a dangerous initiative
due to the threat of iLlc3-e2-f4. After
5 ... -*.xd3 6.'iII'xd3 e6 7.lt:lge2 "'a6 (on
7 ...iLle7 8.0-0 It:ld7 9.a4! c5 10.aS "c6
I l.dxcS. whitehas an advantage) 8.1fh3
iLlc7 9.0-0 It:ld7 10.a4. white retains the
initiative.
S.~d3
Now this exchange is more
appropriate than on the last move, since
white has made a more useful 4th move
than black and can. in the future, expect
to make use of the weak gS-square.
After 5.-*.e2 e6 6.lt:lfJ -*.g4 7.0-0 .i.xfJ
8..i.xfJ g6 9 ..*.e3 -*.h6, black has no
problems.
5 ... ~xd3 6."xd3 e6 7,tOfl
1IIb6
Black follows Nimzovich's
recommendation and, keeping in mind
his weakened kingside. prepares to
castle queenside.lfhe keeps the king in
the center. he risks an attack" by white.
For ex.ample. Nunn-Dlugy (London.
1986) went 7 ...iLlh6 8.0-0 iLlfS 9.iLle2
It:ld7 (or9....i.e7 lO.b3! It:ld711.c4iLlfB
12.-*.d2 iLlg6 13.cS. and white attacks
bymovingthea-andb-pawns) 10.iLlg3!
iLlh4 (1n case of the exchange. the f-lile
opens. and this is in white's favor. i.e.
10...iLlxg3 II.fxg3 .*.e7 12.h4. with the
threat ofiLlfJ-g5. and if 10...g611.iLlxf5
gxf5 12..*.g5 the h5-pawn is weak)
11.iLlxh4 "xh4 12.-*.e3 "d8 13.ltfdl
ltc8?! (Black should ha~e rushed his
king away from the center with
13 ... .*.e7. followed by g7-g6. and
running the king to g7) 14.b3 c5 15.c4
cxd4 16.cxd5! It:lxeS (16 ... dxe3
17.dxe6. with a very strong attack. was
 T1,e Caro-KtlI"'/ In B/"ek allli Whit..
not much of an altemalive for black)
17.1II'xd4 1II'xdS 18.1II'a4+! and Black
Resigned(1-O),forifI8 ...1II'c619.llacl.
11.11-0.06
After white has castled, this Isa bullet
in the air. Instead of moving the queen
from the center of the action, more
logical was 8 ... lOd7 or 8 ... lOe7,
preparing c6-cS.
9,1tdl! lDe7
9 ... c5 and IOb8-c6 was more
energetic.
10.lOe2 IOd7 11.c3 IOr5
12_.i.g5
This Is what the 1II'b6-a6 maneuver
led to. The b2-pawn is not allacked, so
white can play this move without loss of
time, and the upcoming knight
maneuver will pry the f-file open.
12....i.e7 13.tllg3! /t)xg3
. Black has 10 capture first because
after 13".86 14.llIxfS gxfS IS.h4 the
h-pawn becomes a serious weakness,
which can decide the endgame in
conjunctiOn with the worsened e6-f7-fS
pawn structure.
14.fxg3! f6
Black has to further weaken his pawn
structure in order to defend his king.
15_exf6 gxf6 16•.i.f4 0-0-0
17.llel /t)f8
31
In spite of the fairly calm character
of the position, black is experiencing
serious difficulties. To secure safety for
his king from an upcoming white attack,
he practically has to trade bishops, but
this will increase his worries about the
e6- and f6- pawns, since the e6-eS
advance wi II cause additional
weaknesses. At the same time, white's
plan is clear: to attack black's king
position with his a- and b-pawns.
Black's c6-pawn Is a good starting
point.
18.b4 .b619.a4 .i.d620_'iIIdl
'iIIc7 21.b5 Ilh7 22 •.i.xd6
.xd6
If 22... lZxd6 23.1II'f4.
23.bxc6 .xc6 24.•f4
Again, the king f..ls uneasy, and
this, combined with the attack on the
f6-pawn, will lead to the advance e6-eS
and another weakness: the fS-square.
24...1Od7 25.r.Phllle7 26.a5
Immediately attacking the hS-pawn
with 26.1II'h6 allows black to move his
king away from the c-file (26...Wb8).
wherea.. now on 26...1II'c7 27.1II'h6 Wb8,
32 The Caro-Karrn! In Blackand White
white has a tempo to defend the c-pawn
(28.%lecl).
26_..eS 27.Wrs
The queen Is comfortably placed at
fS, attacking the hS-pawn. Black has to
deal wilh Iwo pins; along the diagonal
(by the queen) and olOllg the file (by the
rook). Of course, white could not afford
27.dllcS7 fxeS 28.lt:lxeS %lde8 and Ills
black who gets lhe benefit of !he pin.
27 ... ~b8 28 •• xh5 .xe3
29_'lifSrLde8
On 29...e47 white has 30.1iflldS ellO
31.1If'd6+. Bul black had 10 play
29...1!I'c7 30.:ecl "d6, and the queen
aids In \he defense.
3O':eclWe3?
The last chance to bring the queen
back was 30..."irb4, although after 31.a6
b6 32.%lc6, penetrating with the rook, is
possible. But now black's posilion is
beyond repair.
31. We2! ~a8 32.a6 /llb6
33.axb7+ rLxb7 34.dxeS fxeS
3S.J:le1 'II'M 36.tlIxeS Rbe7
37':cbl! l:I.b7
On 37.•.lbeS 38.1fc7 wins.
38.1llc6 We3 39./llxa7! Wb8
40.1llc6+ We8 4I.1lle7+ Wd8
42.~xdS Black Resigned
(1-0)
GAME 9
Tlmman - Seirawan
Hilversum (mJ2), 1990
l.e4 c6 2.d4 dS 3.eS.irs 4.1llc3
e6 S.g4 .ig6 6.~ge2 cS
Only by challenging \he center can
black hope 10 achieve acll ve
counterplay. For example, if 6. ...i.b4
7.h4 i.e4 (after 7•.. h6 8 ..i.e3 tOe79.hS
i.h7 10.f4, white has a bind) Ulh3 hS
9.lt:Jg3 c5 10.-*.g5 f6 11..i.d2, black has
to give white the two bishops, and his
kingside is seriously weakened as well.
Much less common is 6 .••f6, but this
move, which challenges \he wedge of
the pawn chain, also has a sufficient
positional justification. After 7.lt:Jr4
(see nelll diagram), white can drive back
the bishop but is forced into concessions
concerning his central pawn stmcture.
 The Cora-KomI' In Blockotrd While 33

Let us look at some possible at the positional solution: 7 ..i.e31O:6

continuations: 8.dxcS. Now on 8 .•. 1IPh4, risky Is
9.1·obS1! lOxeS 10.10:114 lOxg4 and
black has the initiative, but the
cold-blooded 9.h3 retains the
advantage. After the critical response
8 ... lOxeS 9.1lkl4 1Oc6 (dangerous Is
9...a6? because of 10.f4 10:6 IUS!),
white can get a good ending with
10..i.bSlOge71l.f4.i.e412.lOxe4dxe4
13.lOxc6 lOxc6 14."ihd8+ Jhd8
".~2, with the advantage of the two
bishops.

7... h6
I) 7 ..•£XeS S.dxeS (after the exchange
8.lOxg6 hxg6 9.dxeS .i.cs 10..i.f4 'lirb6,
black has a more active posiCion, while
on 8.lOlie6"ilfe7 9.lOxfB exd4+ IO..i.e2
"xfB 11.1IPxd4 lOf6, white's central
pawns disappear, and black has lID easy
game) ....i.£7 9.1IPe2 cS IO.lO:xdS!?
exdS 1l.e6.i.g612.lOxg6hxg613.•f3,
white's initiative compensates for the
sacrificed piece; stili, this position
requires pnICticallesllng.
2)7 ....i.£7 8.1IPe2 (8.exf6 gxf6 9 ....e2
fle7 10.lild3 lild7 11.£4 .i.g7 12..i.e3
The other main continuation is7 ...hS.
eS 13.rxe5fxeS 14.lOxe5lOxeS lS.dxeS
Black hits the g-pawn, but has to
fixeS! 1) releases the tension and allows
consider the consequences of 8.lOf4
black to free himself, Sveshnlkov -
(see next diagram). But the activity of
Vyzmanavin, Helsinki 1992) ...fxeS
the knight Is at the cost of weakened
9.... xeS lild710.1IPe2 fle7 11.lOd3 .i.g6
control of d4, and this gives black
12M .i.xdJ n .•xd) eS 14..i.g5.£7
counterplay. Here are some
IS.O-O·O, Timman-Anand, Amsterdam
possibilities:
1992, and the two active bishops in a
sufficiently open position gives white
the better chances.

7,M
This is the traditional plan. White
gains as much space as possible on the
kingside. Still, it is a good idea to look

I) 8 ... cxd4 9.l1:\xg6 fxg6 10.1II'xd4
tOc6 1l.1II'f4, and white's position is
mote active.
2) 8...It~6 9.l1:\x86 fxg6 IO.lt~2 (In
another game of the same
Timman~Seitawan match t ·'the weaker
10 .... d3?! cxd4 1 !.l1:\bS hxg4
12.111'''86+ ~d7 13 ...."84 1Ifb6, with
great play for bl,,!,k, was tried.) ••.1II'b6
(It is important to maintain the tension;
/he premature simplification 1O••. c"d4
11.1lIxd4 IlIxd4 12.1II'xd4, gives whit.
the better chances, an~ 10 ... hxg4
l1.fi4lOxd4 12. "xg4 allows while to
activate the queen) 11.IlIf4 (If 1l.-*.h3
cxd4 12.gxhS IlxhS follows.) ... cxd4
12.l1:\xg6 (if 12.lOxe6 -*.b4+) •..-*.h4+
13.-*.d2 -*.xd2+ 14."xd2 1lh6, with a
shatp game.
3) 8 ...-*.h7 9.l1:\xhS cxd4 10.1II'xd4
tOc6 I !.-*.bS -*.xc2 (the development
11...llIge7? 12.-*.h6! "d7 13.1II'f4, Is
clearly in white's favor) 12.-*.gS -*.e7
13.lld -*.h7, and here after 14."f4,
white's chances are bett.r.
Sometimes 7 ... cxd4 8.llIxd4 is
included before 8 ... hS, but the presence
of the IlId4 gives while addillonal
chances and after 9.f4 he already
threatens the squeezing f4-fS. For
example, the prophylactic 9 ... 'IIM7
allows white to try and take the black
bishop out of play with 10.fS! exfS
11.gS! (il is casier for black to defend
after Il.gxfS .i.xfS 12.llIxfS "xfS
13."xdS I1:\c6 14 . .i.h3 "xe5+
1.5:iWxeS+ IOxeS) .ooJ0c6 12.i.f4 i.b4
13.1lh3 O·O~ 14.-*.g2 IOge7 IS.a3-*.aS
16.li:ldbS,and the blockading strategy
leads to a white attack in the cenler.
More energetic is an attempt .t
counterplay with 9 ... hxg4 10.-*.bS+
1L\d7 11.fS (also po;:sible is 1I."xg4
I1:\h6 12.1II'g2) .•. llxh4 12.1lf1 exfS
13.e6 fxe6 14.lOxe6111'e7 15."e2 Ilh2
16.10:7+, but the complications should
tum out in white's favor. In this last
variation, besides 12.•.exfS, the piece
sacrifice for two pawns with
12... -*.xfSI1Is interesting, e.g., 13.lOxfS
IlhS! 14.-*.xd7+ (weaker is 14."e271
IlxfS 15.llx{5 exf5 16.e6 because of
16..... h4+ 17.~d2 "h6+) .. :"xd7
1S.lOs3 IlxeS+ 16.lOce2 d4,and the
rook gels play.
We should alsonote the po;:sibility of
further attacking the white center with
7 .•. f6, which, strangely enough, has
apparently not yl!:t appeared in practice.
After 8.l1:\f4 -*.f7, black's position is
constricted, but it is not easy for white
to break the defense. For example,
9.llIexdS is tempting, and If 9oo.exdS,
white regains the piece, in a beneficial
way, with 10.• 6 -*.g6 II.hS .i.e4 12.£3.
But black simply plays 9oo.1lIe6! and
comfortably resolves the situation in the
center. Apparently, white has to satisfy
himself with 9.exf6 JOxf6 10.g5 cxd4!
II.'lWxd4 1lIc6 12.'llfdl 1L\d7 13.-*.h3
illeS, with unclear play. But, of coune,
this idea is still waiting for its
researchers.
8..t.eJ
 T1Je Caro-Konn! Tn Black and White
Sometimes 8_hS -*.h7 and only now
9_~e3 is played_
8_.... b6
With this move black, much like in
the Advanced French, attacks the d4-
and b2-pawns, but loses control of cIS,
and this allows while 10 effectively
match bis f-pawn_ But wbat else can
black do? After 8_ ..10:6 9.dxcS ttlxeS
10.ttlf4! with the threal of -*'fl-bS+,
white has a powerful initiative.
Seirnwan was probably dissatisfied
with the opening of his game with
Timman in Tilburg, 1990, where after
8... cxd4 9.tt:lxd4 -*.b4 10.hS -*.e4 (on
10... -*.h7, white plays 1l.1II'd2 and
prepareS to push the f-pawn) 11.£3 ~h7
12.-*.d3 ~xd3 13.1II'xd3 tt:ld7 14.0-0-0
~xc3 IS."xc3 RcS 16.lII'ell ttlxeS
17.~f4 ttlc6 IB.ttlfS oi>fB 19.-*.d6+
ttlge7 20.ttlxe7 ttlxe7 21.lII'eS oi>g81
22.-*.xe7111'xe7 23.JlxdS lII'c1 24.lII'xc7
lbc7, white got a better ending.
9.r4!
The most energetic way to exploit the
position of the black queen. Now
9 ...1II'xb2? is bad because of 10.fS! exfS
lUlbll11'a312.ttlxdS.0n9.1II'd21O:6
(Here, also weak is 9...lII'xb2?1 10.%lbl
'lfxc2' 11.1hc2 -*.xc2 12.%lxb7)
;10.0-0-0 hS l1.dxcS -*.xcS 12.... xcS
lII'xc5 13.tt:lf4 tt:lge7, the game is equal
(Sokolov,A-Karpov, Linares 1989).
9... tOc6 10.f5 ~h7 U:i'd2
0-0-0
After 11...cxd4 12.ttlxd4, it is not
easy to offer good advice to black. If
12 ... ttlxeS?!, then 13.-*.bS+ ttld7
14.0-0-0 is unpleasant, and on
3S
12 ... -*.cS7 13.ltln4 '!oxd4 14.-*.xd4,
white gets a malerial advantage.
12.0..0-0c4
II is hard to believe in the feasibility
of black's attack In a position where
white has clearly succeeded on the
kingside, taking tile black bishop out of
play. Yet black is inventive and
manages to find some attacking
resources. He did not like the
alternative, 12 ... exfS 13.gxfS (also
interesting is blocking the bishop with
13.gS!?) ... ~xfS 14 ..1g 2 ~e6, and
white Can force a good ending with
IS.tt:la4111'b416.ttlxcS1II'xd2+ 17.%lxd2
-*.xcS 18.dxcS ttlxeS 19.~d4 f6
20.ttlf4. But this was possibly the best
decision for biack by this point.
13.tOf4 ••6 14.fxe6 b5
Insufficient is thc attack with
14 ... ttlb4 IS.cd7 ttle7 (after
IS ... ttllla2+ 16.ttlxa2 lII'xa2 17."c3
10:7 18..&3, whlte is belter.) 16.&"
(On 16.a3 ttlxc2, and white's king is
under firc, I.c., 17."12 tt:lal 18.l:Iel
lDb3+ 19.oi>dl b5) ... lDa2+ (on
16... -*.xc2, white responds coolly with
17.a3 .i.xdl IB.•xdl ttlbc6 19.1Oe6,
and gets a material plus.) 17.ltlxa2
1I'xa2 18.•c3 .i.e4 19 ..i.h3+ oi>b8
20.1O:61O:621.tt:lxf8! %lhxf822.JIhfl.
While has withstood the attack,
maintained a material edge, and
threatens 23.•a3.
15.exf7
It is difficult to scold white for a
movc which wins a pawn with tempo.
But much stronger was 16.ttlfxclS! The
following variations show that black
36 Tire Caro-Kalln! 111 Black and WhIle
would have much more trouble
defending:
I) ISn.b4 16.e..n IbdS (or 16n.bxc3
17."xc3) 17.l2lxdS 1IFxa2 18."e2,
whming.
2) ISn.fxe616.l2lf4 b417.lOxe6bxc3
18.'iI'xc3.i.b4 19..i.xc4withadvanlage.
3) lSn.llxdS 16.lOxdS'iI'xa2 17.'iI'12
"a1+ 18.ci1d2 'il'xb2 19."xn .i.b4+
20.l2lxb4 'Ihb4+ 21.ci1e2, and the king
escapes ""rely.
Now, with an exchange sacrifice,
black can fuel ~e aUac~.
15...~ge716.~6 b417.ioxdB
""'d818.oJ
White has to get rid of the b4-pawn,
whicb diclates the action. Bad is 18.lt)e2
"xa2 19_'llfel c3, or 18.12lb1 'Iha2,
threatening M-b3. Now on 18n.b3,
white plays 19."12 bxc2 20.1ld2.
18••• bxc3 19.1IIxc3'O:8 20.g5
~b6 21.gxh6 gxh6 22•.idl
Forced. The bishop must replace the
queen in defense. The threat was
22n.'Oa4.
22..:1IIa4
On 22 ...1004, 23.'iI'£3 follows. Also
unplayable is 22.nl2lb4 because of the
fine queen sacrifice, 23.'iI'xb41 .i.xb4
24 ..i.xb4 ci1d7 2S.J.h3+, imd the passed
pawns decide the game.
23...&5
Formally, white is ahead by 8 pawn
and a half. But his king is under fire
from the black pieces. Now, the direct
deflection from c2 wi!h 23n.tOxd4 is
refuted by retum sacrifices, 24 ..i.gS+
b..gS 2S.llxd4 .i.cs 26.1lh2. White also
lactically defends against 23n_'llfbS wi!h
24.ci1al! &4 2S.'llfb3. Maybe black
should for now move !he king away
wi!h 23...ci1c7, threatening 12lc6xd4. If
24.e6, !hen 24n_.i.d6. But black insists
on decisive action.
24':gl .ib4 25':g8+!
At any cost, white must lake away an
attack against c2! On 2S ... .i.xg8
26. "xb4, Timman points out the
beautiful maneuver 26 ....xc2+!
27.ci1xc2 .i.h7+ 28.ci1cl axb4 29..i.xb6
iOas!, and again all is unclear. White
would have had to settle for 26.axb4
J.xn 27.bxaS, playing with four pawns
for the piece.
Z5...J::txg8 26.fxgS'i'+ .ixg8
27.1IIfll!llxd4
Black's last resource in his offensive
against c2. But he overlooks white's
defensive resource. Bul27 n. i()d7 would
 The Cora-Kalin! In Black and White 37

not have saved him. After 28 ..*.h3!

(threatening 29."g4) ....*.h7 29 ..*.r5
IOxd4 30.1.gS+ hxgS 31.1bd4, white
wins easily.

28.1IIf6+ ~c7 29••g6!

Not only has white defended, he has
permanently neutralized b1ack"s
fearsome long-range bishop. Black's
resources have expired.

29 ... ~cS 30.~e3 IOxc2

31.~xcSlOxa3+ 32.WcllOd7
33.~xa3 c3 34.1IId6+ 'ifi>d8
Black Resigned (1-0)
GAME 10
Blatny - Placbetka
Namestovo.1987
1.e4 c61.d4 dS 3.e5 ~fS 4.h4
With fuJI justification, we Can
consider this move the child of Mikhail
Tal, who, as World Champion, played it
against Botvinnikin their Moscow 1961
match. By threatening g2-g4, white
prevents 4 ... e6 and forces black to
weaken his kingside.
This Is considered the strongest
response, but 4 ... h6Is also played. nlis
modest move alloW$ white to more
easily utilize the advanced position or
his nank pawn. 1be penultimate (20th
game) of the aforementioned match
continued S.tOe2 e66.lOg3 tOe7 7.tOe3
tOd7 8.h3 .*.h7 9.J.d3 J.xd3 10.cxdJ
hS (otherwise white will play 1\'hS)
1 \.tOce2 g6 (Stronger is 1I ... lOg6)
12.1Ifd2 IOg8 13.0-0-0 J.h6 14.'i'bl
J.xe3 15.fxe3! (a beautiful strategy:
while has opened the c- and f-files.) (see
next diagram):

4...hS

The game continued IS ... IOh6 16.e4

"e7 11.exd5 exd5 18."85 IOfS
19.Zldfl tOe620.ZlfJ "d821."a4 'tItb6
22.Zlcl IOg4 23.tOfl 0-0 24.tOe3 f5
38 The Caro-Kann! In Black and While
25.g3it:Jh2 26.:f4!, and white achieved
a large positional advantage, since
accepting the exchange sacrifice is
unhealthy: 26... /t)xf4 27./t)xf4 ~h7
28./t)exd5!
Later, 5.g4 became regarded as
stronger. Arter 5....*.d7 (not 5 ....*.h7
6.e6! fxe6 7..*.d3 .*.xd3 8.Wxd3 Wd6
9.f4 with a clear white advantage) 6.hS
e6 7.f4 cS 8.c3 the white pawns block
the kingside, and this can teU in the
endgame. Interestingly. we will see this
idea again when examining the
Classical System. It is useful to note that
8... /t)c6 9./t)f3 'I'b6 10.~ f6 11.~g3
0-0-0 12.a3 c4 13./t)bd2 leads to a
position in which black's development
is similar to that of a modem variation
in the French' Advance, but white has
achieved much more on the kingside
and also Is preparing to open the
queenside with b2-b3. The advance
4... c5, also played in the Tal-Botvinnik
match, is connected with the pawn
sacrifice (S.dxc5), which is as yet
uninvestigated. After 5 .. :.c7 6./t)c3
/t)c6 7./t)f3:d8 S./t)b5 WcS 9.c3, white
gets an advantage. Also risky Is castling
queenside with 5 ... /t)c6 6 ..*.b5 "'sS+
7./t)c3 0-0-0 8..*.xc6 bxc6 9:lIfd4 h5, as
white has a choice between 10.h3 e6
11.0-0-0, and 10.b4 "'a6 11.a4.
5.c4 e6
It is dangerous to win a pawn with
5 ... .*.xbl 6.:xbl "'sS+?! because of
7 ..*.d2 "'xa2 8.:h3! threatening to trap
the queen. After 6 ... e6 7.c51 white
organizes a squeeze of black's
queenside.
6.1llc3 dxc4
Black Is in a hurry to thrust his knight
to cIS. This Is impossible after 6....*.e7
7.cxclS cxdS 8..*.g5 /t)c6 9.Wd2 'II'b6
10..*.b5, with advantage to white.
But black can develop more flexibly.
In this connection, we find It useful to
examine the game Tal-Averbakh
(USSR Championship, Baku, 1961),
the first game In which white combined
h2-h4 and c2·c4. Black preferred to
keep the tension in the center with
6... /t)d7. The game continued 7./t)ge2
/t)e7 8./t)f4 dxc4 9 ..*.xc4/Og6 lO./t)xhS
/t)dxe5 11 ..*.e2 /t)d3+ 12..*.xdJ .*.xdJ
13 ..*.g5 "'xd4 14.:h3 /t)e5 15./t)f4
(with a pawn sacrifice, white has
complicated the game as much as
possible - see the next diagram),
15...£6 (Averbakh said that he had
precisely calculated the consequences
of the transfer into the ending and was
satisfied thereby. Other continuations.
15Q..*.e7 16..*.xe7 "'xf4 17 ..*.g5"'d4
18.'llfb3!, or 15....*.c5 16.lt)xd3It)xdJ+
17:lIfxd3"'xf2+ 18.~dl11t'gl+ 19.~c2
1It'xal 20..*.cl) keep the initiative with
white) 16./t)xdJ 0-0-0 17./t)xe511t'xeS+
IS:.e2 Wxe2+ 19.~xe2 fxg5 20.hxg5
.*.e7 21./t)e4 :xh3 22.gxh3 :hS
23.:hl :h4 24.£3 .*.dS!, and after
transferring his bishop to f4 black
 The Caro-Kann' In Black and White
eamed a draw. or course, after 6._.ti)(17
white can get a stable position In the
center with 7.cxdS cxdS (7 ... exdS?!
weakens the 5-square, which white
makes use of with 8.-*.113 fiJe7 9.-*.gS
ixd3 10.'lltxd3) 8.-*.gS"aS 9.Q}ge2f6
10.exf6. Yet white has no good reason
to avoid a confrontation in the center.
For example, in Timman-Karpov,
Tilburg 1992, after 7.igS17 f6 8.exf6
gxf69.-*.e3dxc410.ixc41()b611_-*.e2
ig6 12.l()h3 -*.d6 13.l()f4 -*.xf4
14.ixf4, white achieved a small but
stable advantage. After black has
voluntarily taken away the central
tension, the attention of both sides tums
to the d6-square, Into which a knight can
penetrate.
7•.ixc4~d7
Black is trying to take the dS-square
with tempo. In case of 7 ... ie7 8.l()fl
-*.g4 9.-*.gS, white makes good use of
the gS-square, since winning the pawn
with 9 ... -*.xfl 10.gxfl ixgS II.hxgS
"xgS Is risky because of 12./()e4 and
the knight rolls into d6 with tempo,
while in case of 9 .../()h6 10.'lltd2 -*.xfl
lI.gxf3 I()fS 12.0-0-0, white gets an
attacking position.
S..igS
The development with 8.l()ge2
lessens the control over dS, and black
has time to build a solid position with
8 .. _-*.e7 9_l()g3 ig6 10./()ee4 I()h6
I t.igS ixe4 12.l()xe4 ~fS.
S....ie7 9.11d2 ~b6 10•.ib3
1Id7 1l.~e2 .ib4
Black pays very close attention to the
movements of the knights. It is useful to
hobble one of them. After 11...0-0-0
39
12.l()g3 ig6 13.l()ge4 the knight is
aiming at the d6-square, so black has 10
accept a worse ending with 12 .....xd4
13."xd411xd4 14.l()xfS exfS IS.hf7.
12.83 .iaS 13•.i82 ~dS 14.M
~xc3 IS.1Ixc3 .ib616.1Ig3
The battle for the d6- and dS-squares
has ended in a draw, but white has
slightly increased his space advantage
and now prevents castling by black. The
allempt 10 attack with the pawn minority
on the queenslde with 16.ic4 and
a3-04, b4-bS Is answered by 16.•. ie4
and idS.
16... ~7 17.0-0
Needless to say, it is dangerous 10
grab the pawn with 17.ixe7 "xe7
18."xg70-0-0.
17...~S lSJlac1 86
Tootame. Stronger is 18...aS, forcing
the exchange of the light-squared
bishop.
19.1:lrdl f6 20 •.id2 fxeS
21.dxeS .ig4 22 . .ic4 0-0
23.lInllf7
23 ..."f7I00ked stronger, tying white
10 the defense of the f2-pawn. Yet after
24.l()c3 and l()e4 (note that even
24 ......fS does not slop this because of
2s.id3), the white knight controls all
the Imporlantsquares.
24.¢'hl liars 2s.r3 .irs
26Jlfdl 1IeS 27•.igS ~e3
28..ixe3 .ixe3 29.lIc3 .ib6
3O.Acc1 Ad7 31.1IgS
40 'I'1Ie Coro-Xann! In B/aelrand While
31 .•. g6
The struggle on the board is for every
square, and every tempo is important.
Because of the pin along the a2-g8
diagonal, the 1O.2-g3 threat constantly
bathelS black. He has no time 10 gain the
d-file: 31. ....d8? 32."xd8 llfxd8
33.llxd711xd7 34.~g3, and black loses
material. But possible was 31 ... ~d8
with the idea of repeating /he position
after 32.'III"g3 .i.b6. and clarify white's
intentions, because 32.'III"f4 (with the
idea of 32... ~c2 33.lbd7!) does not
work because of the intermediate
exchange 32... 11xdl+ 33.11xdl ~c2.
32.lOC4! Wh7
A necessary defen •.e, since the
counterattacking move 32... ~e3 loses
10 33.11xd7 "xd7 34.~xe6+ i.xe6
3S.1IIxg6+.
33J1d6!
White does not play 33.11xd7+ 'lll"xd7
34.~xe6 'lll"e81, as black's pieces come
alive. Whi te does not detract from the
main goal of maintaining the initiative.
Now black's response Is forced, but a
passed pawn is formed, and the position
opens 10 white's benefit.
33HJhd6 34.exd6 e5
To stretch after a long hibernation is
pleasant. But for now it is stronger 10
block the pawn with 34.•.~d8 35.'III"g3
'lll"d7.
35.1hl .id8 36••,3 1td7
37 Jbe5 .xd6 38.l:le6!
A beautiful deflection.
38....dl+ 39.lPh21U6 40J:[e8
Beside the fact that simplification
favors !he defending side, white cannot
win the pawn with 40.11xf6 ~xf6
41.ti)xhS ~d4!. and it white who has to
force a draw with queen checks on c7
andf4.
40.. Jtd6?
The quality of the last move of
time-pressure i$ usually not commented
on (just making It is an
accomplishment!). But here, it is the
fatal error. The circumspect retum of
the queen with 4O...'III"d7 41."el lld6
42.~g8+ Wg7 43.~b3, keeps the
Initiative with white, yet there is no clear
win. But now a forced maneuver
decides, and black desperately lacks the
aid of the queen.•.
41 •.*-g8+ Wh6 4Z..ie6! Black
~e5lgned (1-0)
Only heavy material sacrifices can
prevent a forced mate, threatened by
43.11h8+ Wg7 44.~lthS+ Wxh8
46.'III"e5+.
 The Caro-Ka",,! /" DIode a"d While
GAMElJ
Short - Karpov
Candidates Semi-Final
Linares (",14). 1992
I
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 ~f5 4,1,00
e65.~e2
This system of development has
recently become very populae, thanks to
the peesiotent use of it by Nigel Short.
He has .wceessfully shown the potential
possibilities of the position with the
pawn chain, the wedge of which is the
eS-pawn_ These possibilities are quite
similar to the ideas in the Advanced
French, in spite of the difference in the
10catiol1 of black's light-squared
bishop_ Black does hot appear to have
an active alternative to freeing himself
with c6-cS, attacking the pawn chain.
Butwhatdoes he do then? With the freer
position, while can look to gain space
on the queenside, and, under certain
conditions, can develop a kingside
attack. Meanwhile, black must stick to
a waiting game, since his position is
constricted, and it is not easy to organize
cOUhterplay. Any attempts at opening
the position will run into counters.
There is intrinsic logic in this. As we
continue the analogy with the
aforementioned Advanced French, we
should note that the development of the
bishop cost black two tempi (c7-c6 and
.icS-fS), while white did not waste
time.
S... cS 6.0-0 ll:\c6 7.c:3
41
7 ... cxd4
To complete the development of his
lcingside, black decides to take away the
pawn tension in the center. But it is
probably better 10 play 7 .. _-*.g4, as
Karpov did in the second garne of this
match. Black also has other
posoIibilities: 7 ... 04; 7 ...'tIb6; 7...h6; and
7....i.g6. Karpov will discuss them in his
comments to the Anand-Karpov game
(Game 36).
8.cxd4ll:\ge7 9.83
White prepares a queenslde squeeze,
like in the French Defense. In
Short-Garcia Palermo (Manila 1992),
white played more modestly: 9.b3, and
after 9.b3 -*.e4 1O.~2 IilfS II..i.b2
.ib41 12.g4 (White has to take steps to
defend the d4-pawn; 'ilrdS-b6 was
threatened) ... .i.xf3 13.lilxf3 COfe7
14.1lle I (it is better to drive back the
bishop with 14.a3) ...hS! IS.gxhS tOfS,
black achieved a good game. The
natural 9.lllc3 also requires
attentiveness from black. For example,
9.1lle3 Illes IO•.i.e3 lOb6 II.:cl .i.e7
12.1llB4 Illxa4 13.'ilrxa4 0-0 14 ..i.bS
(worthy of consideration is 14.a)
... COb4! 15.a3 COd3 16 ..i.xd3 .ixd3
42 TlJe Caro-Kann! In Black and"White
nlUel as IS .•dl ~g6 19.1Ib3 L6!
20.~d2 'ifd7, and now in
Anand-Speelman (Linares, 1992),
white still could have maintained the
belfer chances with 21.'llfc3!.
9•••.i.e4
In this system, this il' the most active
positioninB or the bishop. AI..." it frees
space for llie knight.
lo.ll:lbd2 .!Drs 11.M .b6
Black should not exchange in the
center prior .to castling: lI ... ltlcxd4
12.lOlld4 lOxd4 13.lOxe4 lOxe2+
(dangerous is 13 ... dxe4 14.'llfa4+)
14 .•xe2 dxe4 lS.'llfxe4, leads to a big
advantage for white.
12•.i.b2 .i.e7
Here and on the nexl move, taking the
d4-pawn leads 10 loss of castling
privileges at an unfortLD1ate lime for
black.
13J1el
White is attracted by the plan of
attacking the exposed bishop. Yet the
possibility of a queenside squeeze play
deserved attention: 13.lOb3 as
(otherwise white prevents this freeing
maneuver with ~(3) 14.ItlcS! (o((ering
a pawn sacrifice, white looks to utilize
black's delay in castling. Of course,
14.bS? ~xf3 does not work) ...axb4
(Black can prefer to take the eS-pawn
with 14...~xf3 IS ..*.xf3 ~xcS 16.dxcS
'lll'c7 17.bS lOxeS 18.~xeS .xeS, but
after 19.:e1 .c7 20.~xdS, white
retains the better chances, thanks to the
formation of a queens/de passed pawn,
supported by the bishop) lS.axb4 :xal
16.'llfxal. Now after 16 ... lOxb4
17.'llfaB+ ~d8 IB.lDd2 it is nol clear
how to castle, as the rook will run into a
knight fork. 16... ~xf3 17•.A.xf3 iDxb4
also does not chahge the situation
because of 1B.Zlbll On 16... 'llfxb4,
16...'llfxb4 17.h311b6 18.'llfa8+ lDd8
19..*.d 11 follows, with the dangerous
threat of .i.d1 ....4. For example, after
19... lOxd41 2oixd4 .*.xcS 21 ..i.a4+
~e7 22.1II'cB, white wins immediately.
13 .. Jld8 14.i.n as!
One gets the impression that the
position hangs on a thin thread of only
moves, and we have to bow to Karpov's
defensi ve mastery. The flank sortie by
the a-pawn is just in time, as after IS.bS
the capture on d4 is already possible.
Because of the lDlprotected .A.b2, white
has to say good-bye to his b4-pawn,
losing the possibility to attack OIl the
queenside. After other continuations by
black, white maintains the better
chances. After 14...lDfxd4 IS..!£lxd4
lOxd4 16..A.xd4 'llfxd4 17..*.bS+ WIll
IB.iDxe4 'llfxdl 19,1Zaxdl, white has a
clearly better ending, and after
14....A.xf3 lS.iDxf3. the move lS ... aSis
premature because of 16.bS lOa7
17.'llfa4 with the threat of .A.b2-c3.
.15•.!Dxe4 dxe4 16Jlxe4 axb4
17,axb4 i.xb4 18..I%bl
19.M ()..() 20.i.d3
"as
Now we can summarize the outcome
of the opening struggle. White's
queenside expansion forced black into
concessions in the center. Now white
can tum to attacking on the kingside.
His only weakness, the d4-pawn, is
easily defensible.
 The Caro-Kann! In Black and Whire
20"J:ld7
In general, the exchange of
dark-squared bishops Is in black'.
favor, because the d4-pawn Is
weakened. But here, 20...i.c3 21.11a lis
impossible.
21J:lf4 g6
The retreat 21...lOfe7 does not work
because of 22.J.xh7+! Black therefore
has to weaken the position.
21.hSlle7
Bla~k's desire to defend the weak
squares i. natural. But 22 ... 11fd8
deserved consideration, in order to
force the exchange of the stron8 king's
bishop by attacking the d4-pawn. Even
here, after 22 ... lZfdg 23.hxg6 hxg6
24 •.i.xfS extS (24 ... gxfS? is bad
because of 2S.~gS J.f8 26.1IrhS J.g7
27.lZal .c7 28•.i.a3 with Irresistible
threats) 2S .•e2, white, by virtue of the
threat of eS-e6, prevents the
organization of an effective blockade
"the the d-pawn. On 25...• cIS, 26.g4
fxg4 (not now 27.~gS? fS) 27.11xg4,
white keeps the kingside initiative.
More flexible is 2S...•a2 26.LI'ilb3,
with the idea to force the exchange of
bishops arter 27.g41 fxg4 28.11xg4
i.c3. But by first playing 27 Jld I, white
keeps the advantage.
2J,hxg6 hxg6 24.i.e4l£lg7
43
Black defends against the threat of
2S.dS exdS 26.J.xfS, but takes away the
defense of the h6-square, where the
white queen can infiltrate. It was
probably better to already at this point
give up the exchonge with 24 ...l:I:fd8
2S.dS Ilxd5 26.J.xd5 IlxdS,
maintaining defensive chances.
2S.11g4?!
Often, the shortest path is not the
most effective. White tries to quickly
make it to h6 with the queen, but now
the force of the attack lessens, and black
gets out. 25.g4! suggests itself,
restricting the \cnight and threatening
g4.gS with a mating net in some cases.
In addition, white pians Wg2, 'tIh1-h6,
and It is not apparent how black can
defend. If 2S ... g5, the light-squared
bishop plays its attacking role after
26.llf6 i.xf6 27 .exf6itX8 28.d5!, while
after 25 ...11fd8 26.Wg2, black does not
even have this possibility (26 ... g5
27.'lWh1).
2S...l:trd8 26..cll£lrs 27.i.eJ
.1:7
The queen elIchanBe, 27...••3?
28.'!Ifxa3 J.xa3, does not prevent the
breakthrough 29.dS, as 29...~6 loses
44 17re Caro-Kann' In Black and Wllite
to 30_dxc6! lldl+ 31.11xdl llxdl+
32}()ellVxg4 33_c7, and \he career of
the white pawn comes to a successful
conclusion.
2U'b2
A bird in the hand isnotalwaysworth
two in t!Hi bush. Of course, Short saw
the possibility of wiming the exchange
with 28.dS llxdS (of course, not
28 ...exdSn 29...txfS) 29...txdS llxclS,
but what then? The white bishop bangs
into his own -oS-pawn, the attack on the
kingside appears never to. have existed,
and black's position resembles a
fortress. Therefore, Short first attacks
the b7-pawn, maintaining the threat of
d4-dS and giving Karpov the
opportunity to take resposibility for the
exchange sacrifice himself_
28...IZlfxd4
A tempting way of freeing his game.
But there is a difference between
sacrificing the exchange on d4 and cIS:
flOW the dark-squared bishop leaves the
board, and opposite-colored bishops
remain, which is usually in favor of the
attacking side, since the fortress is
impossible to build.
29.lZlxd4llxd4
Of course, not 29 ...lVxd4 3O...txg6
fxg6 (if 30 •. :tII'xc3 31...td3+ wins)
31...txd4. This is not at all what black Is
planning.
30.i.xd4 llxd4 31.i.f3 llxg4
32.i.xg4i(JxeS 33.'iWxb7
33....CZ
This is overly optimistic. Black is
playing with fire. hoping to organize an
attack, with combined forces, against
the fl-squa,.e. Objectively stronger and
more logical Is 33 ..•'llfxb7 34.11xb7
lOxg4 3S.11xe7 ~g7 36.0 ~6 37.~f2
gS, organizing a long and quite likely
successful defense. This
recommendation stems from the
requirements of the position. Let us
examine it more carefully and tum our
attention to the last diagram.
The peculiar alignment of forces in
this position, should, in its essence, be
winning for white due to the
opposite·colored bishops. The thing Is,
If" all the pawns are exchanged, it
becomes clear that the three white
pieces, using mostly the light squares,
attack the practically helpless black
king. This reasoning also applies to the
position after a queen trade, but here it
is easier to organize a defense. Of
course, a lot depends on the concrete
details of the position. It is interesting
that such endings are not discussed in
endgame theory, and this theme, with
this sort of remaining material, is very
important.
 The Coro-Konnl III Black and White
In \his concrete situation, by refusing
to trade queens, black is employing the
purely practical method of striving for
the initiative with time pressure as a
factor. He understands that while will
himself look for exchanges to neutralize
this.
34•.i.d 111M3! 35•.i.f3
White voluntarily accepts a
weaknening of his pawn structure. He is
apparently not happy with the queen
trade wIth 3S.:cl "'c12
36."'c8+ ~g7
37....c3..
35 ••• .i.f6 36.1Ife4l1fe3?!
It is hard to understand this carefree
move. From our earlier comments, it is
clear that black should exchange with
36... tl)xf3+ 37.gxf3 'lll'xe4 38.fxe4 gSI,
with much better chances for survival.
But now white avoids simplication.
37 •.i.e2! <tog1 38.g3 lIfc5
39 •..t>g2 lZlc6 40.l:tb7 lZld4
41 •.i.d311fh5?
In the last several moves, white has
maximally improved the position of his
pieces and now threatens the obvious
42 ....86+. Black should now make use
of his last chance to remove the danger
with 4l......c6 42 ....xc6 tl)xc6. although
here his endgame will already be more
difficult Karpov continues to avoid the
trade and underestimates white's
response, after which a pawn is lost.
42.l:td7! lZlf5 43.1Ifxe6 lZlh6
44.R.c4 1Ife5 45.1Ifxe5
When it rains, it pours. Black must
also trade queens, and Short
immediately makes use of this. But he
4S
could have ended the game tactically:
4S.lhf7+1 IOxf7 46.'III'xf7+ ~h6
47.-*.d3, threatening mate and winning
the bishop after 47...'III'g5 48.f4 'III'hS
49.1i'xf6 or 47...'111'h5 48.1i'xf6 1i'dS+
49....f3.
45 ... R.xe5
Now the game enters into a technical
stage, and Short quite capably forms a
mating net.
46.Qm ~r8 47.~e4 R.r6
4S.l:t115 .i.e7 49.r4lZlg4 50JlnS
lZllt6 51.<tof3 f5 52':07 lZlg4
53.R.o6lZlh6
On S3 ... tl)f6. white could have
converted into a different sort of
winning ending: 54.-*.xfS! gxf5 55.:05.
54.l:te7 lZlg4 55.l:tb7 lZlh6
56•..t>e3 lZlg4+ 57.'&>d4 lZlf6
5S.l:tbS+ ~g7 59.l:tb7 ~f8
6O.R.d5lZlh5 6Vi!;>e5! R.f6+
On 61 ... tl)g3, 62.:b8+ ~g7
63.:g8+ ~h7 64.-*.f7 gS 65.<£.e6
decides.
62.<1;>06 R.d4 63.R.f3! lZlxg3
64.11d7 R.e3 65.l:td3 R.b2
66.l:td2! .i.cl 67.l:tdl ~xf4
6S.<i;>f6 .i.e7 69.l:td7 ~a5
70.R.c6! lZlh5+ 71.Wxg6lZlf4+
72.<i;>xf5 lZle2 73.~f3 ct>eS
74.l:td5 lZlg3+ 75.'toe6 ~e7
76':d7 Black Resigned (1-0)
46 17re COro-KaIlIl! [ .. Black IUId White
 The Cora-Karl"! I" Black o"d W1,i/e
CHAPTER3W
NIMZOVICH SYSTEM
(1.e4 c6 2.d4 dS 3.lLlc3 dxe4 4.lLlxe4lLlf6
S.lLlxf6+ gxf6)
This variation was introduced in the
beginning of the 20th century by
Nimzovich. Black develops the knight
with tempo and voluntarily allows the
doubling of his pawns. the pawn
structure that he gets demands certain
requirements from black.
Black is hoping to organize an attack
on the kingside along the half-open
g-file. The pawn triangle e6-n-f6
controls the centrals square., prevents
penetration there, and can get involved
in the attack under certain
circumstances. ihe shortcoming of this
47
system Is the presence of the weak
isolated h-pawn and the potential
weakness of the doubled pawns, which
Is told In their limited mobility. These
shortcomings are especially apparent as
the game approaches the ending.
Ideally, this was illustrated by
Rubinstein in his well-known game
against Cohn, who <in a position with
colors reversed) had an analogous pawn
structure arid carelessly went into a king
and pawn ending. Rubinstein·s plan
was extemel, simple: His king
penetrated to h6 and with the black king
at g8 the game was decided by the
breakthrough of the g- and h- pawns.
After exchanges at g6, the e6-pawn was
doomed.
Black·s striving to avoid the
problems of the endgame usually forces
him to choose the plan with queenside
castling, which white can utilize by
organizing an attack with the central
breakthrough by means of c2-c4 and
d4-dS - a universnlldea.
In the next chapter, we discuss lite
other capture on f6 (S ...exf6).
48 TIle Caro-Kann! In Black and While
 The Caro-Kanll! In Black and While
GAME 12
Sisniega - Hurtado
Mexico. 1992
l.e4 .c6 2.d4 dS 3./1)d2 dxe4
4./1)xe4 /1)f6 S./1)xr6+ gxf6
6.~c4 . II..ixd6 'lfxd6 12.c3 1tJd7 13.ltJxhS
The natural developing move, with
which white takes aim at the f7-square
and by threatening 'ii'hs deprives black
of "side possibilities" like 6"':88
(7.'lWhs :87 8.c3 e6 9 ..ih6 winning the
h7-pawn) and 6 ... 'III'c7 (7.'IIi'hs e6S.1Oe2
lOa6 9 ..if4 with a stable initiative),
leaving him with only one playable
response, 6 ... .ifS. This move is
thematic and also allows black 10 get a
cotnfortable game against other sixth
moves that develop the white bishops:
6 . .ie2 (Lasker's move, which
prevents the development of the black
bishop to g4) ... .ifS 7.ltJf3 'lll'e7 8.0-0
1tJd7 9.c4 0-0-0 1O.dS (or 10.'III'a4 ebb8
II..ie3 e6 12.:fdl .id6 13.dS cS with
a good game for black) ... eS! 11 ..ie3
ebb812.tt~h4 .ig6andnow the sacrifice
of the pawn with 13 ..ig4 requires
testing: 13 ..ig4 ~b6 14. 'lli'b3. Instead,
doubtful is 13.f4 cxdS! and now both
49
14.fS d4 and 14.cxdS .icS! gives black
sufficlent counterplay.
6 ..if4 .ifS 7 .~e2 (or 7.'lfd2 e6
8.~f3 .id69.0-0·0.ixf4 10.'III'xf41tJd7
and black also prepares long castling)
... hS 8.~g3 .ig6 9.114 e6 10..ie2 .id6
0·0·0. For the sacrificed pawn. black
has sufficient counterplay \msed on the
tmdermining move, c6-cS.
6..ie3 .if5 7..id3 (on 7.1Oe2, black
develops traditionally with 7 ... hS 8.h4
~d7 9.tOg3 .ig6, preparing long
ensiling) ... .ixd3 8.'III'xd3 'lll'dS 9.~2
~d7! 10.~f4 'lll'aS+ II..id2 'lll'b6
12.0-0-0 0-0-0, with chances for both
sides, since white has to deal with the
threat of ItJd7 ·eS.
Somelimes white tries 10 prevent the
development of the bishop tof5 with the
non-routine move 6.'llrdJ, and if black
tries to transfer the. bishop to g6 with
6... .ig4 7.1tJe2 .ihS, white has time for
8.~f4!? .ig6 9.~xg6 hxg6,
exchanging the bishop and getting the
advantage after 10 ..id2 1tJd7 11.0-0-0
'llrc7 12.g3 0-0·0 13.h4. The maneuver
6... lOa6 deserves consideration, with
the purpose of making use of the
advanced position of the white queen by
threatening ~a6-b4. For example,
7 ..id2 'lli'b6 8.0-0-0 ItJb4 9.'lli'b3 ItJds,
or 7.a3 fa:7 8.~2 hS 9.h4 -*.g4, with
mutual chances.
6... ~f5 7./1)e2
11,e most commonly used move. It
threatens to restrict the bishop with
~2-g3 and in addition allows for
development with tempo by .if4 in case
of'lll'c7 by black.
The development with 7.m e6 does
not cause problems for black, since
so Th. Caro-Knnn! In Black and, While
8,~h4 £g6 9.f4 fS 10.g3 £e7 11.~
£hS! is not dangerous (for this pawn
structure a typical exchange of the bad
bishop) and after black moves the
knight \0 f6 he has equality, and in case
of 8.'llre2 'llrc7 9.0-0 .i.d6 10.84 It)d7,
black castles queenside with chances for
both sides.
7•••e6
If 7... hS, aiming \0 prevent ~2-g3,
white usually respondawith 8.£e3lLxi7
9.~4, for example, 9.. ..~6 10,£b3
il.g4 11.f3 £fS 12.1Ie2 "c7 13.0-0-0
£h6 14.g3 0-0-0 I S.lt:lg2 I £xe3
16.~xe3 £g6 17.~g2! eS IB.dxeS fxeS
1~.f4!, and, thanks \0 pressure against
the weak kingslde, white has a lasting
advantage (Popovlch-Skembris,
PucateVo 19B7). Also after 9 ... h4
10..llb3 e6 11.1111£3 1111&5+ 12.c3 0-0-0
13.0-0, 13... eS?! is dangerous because
of 14.lOcIs.
The other common continuation,
7...1OcI7 8.~g3 £g6 9.h4 (best, since
after 9.0-0, black can play 9... e6 Bnd
now 1O.h4? is dangerous because of
1O... fS! 1 J.hS 1IIIh4! with a stronB
attack). Now if 9 ... h6 10.hS .llh7
11.£d3 £xd3 12.1IIIxd3 e6 13..llf4
11&5+ 14.c3 0-0-0 IS.O-O, it is difficult
for black to create counterplay after the
exchange of the two minor pieces. At
the same time, his chronic weaknesses
of his kingside pawns can decide the
outcome after further exchanges. More
logical is 9 ... hS, and after I 0.£e3 e6 the
position which we discuss in the next
note occurs.
8.0-0
White can also execute the plan with
'l'leenside c.....tling: B.£e3 It)d7 9.~g3
£g6 10M hS 1l.£d3 £xd3 12."xd3
1IaS+ (simpler is 12.....c7 13.0-0-0
0-0·0, trying to derive some benefit
from the position of the .lle3 by moving
the f-pawn) 13.i.d2 'llt'dS 14.c4 'llrd6
15.0-0-0 0-0-0 16.1t:le4 "c7 17.'llre2
£e7 18.WbI It:lfS 19..llc3 It:lg6 20.g3.
Due to the real threat of the d4-dS
breakthrough white's chances are
preferable (Dreev-Zenin, Sochi 1982).
8....id69..if4
Whi,te's plan, Initiated by 8.0-0, is
becoming clear. By exchanging pieces
he wants \0 make safe his king position
in case black castles qucenside. Also,
white aims for the endgame.
9 ....c7 lO.i.xd6 .xd6 11.&4
~d7 12.a5 hS 13.i.d3! i.xd3
14....xd3
In order to betler understand the
following play, we have to first and
foremost evaluate black's real chances.
After the exchange of three pairs of
minor pieces, his kingside attacking
chances are considerably lower. At the
same time, he has to avoid further
exchanges because of the very
unpleasant prospect of an ending with
 The Caro-Konn! In Black and White 51

kingside weaknesses. Taking this into II was correct Co first stop the a-pawn
account, white can himself Iry to with 15...a6.
organize an initiative and a queenside
attack. 16.86
Before looking at the remainder of Planning the march of the b-pawn as
the galne, where knights assist the major well. It helps to weaken Ihe long
pieces, we should look at a game where diagonal.
the bishops help ouL This will make It
easier for us to understand deeply the 16...11617••13! J:ldg8
problems facing black.
The attack on the 8-fiIe has no future.
In the game Mikhalchishin-Short,
Lvov 1984, which began wIth the
It was necessary todd ve the queen from
dlC long diagonal: 17••.eS 18.lIfdl exd4
Petroslan-Smyslov system (which we
19.1xd41lle5.
study iii Chapter 6), l.e4 c6 2.d4 d5
3.lOd2 dxe4 4.lOxe4 IOd7, after 18.M fS
5.iOe2!? (an idea oCDementlev) ...lOgf6
6.102g3 IOxe4 7.lOxe4 iOf6 8.iOxf6+
gxf6, a similar pawn structure to the
Nimzovlch system took shape. Now
white forced an exchange of the
clark-sqUared bishops: 9.J.c4 J.fS 10.c3
e6 11.J.f4 J.d6 12."f.3 J.xf4 13.lIx(4,
and the slluation that inlerests us, with
a pair of light-squared bishops,
occurred. The game continued 13 ...lIg8
14.g3 1Ib6 15.0-0-0 0-0-0 16M lIc7
17.1I'e31 (Mikhalchishln's play Is very
instructive: the endgame will not nm
away, white wants to use his chances in
the middlegame) ...hS 18.b31 "lIfd6 19.h3!
19.<~b2 IIgS 20.J.e2 J.g6 21.a4 laS
22.J.f3 bS 23.Jlal bxa4 24.b4! I:I.bS This stops black's initiative before it
25.1ba4 a5 26.Jlha1 allb4 27.c41 (the is even born. In Sisniega-Groszpeter
second consecutive echo-move; who is (New York, 1988), 19.b4 IIg4 20.c5
attacking?) ...JlbS 28.lId1! eS 29':a6 "lIfc7 21.cxb6 iOxb6 22.lIfcl?! Rhg8
e4 (on 29... exd4, 30."lIfd2 "lIfeS 31.Jle 1! 23.iOb5 IIx82+ 24.'i>fl "lIfxh2
is quite strong), 30.J.lIe4 J.xe4 25.lOxa7+ Wd7 was played, with
31.1I'xe4 'i>b7 32.c5! 11,,6 33.lIb6+ chan<:cs for bolh sides.
"'c7 ]4.1I'f4+ Wd7 3s.lIxb8 and white
won. 19...J:lgS20.<.t>hlJ:lhg821.J:lgl

14•••h4 IS.c4 0-0-0 Black's play is at a dead end, and he

already has to consider the threat of
c4-cS, which breaks up his defe"""s. On
52 The Caro-Kann! In Black and While

21 .....c7. the breakthrough 22.dS is A combination. the theme of which

possible. . ,
21 .•• eS 22.dxeS tLlxeS 23••f4
.e624J:[adl f6 25.1Ifxh4
More solid is 2S.b3. which makes
black's helplessness obvious.
2S...'ilfxc4
More tenacious is 2S ...~xc4. after
which Sisniega was inlanding to open
up the queenside with 26.b4! bS
17."d4. keeping the attack alive.
26.1V'h7tLlf7
On 26 .....f7. while can comfortably
29. "f2.
regroup with 27.1Ih4 "c4 2S.f4 :Sg6
or exchange inlo a winning
ending with 27 ."xf7 ~xf7 28.~2
We;7 29,~d4 :.S 30.:gel :xe1+
31.IIxe I. gelling to black's weak
pawns, e.g.• 31...Wd632.f411hS 33.lIdl
Wc7 34.b4 ~S 3S.wh2. and black has
no useful moves.
is to force the black king out ofits hidins
place.
32...~xd6 33.•c8!
The queen frees room for the knight.
On 33...:xe7. 34."d8+ IId7 3S.:dl+
'i>cs 36."xd7 follows.
33 ... WcS 34 •• xc6+. wb4
3S••xc4+ hc4 36.tLlrs Jlgh7
37.tLlxh6 llxh6 38_Jlel WbS
39.Jle6 ~xa6 40.~h2 ~bS
41.114 Bla~k Resigned (1-0)
GAME 13
O'Donnell- Groszpeter
Saint John. J988
l.e4 c6 2.d4 dS 3.tLld2 dxe4
4.tLlxe4 tLlf6 S.tLlxf6+ gxl6
6.tLlB ~g4

27.f4! llSg6
It was possible to win the queen with
27 ... lIhS 28. "xh8+ ~xh8 29.fxgS
fxgS, but after 3O.:gel ~g6 31.~S!.
black is totally helpless.

28.tLldS! :r.8g7 29.tLle7+ ~c7

30.lIfhS
Now the exchange on g6 is out of
place because black will have an active
Imight. The most critical response. By
pinning the knight. black practically
30 ... %1h6 3t .• xfS tLld6 forces while in the future 10 clarify the
32J1xd6! posi lion of the bishop with bl-h3. which
can have value for black In the
development of his idngside al!ack if
 The Caro-Kann! In Black and While
white castles there. 6 ....i.f5 (diagram)
has to be considered separately:
Now on 7 ..i.d3, black does not have
to react to the bishop and can play
7 ... lIgB or 7 ...l'iJd7, because the bishop
is protected indirectly by the move
"'<I8-a5+.
The most common plans for white
are:
1) The classical continuation: 7 ..i.e2
"'c7 B.G-O 1Od7 9.c4 0-0-0 (on 9 ... e6
10.<I5!? c5 11.1ilh4 .i.g6 12.f4, with the
initiative is possible, but it should be
kept in mind that black can vary with
10...G-0-O, and not be afraid of 11.dxc6
bxc6 12..i.e3, because of 12....i.c5 with
sufficient counterplay) 10..i.el e6
II....a4 (Now on 11.<15 c5! is good; this
is the thematic method in such positions
- blocking the cS and d6 sqaures) ...¢>b8
12.b4 11gB Il.¢>hl L4 Id~1 Illb6
IS.'iWbl e5, with about equal chances
(Kavalek-Larsen, Tilburg 1979).
2) The modern method: 7.g3 e6
8 ..tg2 .tg7 9.0-0 0-0 10.IllM i.g6
II.c4 1Od7 12..te3 as?! l3.dS Illes
14./llxg6 hxg6 15."e2 cxd5 16.cxd5
exd5 17.lIfdl 'ile7 IB.llxd5, with
advantage to white, who has a pair of
active bishops with a weakened black
53
queenside (Gelfand-Nikolic, match
(Sarajevo 1991).
7,i.e2'11fc7
The best response, which prevents
the development of the bishop to f4 and
prepares queenside castling. ]t was
introduced by Nimzovich. An altempt at
transferring the queen to a more active
position was nicely refuted in
Spassky-Khaled (Vienna 19B6):
7...1Od7 B..i.f4 'ilaS+ 9.cl IIg8 10.1llh4
'lWh5 lUl! i.hl (if 1l ... 'ilxh4+
12.i.g3) 12.g3 eS Il.i.e3 exd4
14.1II'xd4. The weakness of black's
kingside pawns and especially the
f5-square make white's advantaBe clear
and stable.
8.h3!
It is a good idea to delennine the
position of the black bishop before
castling. But often B.O-O immediately is
played. Now on B... e6. 9.lOh4 i.xe2
10....xe2 illd7 I1.c4 0-0-0 12.gl! hS
13.i.el ¢>bB 14.lIfdl .i.d6 1'.d', i.
possible, with some advantage to white.
More exact is B...1Od7, aiming 10 save a
tempo for a more decisive move by the
e-pawn. The possible 9.c4 e6 lO.d5
O-G-O, not fearing Il.dxe6?! because of
ll ...IlleS! 12.1lld2 i.xe6, with active
play for black. But even more
aggressive is 9 ...ll8B!? 10.¢>hl 0-0-0
11.'ila4 ¢>bB 12..i.elfS Il.dS cS! 14.b4
eS!. and black has won a crucial tempo
and can organize counterplay,
Hudiakov-Zelevinsky, Novosibirsk
1965.
8... i.f5
Before white castles ldngside, this
looks more promising because black
54 The Coro-Konn! In Black and White
has the lempo JlhS-g8 coming. After
8 ....t.hS 9.0-0, black should continue
with 9 ...e6, since 9 ... ~7 is premature
and allows the effective central
breakthrough, 10.dS! In Smyslov -
Pachman (Amslerdam 1964) continued
10 ... Jld8 11.~4 IOb6 12. .t.e3 .i.xf3
13 ..t.xb6 axb6 14..t.xf3 cxdS IS.cxdS
.t.h6 16.111'04+, with advantage 10 while.
9.i.eJ
The possibilities of counterattack
after white's castling are clearly
illustrated by the variation: 9.0-0 1OcI7
10.c4 e6 11.dS 0-0-0 12."a4 ci>b8
13.dxc6 IOcSI 14.~ Jlg8 IS.ci>hl
"xc6.
9 ...~d710.c4
As we saw in the past noles, the main
method for while, in lerms of achieving
the advantage, is the preparation of the
ramming move, d4-dS, which forces
black 10 either allow the formation of a
passed pawn for while (after c6-cS), or
expose further weaknesses in his camp.
10...e611.'IIId20-0-0
The preliminary II...cS deserved
consideration as well.
12.b4!?
Signalling the start of the attack. For
this goal, while is ready to forego
castling.
12.. Jl.g813.Wn
The result of black's foresight in
retreating with ....t.fS. But the while
king is quite safe here, while the
queenside pawns are ready for the
storm.
13•••i.e414.h4 i.xf3
Black strives to simplify, hoping 10
lessen white's attacking potential in
case of IS..i.xf3IOcoS 16..t.e2lOg4. But
while chooses 10 keep the two bishops.
lS.gxfJ!? f5 16.dS
An important moment_ The
breakthrough of the d-pawn in such
positions, which characterize the
Nimzovlch sYstem, is a very important
resource for white. Now both captures
on dS have their weak points. After
...cxdS the c-file opens up, which Is
dangerous because black's king Is there.
If ...exdS, the f-pawns become Isolated
and weak, and, in addition to the
h-pawn, these weaknesses will cause
severe problems in the endgame_
After 16...exdS, while can continue
17.JleI, threatening c4xdS. Now
17 ... dxc4 is dangerous because of
18..*.f4 1tb6 19."c2, threatening .. rs
and .i.c4, after which the black king will
be hard-pressed 10 escape the pin. If
17 .•. iOb6, 18.cS IOc4 (weaker Is
18... iOd7 19..t.f4 lOcos 20 ..*.d3! and
after 21..i.fS the white bishops become
very active) 19..i.xc4 dxc4 20. "c2 liIdS
 The Caro-KDnn! In Blaele and White
21.'lItxc4 'lWd7 22.'£'e2 (and now it
becomes clear that black's pIeces are
beautifully placed, but are only good for
... e"changes) ... .i.e7 23.:cdl :d8
24.:xdS 'lWxdS 2S.'lWxdS :xdS 26.:g1,
and the result of the middlegame is a
dreary rook ending for black, with B
whole bouquet of weak pawns on fS, f7,
and h7. Maybe the best move is 16...c5,
agreeing to give white a passed pawn,
but organizing a blockade of white's c4-
and dS-pawns on the c5- and
d6-squares. But black is much more
optimistic about his position ...
16....!tib6 17.l1d cS?
. Now this move comes 100 late. Black
.should accept the ending after 17... ex<15
18.cS 10:4, which we discussed In the
last note.
l8.'lWel! cxb4
White was threatening to push hi.
a-pawn. 18... .i.d6 was more tenacious,
however. Now the strength of lhe
d-pawn sharply increases.
19.d6 .c6 20 .• b3 ~b8
2l.R.gS ':'c8 22.cS .!tid7
23.~e3
55
23... R.xd6
Under the condition of a complete
squeeze, black prefers death on his feel
to life on hi. knees.
24.cxd6 .xc1+ 2S.~xc1
':'xd+ 26_R.dl .!ticS 27.•xb4
':'xdl+ 28.~e2':'dS
Now black I. trying to build a
fortress. After 2g ...:xhl 29.'IW"cS :c8
3O.'lWe5, he would have to gIve up the
rook for the d-pawn.
29 •.J:tdl ':'xdl 30.lPxdl b6
3l_~e2 eS 32 .•c3 ':'e8 33.f4
fti 34••c4 ':'06 35.•dS
The creeping, cat-like steps of the
white queen along the route
c3-c4-d5-c6-c7 make black say
good-bye to hi. compact pawns, and
with them to the game.
35 ••• exf4+ 36.~f3 <toc8
37••c6+ IPd8 38..c7+ lPe8
39••cS+ -;t>n 40.d7 .!tixd7
4l ••xd7+ ':'e7 42••xr5 1;(1
43.hS ':'f7 44.~xr4 ':'c7
4S.h6+ IPfS 46.lPg4 Rf7
47••c8+ -;t>e7 48.-;t>fS Black
Resigned (1-0)
GAME 14
Adams - Spraggett
Hastings. /989/90
1.e4 c6 2.d4 dS 3•.!tidl dxe4
4 •.!tixe4 .!tif6 S •.!tixf6+ gxf6
6.c3
This modest move, recommended by
Nimzovich, has a number of virtues:
56 77re Cara-Kilnn! In Black and While
white suppOrts the d4-pawn. defends
froln the queen check. w~ich comes up
in many variations. and keeps all
options open for his knight.
7 ••.e6
This move is considered the most
precise. because it slops the attack on
the bishop with 8.lOh4 .ig6 9.f4.
because of 9 .. .f5 10.lOfJ .i.h5.
7 .....c7 also occurs frequently. It
prepares queenside castling. White now
has two very di rferent plans for the
development of his light-squared
bishop.
I) 8 ..i.c4 e6 9. 'We21Od7 (By putting
the queen on the same file as the black
Icing. white aims 10 blockade the black
light-squared bishop. Therefore. more
careful is hiding the king with 9....ie7,
with 10.1Oh4 .ig611.f4f5 12./OfJ.ihS
in mind) 10.lOh4 .ig6 II.f4 0-0-0
12.f5! exfS 13.0-0 .id6 14.g3 Zlde8
IS.1Irf21Ob6 16..ib3 f4 17..ixf4. with
a better game for white. who has
managed to break up the kingside
pawns.
2) 8.g31Od7 9 ..i82 e6 (with the pawn
structure with doubled f-pawns it is
quite natural to put the pawn on e6. since
it allows black 10 keep the options of
e6-eS and f6-fS open. But In this
position it is possible to play more
radically with 9 ... 0-0-0 10.0-0 e5
1l.Zlel.id612.a4hS 13.h4 h4. with the
idea of sacrificing the e ..chBnge after
14.IOJC;h4. But perhaps 11.84
immediately is more exact, with the idea
of forcing a, 'weakening of the dark
squares with 12.aS a6 13.h3.) 10.0-0.
and white has a more stable position on
the kingside and stands a bit better. For
example. after 10...0-0-0. Ii.JZcl .id6
12.h4 .ig4 13. 'lll'a4, is pa;slble. with a
queenside attack. and 10....id6 can be
answeredbythcpawnsacrifice.ll.dS!?
cxdS 12.lOd4 .ig6 13.lObS 'tib6
14.1OJ.d6+ 'Wxd6 15.c4. opening the
position with dangerous play.
Relatively more secure is 10....ig4
II..if4.id6 12 ..ixd6 .... d6. and after
13.'tib3 black can tradc queens with
13 .....dS. accepting a slightly worse
endgame.
Also deserving attention is 7 ...1Od7.
with the idea of trading light-squared
bishops after 8.g3. Fedorowicz-Roos
(France 1990) continued 7 ...1Od7 8.g3
IOb6 9 ..ig2 'tid7 10.0-0 Lh3 11 ..ixh3
'tixh3 12.a4 'tif5 13.aS /Ods 14.c4 '&7
15..if40-0-0. with a complicated game.
On 8..if4. 8..."aS (with the idea of
e7-eS) is playable. e.g., 9.h4 'tidS.
B.g3
The other altremative is 8..if4 .id6
9 ..ig3! 'tie7 10..ie21Od7 11.0-00-0-0.
8...121d7
 The Caro-Kann! In Black and White
After the non-routine 8 ..... dS
9 ..*.g2, while retains the better game. If
black exchanges inlo an ending with
9.....04+ 10.J.e3 "c2 11.~4 1I'xd 1+
12.lbdl J.g6 13./Oxg6 hxg6 14.0-0
1Od7 lS.c4, or after 9 ....te4 10.0-0 fS
Il.c4 .txf3 12.cxdS .txd 1 13.dxc6
/Oxc6 14.l:lxdl 0-0-0 IS.<I5, black does
not solve his problems.
Holmov-Bronstein (Moscow 1983)
went 9 ... 'llfc4 10./Oh4 .td3 11.'llfd2
.tg6 12./Oxg6 hxg6 l3_b3 'trbs 14..tb2
.*.h6 IS.'III'e21Od7 16.e4 "a5+ 17 ..tc3
'iI'hS 18.f4, and now after the best move,
18...0-0-0, while converts inlo a betler
ending, due 10 lhe pair of active bishops,
with 19_'llfe2! 'llfxe2+ 20.~xe2.
9.i.gl j"gT 10.0-0 0-0 11.~h4
Exchanging Ihe dark-squared
bishops with 11 ..*.e3 ~b6 12.'IIfc IIlXiS
13 ..th6 .*.g6 14 ..txg7 ~llg7 IS.c4
~e7 16."c3 'llfb6, leads only to
equality (de Flrmian-Seirawan,
Philadelphia 1987), but 11.a4 deserved
attention.
1l...i.g6 12.a4 as 13.j"f4
It is easy to see the difference
between the positions of the bishops.
57
White's bishop pair hold an important
diagonal and key queenside squares,
and black's bishops hit vacuum, plus
one ofthem iscutoffby hisown f-pawn.
13...~b6
It would have been a good Idea to
play 13_.. 'III'b6, in order to stop white's
queenside pawn movement after
:'f8-d8.
14. "b3! i.dJ'r!
The pressure on the b-file is quite
noticeable. Already, IS.c4 was
threatened. After this advance,
15... 'llfxd4) is impossible because of
16..*.e3. Only the slightly crude move
14... Zla6 would have enabled black to
hold on.
15.l!.fdl i.c4 16."c2 ~d5
17.b3liJxf4
17...J.a6 is tougher to crack. After
the exchange of the minor pieces, an
cndillg results, in which the white
knight is much more agile than the black
bishop.
18.bxe4 liJxgl 19.~"gl Wc7
20.l!.abl b6
58 TIre Caro-Kann! In Black and While

21.dS
White opens the position and soon
gets at the man,>' weaknesses in black's
camp.

21 ... cxd5 22.cxdS l::tacS

23.dxe6 fxe6 24,liJf4 l::tfeS
2S••b3! .i.h6 '
Black's bishop activity comes too
late. Also hopeless is 25 ... 1II'Jlc3
26."xc3Zlxc3 21.Zlxb6 e5 28.lLlh5 Zle1
29.Zld5.
26.1tJxe6 .xc3 27.1Ifxc3l::txc3
28Jlxb6Ilc429Jld7l::tcl+
After 29...Zlxa4 30.ttlc1ZlfB 31.1OIS
t.g1 32.Zlbb1, further material losses
for black are inevitable.
30.<i>g2 l::tc2 31.<i>f3 lla2
31.lik7 llee2 33.11bS+ 1.f8
34.ct>g4 llxfl 3S.h4 Rxa4+
36.'~h3 llaal 37.~ Black
Resigned (1-0)
GAME 15
Hernandez,G - Landezo
Seville, 1992
l.e4 c6 2.d4 dS 3.0!0d2 dxe4
4,li:Jxe4 li:Jr6 5.0!0xf6+ gxf6
6.c3 1.rs 7.0!0e2
One of the oldest lines In the
Nimzovich variation; it has been known
since 1901. White's purpose is to
constrict the opposing bishop. Often,
this maneuver takes place on the sixth
move, before committing the c-pawn.
7...li:Jd7
1 ... hS Is considered more flexible; it
gives the bishop more possibilities after
s,lt)gJ. At this point, after the active
8"'.*.84, 9.h2 .i.xe2 10."xe2, gives
white nothing after 10..:tII'dS! followed
by lC41 and 0-0-0, with good play for
black. Much more to the point is 9.f3,
forCing the retreat of the bishop, as after
9...h4 lO.fxg4 hxgJ II.hJ! followed by
.i.f4 and "f3, white gets an advantage.
After 9....*.e6 10..*.f4, white controls
the center with the better outlook. After
the possible sequels 10.....a5 11.t.d3
h4 12.1l\e4 otxI1 13.0-0 Wh5 14.c4, or
10...lQd1 11 •.*.d3 h4 12.lQe4 .*.h6
13.t.xh6 JbM 14.1I'd2 Zlh8 15.0-0
"e1 16.c4, the t.e6 Is in black's way
and is also under a constant threat of the
attack from the break d4-dS.
The retreat 8... t.g6 is more natural,
and after 9.h4, black, besides the
standard development with 9 ...li:Id1,
which we examine later iii the game, can
also choose a less researched plan with
a more active knight development:
9 ... e6 10.t.e2 c5! Now white can win a
pawn with 11..*.f3 1I'b61 12. .*.xhS
t.xh5 13.lQxh5 IQd1 14.lQg3, or
11.ll>n 1Qc6 12..*.e3 1I'b6! 13..*.xhS
t.xhS 14.1Qxh5, but after long castling
 The Caro-Ka",,! In Black and Whill!
the opposition of the rook and queen
through the d4-pawn gives black
sufficient compensation. White should
probably not grab the pawn so quickly
and con,linue the pressure with
11.'II'a4+!? 1bc6 (8 bi! more careful Is
1l .. .t1Jd7 12..te3 ""6 13.0-0 .th6)
12..tf3 'lltb613.h3Zlc8 14.0-0, and in
case of 14 .....xb2 IS ..txc6+ Rxc6
16.'II'xa7, it is not easy for black to
complete his development. Often white
immediately blockades the hS-pawn
with S.h4, but in this case after 8...1017
9.~g3, black has even more reasons to
play 9.....tg4 10.hl (now on 10.f3 the
respoOse 10... 'llfc7! lo.wn .te6 leads
"as
to an melear game) ....txel 11.'IIf,e2
12.0-0 0-0-0 13.c4 e6, although
even here white·s chances look better.
For example, after 14.a3 'llfc7, white is
not tempted by the pawn (IS.~xhS)
because of the counterattack with
IS ... cS 16..te3 cxd4 17..txd4 .tcS, but
Instead plays for the squeeze with
IS.cS!? Also good is the simple 14 ..tf4
~b6 (if 14...cS?! 1S..te3 is unpleasant,
while after 14 ....th6 IS ..i.xh6 llxh6
16.dS! the drawbacks of the doubled
pawns become obvious) Is.llfd 1 .th6
16..txh6 Jlxh6 17.a3, with an initiative.
S.lt:lg3 J.g6 !I.M hS
Black has less room for maneuvering
after 9...h6 10.hS .th7. The following
examples illustrate the problems facing
black:
I) 11..i.d3 .txd3 12.'llfxd3 "c7
13.'llff3! e614..tf4 'llfaS (arter 14....td6
IS ..txd6 "xd6, the position simplifies,
and it is easier for white to find the key
to the isolated pawns: 16.~4 'llfe7
17.'llff4 eS 18.dxeS fxeS 19."fS O-O-O?
lO.'IIf,f7!) IS.O-O 'llfdS 16."e2 .td6
17 ..txd6 'llfxd6 18.Ldl 0-0-0 19.c4
59
WbS 20.~e4 .c7 21.dS! (the
traditional break) •..fS 2l.dxe6 fxe6
23.1016 iOcs 24.b41 lIxd6 2S.bxcS
lbdl 26J:hdl lIe8 (after 26 ... eS1
27.Jld7! black loses a pawn) 27.lId6
"e7 28. "eS, with 8 total squeeze
(Adorjan-Huebner, match, Bad
Lauterberg 19S0).
2) 1l ..tf4 ""6 12."llfcl eS 13..te3
0-0-0 14..tc4 exd4 lS.cxd4! .tb4+
ItI.Wfi, and white has the advantage.
His king is safe, while It is not easy for
black to cover his weak pawns,
(Gipslis-Bronsteln, Moscow 1982).
lO.J.e2.aS 11.84
A fresh idea. In preparing for long
castling by black, white makes a useful
move: the pawn will soon take the place
of the black queen and fuel the attack.
The traditional continuation is 11.b4
"c7 12.~xhS. Now on 12 ...aS1! white
destroys the kingsid8: 13.~4! axb4
14.~xg6 fxg6 IS."d3! (62) (an
Important zwischenzug; on 1S.cxb4,
black has time to organize couterplay
with IS ... eS 16.bS cS) ...bxc3 (after
IS ... O-O-O 16.cxb4 eS 17.llbl exd4
18.'llfxd4itJeS 19."llfc3, the position of
the black king is also insecure)
16.'IIf"g6+ WdS 17.g3 86 IB.()'O .ta3
19..tc4 lIe8 20.:. I, with a clear
advantage (Liberzon-Pasman,
Beer-Sheva 1984). Stronger is 12 ..eS!
13.~g3 (after !3.L3 0-0-0 14.0-O? is
risky because of 14..•.te7 IS.f4 ~b6,
with dangerous threats, Gipslis -
Seirawan, Saint lohn, 1985) ...0-0-0
14.hS.th7 IS.'l!fb3~, with sufficient
compensation for the pawn.
Here, also, 11 ...eS deserves attention.
60 The o"o-KJJnn! In Black and While
12.0-0.1d6 Now 19.J.d2 is the threat.

Given that white has castled 18....1xg3 19.fxg31Oes

kingside. 12....i.e7 is more logical.
indirectly attacking the h4-pawn. For Black should have implemented this
example. on 13....f3 fS 14..i.gS "'xgS idea much earlier. The game is over.
IS.hxgS f4. the gS-pawn falls under
attack by the black queen. More 20 •.1f4 .1c2 21.9d2 .1b3
energelicis 13.b4 ..c714 ....f3.andnow 22•.1xeS fxeS 13Jlfc1 Black
on 14 .•• fS11 IS....gS .id6!1 16.~hS Resigned (1-0)
(weaker is 16.1t:Ie2 f6 17....d2 f4. and
after e6-eS. black has actl ve
counterplay). white captures the
hS-pawn under more favorable
circumstances. Of course. 14... (}.(}.O is
safer. and after IS.bS It:Ies 16.... xhS
.t.xhS 17.tOxhS llX4. black gets certain
compensation for the pawn.

13•.113 0-0-0 14.b4 We7 IS.bS

White's attack clearly comes firsL

IS...eS 16.8S exd4?

Black is already in serious trouble.
but he still should refrain from opening
the c-fiIe. He should have thought about
16".Wb8 17.b6 axb6 18.axb6 "xb6.
trying 10 close the long diagonal.

17.b6! axb618.cxd4
 The Caro-Kallll! III Black alld WI/ire 61

CHAPTER4W
THE 5 ...exf6 SYSTEM
(1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.lDc3 dxe4 4.lDxe4lDf6
5.llJxf6+ exf6)

Objectively speaking, after the With accurate play by white,it is very

knight exchange on f6, the recapture
with the e-pawn is safer for black_ In
fact, this continuation is now even more
frequently played than 5 ___gxf6. At the
same time, white gets a fairly clear
positional advantage; essentially, he has
an extra d-pawn on the queenslde; the
three white pawns on the kingside hold
the four black pawns.
difficult for black to achieve
cOWlterplay. lberefore, I have decided
to only present one game (in the notes
you will find some other examples),
which vividly illustrates white's rich
resources.
62 '111" Caro·/(Q",.! In Black and WIIt~
 The Caro-Kann! 111 Black and White
GAME 16
KhaUfman - Selrawan
WijkaanZee, 1991
l_e4 c6 2.d4 dS 3.tOc3 dxe4
4.1oxe4 1lIf6 s.llIxf6+
The move S.llIg3 is known but is
illogical - black has developed his
knight and white wastes time to retreat
his.
S__ .exfii
This modest continuation has been
re-evaluated a few times. For a long
time it was considered insufficient
because ofTarrasch's maneuver 6.-*.c4
which usually led to a white advantage:
For instance, in the important game
Karpov-Korchnoi (20th match game,
Baguio 1978), events developed as
follows: 6.-*.c41l1d7 7.1lIe2 -*.d6 8.0-0
0-09..if4~ 10.-*.d3-*.e611.c31l1d5
12.-*.xd6 'tIfxd6 13.'lIfd2:adS 14.:fel
g6 IS.:adl Wg7 16.-*.1>4 1'&7 17.b3
:fe8 18.-*.bl -*'84 19.h3 -*.1e2
20.Jbe2 J:be2 21.'lIfxe2. It is in white's
favor to trade as many pieces as
possible, but to keep the queens on the
board. By advancing his pawn to c4 and
threatening the break d4-dS, he soon
63
gets a decisive advantage: 21...1lIds
22.'tIfd2 ~r4 23.-*.c4 fS 24.-*.f3 h6
2S.h4 lLle6 26. 'tIfe3 ILlc7 27.c4 f4
28.'tIfc3 'lIff6 29.'lIfa!l il:le6 30.d!!, ete.
But if black plays 6 ...'lIfe7+ In response
to 6.-*.c4, as suggested by Fine, things
do not tum out so badly for him. After
7.'lIfe2 -*.e6! 8.-*.b3 1lId7 9.-*.f4 ~
10.0-0-0 00, he gets a comfortable
game (Tal-Bronstein, USSR 1974).
Recently, white has rarely played
6 ..ic4, but has chosen c2-c3 and then
-*.f1-d3. In this case, it is much more
difficult for black to expect to achieve
equality. Let us note that the old
continuations 6.1Llf3, 6.il:le2, and 6.g3
are not as dangerous for him.
6.c3 .id6
After 6...-*.fS 7.'tIff3!? 'lIfd7 8.1lIe2
.ie7 9.lLlg3 -*.g4 10.'tIfd3 0-0 11.h3
.i.e6 12.-*.e2, white also has a small
advantage (Svidler-Ledger, Oakhaln
1990). The continuation 6 ... -*.e6 7.-*.d3
c5!? leads to a complicated game, e.g.,
in Marinkovic-Mirkovic (Belgrade,
1991), there followed 8.~2 1lIc6
9.-*.e3 cxd4 10.~xd4 lLl"d4 II..ixd4
-*.d6, with a reasonable position for
black. Perhaps, 9.0-0 cxd4 10.~d4
ILlxd4 11.cxd4 .id6 12.-*.bS+ is better,
but after 12... ¢l1l!, with the idea of hS,
86 and ¢lg7, black survives.
7•.id3 0-0
In Karpov-Smyslov (TUburg 1979),
black maneuvered unsuccessfully:
7 ... 1Ic7 8.~e2 -*.g4 9.-*.e3 ILld7
10.'lIfd2 -*.xe2 11.1It'1e2 0-0-0 12.0-0-0
Wb8 13.¢lbl ILlb6 14.g3 ¢la8 1!5.'tIff3
ILldS 16.-*.cl lLle7 17.-*.c4 iClc8
18.:hel h6 19.h4 hS 20. .ib3 - white's
advantage is unquestionable.
64 The Cara-KIl""t I" Black a"d While
8.llIe2l:1.e8 9.0-0
A sharp plan Is a pirect kingside
attack in conjunction with the advance
of the h-pawn. In Kudrin-King
(Bayswater, 1988), after 9."c2 g6
10.h4 -*.e6 11.hS fS 12.hx86 fX86
13.-*.h61017 (13 .....f6 is more secure)
14.g4 -*.dS IS.O-O-O! -*.xhl 16.lilxhl
-*.r8 17.-*.d2 fxg47 (A bad mistake;
17...lilb6! 18.gxfS "dS! 19.1ilg3 "xa2
led to a sharp game), blac k was crushed
after 18."b3+! ~g7 19.1ilxh7+! ~xh7
20."f7+ ~h8 21.lilf4, black resigned
(1-0).
9•..•c7
After 9... -*.84 10."c2 or 9 ...lild7
10.-*.£4, white also retains an advantage.
loli'lg3 i.e6
Insufficient is 10...cS l1.dxcS -*.xcS
bec.. use of 12.lile4. Also poor is 10... g6
Il.lile4 -*.e7 12."f3 1It'd8, because of
13.-*.f4. Very bad for black is 10... 1017
l1.lilfS! .i.xh2+ 12.~h1 .i.f4 13."g4
gS 14."hS. In this last line, 12... -*.d6 is
tougher, but even here after 13..i.h6! g6
14.lilxd6 "xd6 IS.lilel, white's
initiative is very dangerous
(Khalifman).
1t.r4
1l.•.cS
11...1017 leads to a position from
Zapata-Hodgson (Palma de Mallorca,
1989), in which after 11 ...1017 12.fS
-*.dS 13.lilhS!? g6 14.11184 ~h81S ..i.h6
-*.f8 16..i.xfB lilxf8 17.lilf4 gS 18.lilhS
bS 19.1lfel llae8 20M, black Was in
critical condition. But the novelty
11...c5 also did not justify itself. As Is
normal in this variation, white gets a
strong passed d-pawn, which ties down
black's forces.
12.dS! i.d7
12 ... .i.xdS loses immediately to
13.'ll'b5 .i.e6 14."xh7+ ~ 15.lilhS.
Not much betteris 12... c4; after 13.dxe6
cxd3 14.exf7+ ~xf7 15."xd3 .i.c5+
16.~h1lilc6 17.'llfhS .i.b618.f5! white
maintains a significant advantage.
13.c4ll1a614.1if3 .b6 IS.b3
.if8 16..ibl llIc7 17.i.f5!
Weaker is 17.f5; because of
17 ... lilxdS! 18.cxdS (of course, not
18."xdS? .i.c6, and It is black who
wins) ... c4+, with chances for both
sides.
 77re Caro-Kann! Tn Black ami While 65

.as
17 ••• .t.xfS 18.t()xfS lled8
19.1lael t()e8 20.1fhS

This allows while 10 conclude \he

baltic wilh a brilliant combination. Bul
oIher continuations do nol save black
either. For example, 20...liXI6 21.itTh6+
axh6 22. 'ilfa4+ j.a7 23.j.xf6 iDfS
24 ..i.xd8, or 20 ...a6 21.iOh6+ .i.xh6
22.'ilfxh6iDa723.f5.

21.llxe8! llxe8 22.t()h6+ gxh6

If inslead 22 ...<i>h8 23.'ilfxf7 .i.e7
24 ....a8+ Zbg8 2s.iDf71f would have
been a smothered male.

23.1!fg4+ Black Resigned

(1-0)
The Cora-KIInn! In Black and W7ri/e
 The Caro-Kann' III Black and White
CHAPTERSW
THE CLAS~ICAL SYSTEM
(1.e4 c6 2.d4 dS 3.lLlc3 dxe4 4.lLlxe4 i.fS)
In the Classical System, black
immediately solves the problem of
developing his queen's bishop. But he
is forced into a variation which leads to
the fixing of his kingside. 'This allows
white to organize a long-term positional
bind. In modem practice, white almost
always chooses the variation which
drives back the black bishop and then
exchanges it: S.lOg3 .i.g6 6.h4 h6 7.i0f3
iOd7 B.hS .i.h7 9 ..i.d3 .i.xd3 lO.1Wxd3
e6. Thereafter, the following pawn
structure occurs:
67
The hS-pawn blockades the g7- and
h6-pawns and thus partially paralyzes
the black kingside. This is especially
meaningful in the endgame. In addition,
white controls the eS-square and plans
\0 establish a knight (in rarer cases,
another piece) there. If black exchanges
on eS, a pawn replaces the piece and the
paralyzing effect of the eS- and
hS-pawns strengthens.
BIRck usually tries to break out with
c6-cS and, by means of counlerplay
along the d-file, \0 neutralize the action
of white's centralized pieces. In some
cases, the hS-pawn, diconnecled from
white's base of operations, may become
a target for attack.
68 TIre Caro-KIIn,,' In BIocfc olli/ While
 The Caro-Kann! In Black and While
GAME 17
Bronstein - Bellavsky
lJSSR Ch. Erevan. 1975
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.liX3 dxe4
4.tt~xe4 ~f5 5.liX5
.
One of my first experiences at the
highest level with the Caro-Kann
Defense turned oullo be unsuccessful.
Bronstein selected a rare continuation
which he inlroduced back in 1966. The
main concept is 10 force a weakening of
black's queenside pawn structure (after
b7·b6) and 10 make use oflhis weakness
by fianchettoing the king's bishop.
5 ..... b6
In my youth, I could not have played
otherwise. Every action deserves a
reaction! Black not only defends the
b7-pawn and atlacks the b2-pawn, but
also, more importantly, prevents the
exchange of the active .tf5, since after
6..td3 .txd3 7.'iII'xd3, he has time for
7... e6, driving back the knight.
This variation originated in
Bronst.ein·Petrosian, Moscow 1966.
After S~ .. b6 6.lob3 (on 6.1Oa6, Fischer's
recommendation of 6...Iox.6 7 ..txa6
69
"dSI is good for black; the threats of
"a5+ and ".g2 force the bishop 10
return to its original square) ...e6 7.iOn
.td6 S.g3 tOe7 9 ..tg2 h6 10.0·0 0·0
II."e2 iOd7, white could have
implemented the main idea of the
variation: I 2.tOeS I :.:S 13 ..tf4, with
unpleasant pressure. The
Arnason-Seirawan (London 1981)
game, played fifteen years later. did not
change the evaluation. After 6... iOf6
7./Of3 e6 8.g3 .td6 9 ..tg2 "c7 10.0-0
/Obd7 II.1%e I 0-0 12. "e2 1%ac8
13.tOeS! cS 14./O.d7 /Oxd7 IS.dxcS
bxcS 16 ..td2 /Ob6 17.c4, white also
achieved an advantage. Concernins the
natural move S ..• eS, let us listen to
Fischer's comments in My 60
Memorable Games. "On tour (1964) I
experimented with the weird 5.11:\c5!?
Most of my opponents countered with
S... e5 6./Oxb7 'llrxd4 (if 6 ...'llrb6 7.11:\c5
.txcS 8.dxcS 'lll'xc5 9.c3, white's better,
Fischcr-Petrosian, five-minute game,
Bled 1961) 7.'III'd4 ed4 8..td3, with the
betler ending." After the more
"academic" continuation, S..... c7
6..td3 .txd3 7.iOxd3 iOf6 s.iOf3 e6
9.0-0 /Obd7 10.c4, white has a space
advantage and has in mind the
maneuver .tf4 and iOf3-eS.
6,g4!?
Also possible is the simple 6.iOf3 e6
7.iOb3 (after 7.iOdJ 11:\d7 S.h2/Ogf6
9.0-0.te7 10.c3 0-0 II..tgS cS, black
resolves the opening problems) ... 11:\d7
8..td3. For example, Aranason-Miles
(Esbjerg, 1984) continued 8 ... .tg6
9.0-0 iOgf6 10.c4 "c7 1 I.llel .tb4
12.1%e3 0-0-0 13.h3 .td6 14..txg6 hxg6
IS./Og5 1%hfS 16.llf3 eS 17.cS .te7
18."e2 llde8 19."c4, and white was
70 The Cara-KIlnn! In Black and ","ire
able to create dangerous threats on the
queenside.
6••• ~g6
6... .i.c8 looks more logical. After
7.£4 e6 8. 'llre2 .i.e7, black will Ity 10
utilize the weakening of white's
kingside. However, the simplification
with 8....i.xcs 9.dacS"Itb4+ 10.c3 'llFe4
11 ..1g2 "lWxe2+ 12.lllxe2 ~r6 1J.gS
~fd7 14..i.e3, does not offer black full
equality (Barlov-Steiner, Baden 1980).
7.f4 e6 B.We2 ~e7 9.h4 hS
10.fS! exfS l1.gS
White's concept is clear. By
sacrificing the pawn, he wants 10 take
the .1g6 out of play and block the
opponent's kingside. Here, with the
blockading ~f4, the two white pawns
can contain black's four, and the extra
pawn on the queenside guarantees white
an advantage in the endgame.
1l...lt)d7 12.lt)b3
Weaker is 12.~xd7 ~xd7 13.~f3
.1d6, and white accomplishes nothing.
12...1Wc713,lt)h30-CHl14.i.f4
i.d6 15.'ff"h2 1t)f8
Perhaps, lS ... ~b6 is more exact.
Now on 16.c4 lle8+ 17.~f2 .i.xf4
18.~xf4 Re4, can follow, and on
16.0-0-0 ~ 17 ..1xd6 'llFxd6, is good.
To set up a knight on f4, white now has
to weaken his position with c2.c4.
16.0-0-0 tt:le6 17..bd6 lbd6
1S.i.c4 It)e7 19.1t)r4 It)xr4
20.1Wxr4 JlddS 1I.1Wxc7+
'O&>xc7 22.c3 JlheS
White's opening Idea has been
realized in a complex endgame with an
imprisoned enemy bishop. Black's
extra pawn is not very meaningful.
Instead of the rook move, 22 ... b6
deserved attention, as it prevenls the
transfer of the knight to the key
f4-square. But perhaps evcn marc
prospects for black arc offered by
22 ...bS and !hen ~7-dS.
23.lt)cS It)c8 24,It)dJ It)d6
2S.i.b3J1eJ
2S ... lZe4 also does not offer equality.
Forcxample,26.11dfllZg427..1dlllg3
28.~f41O:4 29..1f3, with a better gamc
for white.
 The Caro-Konn! In Black and White
26.1t~f4 llde8 27.nllgl ll8e7
2S.lldfl lOe4 29 •.1dl Wd6
30•.1f3 c5 3l.dxc5+ WxcS
32.lOg2 J:ld3 33.lOf4 lldS?
Black had to return 10 e3 with the
rook. It is then not easy for white to
improve his position, as on 33...1:(e3
34.<"c2 :d1 is possible. After the rook
exchange, black's incarcerated bishop
will haunt him more and more. 1be
game reaches the technical stage.
34.ndl J:led7 35.J:lxd7 J:lxd7
36.J:ldl llxdl+ 37•..t.>xdl iQd6
38.Wc2 as 39.&4 <t>b6 4O.<t>d3
We7 4l.Wd4 lOes 42.b4 axb4
43.cxb4 fOe7 44.aS fCi 4S.gxf6
gxfCi 46.<t>cS .1f7 47.b5 o&>cS
4S.b6 Black Resigned (1-0)
GAME IS
Beliavsky - Larsen
London. 1984
1.e4 e6 2.d4 dS 3.~ dxe4
4.lt::lxe4 JUS 5 •.!l)g3 .ig6 6.h4
One of the oldest systems in lhe
Caro-Kann Defense. If white wants to
implement the plan with pusili"B aside
the bishop, he must start with this and
onIythismove.lf6.W first, black can
block the h-pawn with 6.. .tDf6 7.h4
~5!7 obtaining a promising position
after 8..i.c4 ~xg3 9.fx83 e6 10..*.f4
1OI711.1I'e2 ~.
Themaneuver6.~le2~6(seenext
diagram) with the idea of exchanging
the bishop after ~2-f4, which was
played In Tal-Botvinnlk games, was
already in the 1960's found to be
harrnless for black.
11
The position of the lDf4 is unstable,
and black cnll orgnnize counterploy.
Here are two examples from the
practice of the World Champions of
those days:
I) 1.lDf4 eS B.lDxg6 hxg6 9.dxeS
11'a5+ (after 9 ...1II'xd1+ IO.c£>xdl lDg4
l1.lDe4 ~xeS 12..*..,2 f6 13.f4 00
14.c3 1017 IS. <i>c2, white has a better
endgame) 10 ..*.d2 1II'xeS+ 11.1I'e2
1II'xe2+ 12..be2 iDbd7 13.0-0 0-0-0,
with equal chances. Tal-Botvinnik,
Moscow 1964.
2) 1.h4 h6 8.~4 .i.h7 9 ..i.c4 .,6
10.0-0 .i.d6 I J.~e6!? <at the present
time, white plays more carefully:
1I.:el 0-0 12.c3 %leB 13.1II'fJ lDbd7
14..*.d2lDds IS.hS 1II'c7 16.1013 ~f6,
but black has his defensive resources)
... fxe6 12..*.xe6 'll'c71 13.:el iDbd7
14..i.g8+ c£>f8! [S..*.xh7 Lh7 16.~5
g6! 17•.i.xh6+ c£>g8 IB.lDxd6 1II'xd6
19 . .i.g5 :e7, and white has
compensation for the piece, but
certainly not more (Tal-Botvinnik, 9th
match game, Moscow 1960).
6. .. h6 7.00 .!l)d7 8.hS
Before the Petrosian-Spassky 1966
match, it was considered that advancing
the pawn to hS only caUses white
72 The Caro-f(ann[ 111 Black and White

Iroubles in defending Ihis pawn.

Spassky combined this move with the
idea of moving his knlghl \0 eS and was
able 10 show thai if black exchanges ii,
Ihe eS- and hS-pawns give white a
long-term space advantage.

8.•• ~b1,9.~d3 ~f6?!

Usually, il is automatic for black \0
play 9 ...-*.xd3. But Larsen is noted for
his originality. He had his own reasons
for the lexl move. However, by giving
white the chance 10 exchange, black
makes exira problems for himself. The
drawbacks of the position of the lOh7
are obvious.
10.~xh7 ll'lxh7 H.Wel!
After the routine 11.'llfd3 il:lf6, a
Iraditional position occurs. Bul Ihe
queen is placed more actively at e2,
since il supports the threal of the il:lxn
sacrifice after white puis his knighl on
cS. In the firsl same with 9 ...il:lf6,
Gruenfcld-Murey (Israel 1984), white
preferred II.-*.f4 e6 12.1II'e2 'llfaS+
13..i.d2 .i.b4 14.c3 .i.e7 IS.O-O il:lhf6
(admitting the error in his ways) J6.b4
'lll'c7 17.:fel 0-0 IS.tOeS tOxeS
19.dxeS tOds 20.'III'S4 ct>h8 21.a3 :adS
22.c4, and also achieved an advantage.
1l...e6 12.~d2 ~e7 13.0-0-0
'W'b6
From Ihis posilion, Ljubojevic -
Larsen (Bugoino 1984) continued
14.tOfS exfS IS.:hel 0-0 16.'llfxe7
tOdf6 17.'llfe5 1II'a6 18.ct>bl IUd8
19.'llfxfS lidS 20.'llff41 (20.:eS
maintained an edge; if 20 ...'llfe21 white
has the shot 21.'4Ifh7+) ... ~ 21.84
:ad8 22. 'lll'g3 cS 23.c31 il:le4! and black
soon won. I was aware of this game and
prepared a surprise for Larsen.
14.ll'leS! l%d8?!
Of course, the d4-pawn is poisoned:
14.•.'llrxd41 IS.tOxd7 'llrltd7 16.-*.lIh6.
Also bad is 14 ...tOxeS IS.dxeS, after
which the IQh7 will have trouble
rejoining the action. Black had \0 play
14...ll:lhf6. In the game, the knight also
gels stuck at 1t7 until the end of the
game.
lS.l%he1 0-01!
Too early. True, black has stopped
the sacrifice of the knighlon n. But the
knighl has a much wider appetite. Black
had 10 accept the consequences of
IS ... tOxeS 16.dlleS 0-0.
 The Caro·Kann! In Block ond While
16.li)g6!
This shot forces the excharige of the
bishop, afler which the second knight
has a free path to the Important
d6.square. Black cafUlot play 16...fxg6
17.'III'"e6+.
16 ...11fe8 17.li)xe7+ llxe7
18•.!LlfS l:I:ee8 19.1i)d6 llf8
20 •.if4 lDdf6 21 •.ieS Rd7
22.lld3 WaS?
This acti yity is out of place. Black
should retreat to the position he has
already prepared for the queen. After
·22...'lli'd8, he can try to set up a defense.
23.11g3! llfd8?
After long thought, black convinced
himself that the queen sortie was a shot
~ maneuver 11.. ....a5+ 12.-*.<12 'il'07.
in empty space. Afler23 ... "'"a2
24.:a3
"'dS 2S.c4 'ih,2 26.lIg3 'lli'h2
27.:,,&7+ <t>x&7 2&.-*."h2, the queen's
active queenslde voyage ends in death
on the kingside. But the doubling of the
rooks isnlso\Dlhappy forhlaek: the rook
deprives the queen of the chance to
retum to her hearth and home. The end
of the game iIIustrales the !heme of
trapping the iII·slnned queen.
73
24.ll03 'tiM 25.tilc:4 Wb4
26 •.id6! l:I:xd6 27.c:3 lIfb5
28.:a5 :dS 29.lhbS c:xbS
30 •.!Lle3 lhhS 31.,4 Ah2
32 •• xbS b6 33 ••eS Axl'2
34 ••g3 .!Lle4 35.'IIc7 arB
36.lDdl Black Resigned (1-0)
GAME 19
Beliavsky - Tal
Moscow, /98/
This game, memorable for me, was
played In the USSR team
championship. The ex·World
CJ:ampion, who Ollce was a forceful
prosecutor of the Ono·Kann Derefl~".
this time played the role of the defender.
1.e4 c6 2.d4 dS 3.li)c3 dxe4
4.li)xe4 .irs Sli~g3 .ig6 6.h4
h6 7.tOO tOd7 8.hS .ih7
9•.idJ .bdJ IO.lIfxdJ lOgfti
1l..ir4 e6
In those not so distant years, black
still did not mind too much the positions
with short castling. In our time, it occurs
much more rarely, and the second
player Usually prefers to liquidate the
domination of the h2-b8 diagonal by the
white bishop with the pendulum
12.0-0-0.ie7
74 The Cam-Klmn! In Black and fl'/rite
13.c4 is another option.
13...0.0
In a few monlhs, a pleasant surprise,
presented by Larsen, awaited me:
instead of castling, he decided upon a
premature queenside attack.
Beliavsky-Larsen (Til burg 1981)
continued: 13 ....S1! 14Jlhel a41!
IS./l:lg6!
Not only is the rook attacked, but the
mult with /l:lg3-fS is threatened; In
fact, it was executed in the game. Black
is defenseless after Is ... fxg61
16.1Ixg6+Wf'8·I7.Jlxe611e818.Il:lrSor
I8.lIdel). Relatively more stubborn i.
Is ... a3 16.b3! /l:ldS 17./l:lfs! ellfS
18.~lIe7 ~xe7 19..t.d6 ~ 20.dxeS
0-0 21.e6, but white's advantage is
obvious.
The game continued IS ... ~ds
16.tt)fS! .t.f'8? (Larsen got confused and
defehded against \he male on g7, but
16...ellfSwaspossible) 17•.t.d6Rg8(on
17... f"86, 18.~7+! males) 18.c4 tOb4
19.1th3/ fllg6 20.lIl1e6+ W{?
2I.hllg6+/ Wxe6 22.lIel+ il)eS
23 ..t.xeS and Black resigned (1-0),
leaving behind the scenes the beautiful
23...~3+24.Wbl!
Interestingly enough, a year later
Larsen again attempted an early attack,
this time after the ellchange of knishts
with 13...IolleS 14 ..*.xe5 (the endgame
after 14.dxeS 1Ixd3 Is.IIl1d3 ~dS
16 . .*.d2 as! Is not a sufficient
accomplishment for white). But against
Psakhis (Las Palmas, 1982) he again did
not achieve equality: 14...1>5 15.lOe4
IIc8 16.Wbl as 17..t.xf6! gllf6 (weaker
Is 17....t.xf6 18.1Ig3! 0-0 19.il)xf6+
1IlIf6 20 ..Ilh4! with strons pressure)
18.g4 "dS 19.r4.
Back to the Beliavsky-Tal game.
14....e2
A prophylactic retreat, which aims to
keep the queens on the board in case of
the exchange of knights on ..S. White
clearly wants 10 hammer a pawn inloeS.
14.lOe4li)xe4 IS.tI'lIe4li)xeS 16..t.lIeS
1IdS, leads only 10 equality. On 14.c4,
black does well enough by undermining
the d4.pawn with 14...cS, and he is not
afraid of IS.dS. In Karpov-Huebner
(Til burg 1982), white created
dangerous threats after IS.dS /l:lxeS
16..t.xes lOg4 17..t.xg7 Wxg7 18."02
bUI it was later discovered that black
 The Caro-Kann! In Blac1c and While 7S

cOuld have successfully defended with

17.•. .*.g5+ IS..t>b1 1t)xf2. In a game
Emst-Hanscn,L, he also played very
confidenlJy: 15....*.d6 16.'!t~g6 .*.x£4+
17.iOxf4 'lIte7 18.'lIte3it:1b6 19.b3 exdS
20.it:lrs It:Ie4.

14....a5
Against the nank pawn attac:k with
14 .•. a5 IS.llhel lieS 16.'t>bl a4,
Rodrigue"t recommends the piece
sacrifice 17.~xf7!1 Wxf7 18.1IIxe6+
WfB 19.it:lf5 .*.b4 20 . .*.d6+ .*.lld6 Anywayl 20..:.xe5? loses 21.h7+
21.1IIxd6+ wn 22.111113 ~xhS 23.111£3, Wh8 22.:"d7! .." ..2 23.%[xd8.
with dangerous threats.
21.:dS!!
1S.li>b1 :ad8 16.c4
How unfortunate that this brilliant
The visually impressive 16.it:lS6 shot is only sufficient to keep equality.
offers blaek a choice between a
The Idea of the rook sacrifice is to
compl"x endgame - 16•.• hg6
discoordinate the black queen and
17.1IIxe6+ Wh8 18.1IIxe71llc1s 19..*.d2
knight. After 21...exdS (or 21. ....xdS)
1Irxa2+ 20..t>xa2 ~xe7 21..*.b4 cS, and
22.1II'xeS, white develops a brutal
an unclear middlegame with 16....II:fe8
attac:k. For example, 22 ...gxh6 23.11,,116
17.it:lxe7+ Rxe7 18..*.d6 lIee8 19.c4
f6 24.'IIbe6+ 1If7 25.~, or 22 .. .£6
bS. 23Jtxe6+ .11:0 24.h7+_ But it is not
16 ••• 0xeS 11.dxe5 ~d7 nee"",""ry to take the rook with a pawn...
1Utd2 i.g5! ll ... lhdS 12.cxd5 "xdS
After the bishop exchange, the 23.hxg7
weakness of the e5-pawn will be more
After the trade of rooks, white only
visible.
has to take care in finding the draw.
19.i.xg5 hxgS 20.h6 Forllmately. it is there.

Because of the weakness at..s, white 23...lt'xg7 Draw (1/2.1h)

has no choice bulto muddy the waters.
The draw was agreed by th.. two
Defending the pawn with 20.Jlc I? doea
conteslanls on lhe basis of the fol/owing
not work because of the weak back
pretty variation: 24.it:lhS+! <t>g6
rank: 20...iOxeSI 21.IIxd8 IIxd8 and
2S.tff4+! gd4 26.'iWh,+ Wf6 27.Wh4+
22.1IIx'" runs Into 22...:cJ1+. 20Jlhdl
<t>f5 28. Whs+ Wf6, but not 28 ...<t>e4
is refuted by the same shot: 20...iOx~
29.1IIe2+Wd430.~1+"'cS31.II"dS+
20••• tt}xe5! "'xd5 32."d2+, a.. now the chances are
again with whi",.
76 The Caro-Ka,.,.! '" Black alld While
GAME21i
Akoplan - Magomedov
Minsk. 1990
1.e4 t6 2.d4 dS 3.1lJd2 dxe4
4.li)xe4 .trs 5•.!i:lgJ .tg6 6.li)a
t;)d7 7.M h6 8.h5 .tb7 9•.tdJ
.txdJ 10.Wxd3 We7 1l..td2
With 1O..• 'iII'c7. black aims 10 prevent
the developmentorthi. bishop loa more
active position. But while can achieve
this anyway, with the help of the rook
and the fact that the pawn is on ItS:
11.:M e6 12..i.f4
Black h.'IS two main pians, depending
on his contentions for control of the
h2-bS diagonal.
I) 12....i.d6 13 ..i.ltd6 'ibd6 14.lOe4
"e7 (weaker is 14..... b4+ IS.We3
'ill'ltc3+ 16.bltc3 ~e7 17.~c5! and
while has the initiative) IS.Wal! Wxa3
16.bxa3 ~e7 17.:bl b6 18.~ ~eS
19.dxeS fS 20.lilg3 :d8 21.1la4 :d7
22.lldl Rxd1+ 23.~xdl as 24,Zld4! cS
2S.1ld2 ~f7 26.:d8, and white has a
better ending (Beliavsky-Pomar, Las
Palmas 1974). Apparently, it is betler 10
refrain from weakening the queenside
pawn structure by playing 17.. JlbS, but
even here afler 18.~S! l1:IxcS 19.dxcS
as 20.&S ~6 2Uld4! Rhc822.g4
Ilc7 23.f3 1017 24.1013, it is nol easy
for black 10 defend.
2) 12... WaS+ 13..i.d2 'lIb6 14.0-0-0
.i.e7. Here white also has an interesting
resource: 15.llg41 ~gf6 (on IS ... .i.fB
16.~ ~gf6, the rook returns, leaving
room for a pawn storm, 17.1lh4 .i.e7
18.f4 :U8 19.f5) 16.:xg7! .i.f8
17.llxf7! ~xf7 18.~S+~xeS 19.dxe5
l1:IdS 20.'iII'g6+ ~e7 21.~4, with a
dangerous attack based on c2-c4.
11 ...06 12.0-0-0
This position is known \0 theory for
more than 70 years and is one of the
oldest opening "tabiyas... For example,
in one of the old publications I found the
 77Je Caro-Kann! In Blaclcand wmte
game Chayes-Rell (Karlsbad, 1923), in
which Reti played 12 ... .i.d6 and
eventually lost. Many decades of work
by theoreliciallS did not significantly
change the evaluation of thi. position.
The only difference in the modem
treatment is that 12.1Ife2, suggested by
Botvinnik hack In 1928, is considered a
subtle preliminary move. In view of tile
upcoming x-ray by the black rook,
white retreats the queen,
simultaneously preparing the knight
hop to eS and also preventing
development with 12 ....i.d6. in view of
lJ.tllfS. Still. usually It is only a matler
of transposition.
12••.0-0-0
The tradiUonal way. But let us
consider the Idea of undenninlng the
d4-pawn and foregoing queen.ide
castling with 12 ...tllgf6 13."e2 cS. For
example, the game Mikhalchishin -
Kasparov (Daugavpils, 1978) went
14.:h4 :c8! IS.lOrs cxd4 16.~xd4
1Ifc4 17.'lltxe4 :xc4, and the endgame
was equal. Recently, white has
preferred 14.Wbl, nol afraid of 14...c4.
since after the maneuver IS.lOrS! 0-0-0
16.lQeJ lQb6 17..i.aS, white hits the
c4-pawn. If black i. stubborn over the
baule for the c-file, he risks never
getting the chance to castle. As an
example, we present the brilliant game
Oaldunc-Tavadian (Erevan. 1990):
14 ... lZc8 15 •.,4 .,lId4 16.tlllld4 .i.eS
17.tllhS 1Ifc6 18.h4! a6 19.bltcS nbS
20.cxhS 'lltxg2 21.lZhgl 'llth3 22.c6!
bllc6 23.hxc6 :lIc6 24 ..i.h4 'IIth4 25.a3
:b626.~2lQd527.:d4111fd8?(more
lenaci~ is 21 ....'g5) 2g.:xdS! exdS
29. 'llfe2+ lZe6 30.lQrS!! and white won.
Black should probably seUle for
71
14...cxd4 15.li:lxd4 .i.eS 16.tllb3 .i.e7,
with a .lightly wolSe position.
13.'Vel ttlgfl) 14.ttle5
The maneuver 1Ife2 and IlleS was
Introduced Into serious tournament
practice by Spassky. After the knight
trade, b1ack's kinllside pawn structure
becomes blocked, and it is difficult for
him to achieve counterploy - 14•.. tllb6
offers more chances for equality.
14...~xe5 15.dxe5 ~5
lS ... tlld7 16.f4 .J.e7 occur.
frequently. Black Is tryinll to undennine
the eS-pawn. Thi. position deserves a
close look.
The 05- and hS- pawns block the
kingslde, and this guarantees white a
space advantage. Any bid for freedom
is liable to lead to further weaknesses.
After 87-86 the f7- and h6-pawns
become weak, while after the more
natural f7·f6, white captures on f6,
creati"ll weak pawns at e6 and 117.
White has clear plans of realizing his
advantslle: With a black .i.f6, 112-g4-85
becomes possible, and with the tllf6,
white uses the blockading o5-square for
his bishop. The methodology of playing
78 The Coro-Kann! III Blackand While

this position was well studied back in Now we return to our main game,
the 1960·s. Here are some typical Ako~ian.Magomedov.
examples:
16.f4~e7
I) Spassky.Petrosian, World
Championship Match (Game 21) 1966: Spassky-Botvinnik (Moscow 1966)
17.~ tOes 18.tOe3 f6 19.exf6.i.xf6 continued 16...cS 17.c4 ItJb4 IB..i.xb4
20.",,4 "b6 21.b4! 1086 (the endgame Rxdl+ 19.1rxdl cxb4 20.~4 .i.e?
after 21..:.a6 22."xa6itJxa6 23.1tJe4 21.~6+ Wb8, and here white could
.i.e7 24.a3tOe7 2S•.i.c3 .lhg8 26..i.eS, have kept the advantage with 22.g3 Irra
Is dreary for black, since the ,-pawn 23.Wbl a6 24.•g4, or 22••e4 .e6
breakthou,h will decide after further 23. "xc6 bxc6 24.cS.
exchanges) 22.1tJe4tOe7 23.lrhel .ld4
24.'lib3 'libS 2S.c3, and black could 17.1t\e4
find nothing belter than sacrificing the
exchange wilh 2S....lxe4. Also good was stabilizing the
2) Suelin-Pachman (Tilovo Uzlce, position first with 17.Wbl oiIb8 18.c4
~b6 19.b3. Now on 19...lrd7 20..i.c3
1966) 17.~e3 "as (afler 17 ... f6
1B.exf6 itlxf6 19..ld2 .ld6 20.lIde1 IZhdB 21.~ follows, with threats of
ltJe4-d6 and .e2-g4, while on 19...e5,
IIhdB 21 . .i.c3 116d7 22 ..i.e5 .i.d6
23.lIhfll the blockade on e5 is not 20 . .i.c3 lhdl+ 21..lxdl .ldB
broken, and the Hile can open for the 22.1Zxd8+ "xdB 23.~.d7 24.Wc2
white rook in case of exchanges.) "c6 25.g4 ~7 26.fS) Is possible, with
a kingside breakthrough.
18.Wbl ~c5 19.c3 IIxdl+ 20.lIxdl
1Id8 21.lId4 (White is certainly not 17....b6 18.lIh3 c5 I9.lIn
against exchanges; in fact, he is aiming llhe8 20JlhfJ We7 21.g411h8
for the endgame) .. Jlxd4 22..i.xd4 "dB
23 .....2 as 24.~f1 "cIS 25.~3 .we4
26 . .i.xe5 "xc2+ 27.Wxc2 .i.xd
2B.~e4 a4 29.Wd3 Wd7 30.,4 b5
31.~2 .i.g1 32.We4 c5 33.b3 axb3
34.axb3 We7 35.Wf3 b4 36.cxb4 cxb4
37.We4 .i.cS 3B.~f3 Wd7 39.~4 g6
40.Wd3 gxhS 41.gxh5 Wc7 42.Wc4
.i.b6 43.~b5+ Wd7 44.~4 We7. The
b4-pawn is doomed, but blaek's
counterplay is based on atlacking the
f4-pawn. Therefore, whlte's problem Is
how to capture.the b4-pawn in the most
convenient situation. This could have
been achieved with 4S.lOc2! Wb? While black has been waiting, white
46.itJxb4! ~e3 47.f5 exfS 4B.WdS We7 has prepared a breakthrough on the
49.itJc2 f4 50.~4 with real winning kingside. In place of the last rook move,
chances. Suetin, however, missed this black should have considered
opportunily, and the game was drawn.
 The Caro-Ka,,"! 111 Black alld While
transferring the knight to c6 with
21 ...~.
22 •.bl!
Before decisive action, white
activates the bishop as well.
22•• ':d7 23 ..i.Kl ~b4 24.fS!
'llfc6
After 24 ... ~xa2+? 2S.Wbl ~b4
26.1016+ .i.xd6 27.exd6, white forms a
dangerous passed pawn.
25.&3
2S.IOI6+ is also quite sufficient to
win the game. But white decides to
continue the policy of strangulation.
25 •••~d5 26.fxe6 fxe617':t7
J:thd8 28.c4 ~b6 29.~d6+
~b8 30':xe71 Rxe7 31•.i.h4
J:ted7 32•.i.xdS Itxd8 33':t7
~
The result of white's very consistent
strategy is the absolute control of the
seventh rank. After 33...~ 34.lIxg7,
the g-pawn is lost, and if black trades
down with 34...~e5 3S.1Irxe5 'ilfxd6
36.'ilfxd6+ IIxd6, the kingslde
breakthrough, 37.gS hllgS 38.h6, is
decisive.
34':xb7+ ~88 3S.D.xg7 ~xd6
36.exd6 J:txd6 37.'llfn J:td8
38.<i>bl 1fe4+ 39.'ital eS
40.'it>a2 1fc6 41 •• n 1fb6
42.gS as 43.1:[g8 1:[xg8
44.1Ixg8+ 'ita7 4S••g7+ 'it>a8
46.1Wxh6 1Wc7 47.1rf8+ <i>b7
48.g6 Black Resigned (1-0)
79
GAME 21
GeUer - Saldy
New York. 1990
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.~d2 dxe4
4.o&e4~fSS.~3.i.g66.~fJ
ttld7 7.h4 h6 S.hS ~h7 9•.i.d3
.i.xd3 lo.1WxdJ 1Ifc7 U.~d2
e6 12.0-0-0 0-0-0 13.ttJe4
~fti14.g3
White's last two moves were
Introduced into tournament practice by
Geller. White threatens to grab the
important h2·bS diagonal with .i.d2-f4.
For a long time, this plan was
considered very dangerous for black.
Recently, however, black has found
sufficient antidotes. His key idea Is to
achieve the break c6-c5, and for this he
first needs to exchange white' s central
knight.
14 ...~S
The pin along the d-file is used ID
accomlish the exchange. The fact that
the bishop will have to get in the way of
the c'pawn does not mean that black
loses time. The white queen will return
the tempo ID black when she retreals
from the rook's X-illY, The other main
80 l1,e Caro-Konn! I" Black and While
plan for is to exchange the knighls with
14 ...lill:e4IS."III'lle4,andthentoprel"'re
c6-cS. But here, this preparation lakes
time. For example, if IS ... i.e7 16.'~)bl,
then 16... c5 is premature duc to 17.i.f4
"lll'b6 18.dxcS i.xcs 19"~:JeS, with
dangerous Weals, while on 16...lIhe8
17. We2! with the follow-up :hl-cl,
white finnly grasps the eS-square.
IS ... i.d6 is considered best. In the
second part of the book, this move will
be discussed; see Karpov's annotations
to game 40.
lslt::JxcS ~xcS 16.'II'e2
Analtemative 16.c4, with the idea of
reacling 10 c6-c5 by d4-dS, also occurs,
e.g., 16... i.b6 17.'1>bl c5 18.i.f4 "lll'e7
19.d5! More logical is 16... i.d6, as in
Sax-Karpov (Haninge, 1990), and my
co-author will tell the $lOry of this game.
16••• ~d6
The retreat 16... i.b6 allows white to
proceed with his program with a gain of
time: 17.i.f4 "lll'e7 18.c4. But black
could have, and should have, simplified
the position with 16...i.xd4 17.i.f4 e5
18.i.xeS i.xe5 19.~xeS .IIxd1+
20..IIxd I .IId8, with chances to equalize.
17.c4 cS 18.~c3 %1he8
A useful waiting move. After
18 ... cxd4 19.~xd4 a6 20.~f3 .IId7
21.~S i.xeS .22.i.xe.5 "lll'c6 23.g4,
white develops a dangerous initiative
(Brunner-Dailielsen, Debrecen 1992).
19.dxcS
Also 19.'~bl "lll'c620 ..IIh4, is not bad,
planning ~f3-?
19...WxcS
If 19 ... i.xcS 20.~e5, white
implements the main idea of the
variation, installing his knight on e5.
20.tod4 86 21.f4
21...~c7
White controls the central squares; he
is also ready to develop a queenside
initiati ve. But the black pieces are also
fully mobilized for counterplay.
Instead of this bishop retreat, 21. ..e5
deserved attention, aiming to make use
of the presence of the white queen on the
e-file to activate the .IIe8. Since the
"active" 22.~fS? leads to a black
advantage after 22 ... exf4 2J.lt:Jxd6+
.IIxd6, white must play 22.1t:Jb3, but
here, too, black has sufficient resources
after 22 ... 'II'c7. For example, 23.fxeS
i.xeS 24.:xd8+ WlI.d8 2S."III'd3+ We8,
leads to nothing significant, and the
sacrifice of the exchange, 23.:xd6
:xd6 24.fxeS .IIc6 25.c5 1t:Jd7 26."III'g4
gS, is unlikely to be unsound. Instead
23.i.aS b6 24.cS is tempting. Now
24 ... bxaS is dangerous in view of
25. 'll'xa6+ wb8 26.tLlxaS "lll'xcS+
27.wbl IId7 28.lIcl. But with
 The Cam-KIlnn! In DIad: and While 81

24 ... ixc5 25. 'itxa6+ Wb8, black
should beat back the threats. Now,
however, white grabs the initiative for
good.
Zl.b4! We723.<t>b1
White gets a big space advantage. In
this situation, 23 ...eS? 24.~5! is bad
for black.
23 ••• J:td7 24.J:td2 J:ted8
2SJthdl J.b6
Black induces the advance of dIe
c-pawn. But he underestimates the
imporlance of the weak c6-square.
The final accord of the kingside
assault The pawn deprives die rook of
ils support On 34... exf5 or 34 ...e5,
white has 3s.Illc6+. The game has been
decided.
34 ••. J.xd4 35.J.xd4+ <t>b8
36.fxe6Wxe637.i.a7+! Wxa7
38J1xd5 J:txd5 39.'ltxdS Black
Resigned (1-0)

26.cS J.c7 17.c6 JUS

2S.cxb7+ ~b7 29••13!
White exposes the c6 weakness with
this pin. The black king has nowhere to
go.

29••••d7
Not 29•..~hS? 30.~S!, winning.
But black should have considered
29 ... -*.b6, in order to exchange the
knight. Instead, black procrastinates
and runs into a kingside pawn storm.

30.g4 'wa7 31.g5 I()es 31.16

fxg6 33.hxg6 J.b6?1
Now this is too late, since the
exchange on d4 willicad to a check for
black. It wss more logical to ha Ye
moved the king to bB. 33 ••.1051 also does
not work because of 34.W+! (but not
34.ilX6+? 'ltxc6 35.J:txdS ~). But if
black had defended the rook with
33 •. .tbf6, white would still have a lot of
work to do.

34.r5!
82 The Caro-Kall"! {II Black alld While
 TIre Cam-Konnl In Black and White
CHAPTER6W
THE PETROSIAN-SMYSLOV SYSTEM
(1.e4 c6 2.d4 dS 3.llJc3 dxe4 4.llJxe4llJd7)
This system, as the title suggests, was
developed by Petrosian and Smyslov, in
the 19SOs and 60s. Black plans 10 drive
back or exchange the cenlalizcd knight
while at the same time developing with
It:Jg8-f6. At the same time, he avoids the
prospects of doubled pawns (after
4 ... lt:J(6) and of the positional
concessions that follow the bishop
move, 4... ~fS.
After the continuation, S.lt:JgS It:Jgf6
6 ..t.c4 (or 6 ..t.d3) ... e6, black later
drives back the knight with h7-h6, and
the following pawn structure evolves.
83
"ThIs structure differs from the one
discussed in the previous chapter only
by the position of the white h-pawn.
Here it is back at h2, and this makes
black's endgame prospects brighter.
But the cost of this is the delay in
developing the queen's bishop. Now it
will require a considerable loss of time.
White gets a stable initiative, which
based on the occupation of the
oS-square by the knight.
In positions of this sort, black's
important freeing method Is the
undermining advance c6-cS. which
leads to a white queenside pawn
majority and the prospect of an outside
passed pawn there in the endgame. But
the lack of pawn weaknesses gives
black chances to equalize, gi ven
accurate play,
84 The Caro-KIIn"! In Black and While
 The Caro-Kann! /" Black and White
GAME 22
Psakhis - Rodriguez,Am
Sochi,1988
1.e4 c6 1.d4 dS 3•.!0d2 dxe4
4/i:Jxe4 ~7 S.~S
In the pasl few years, this move has
become white's main continuation_ It
allows white to pull off a comfortable
regrouping. with which he aims to gain
control of the eS-square. The thing is.
black cannot afford 10 allows the white
lmight 10 occupy the aggressive position
on gS for very long. If he pushes it back,
the lmight sets along the path gS-fl-eS
and is then supported by the other
knight. Tactics justify white's fifth
move as follows. On S ...h6, 6.1t:Je6!
WaS+ 7.~d2 Wb6 8.~d3 follows, and
now If 8 ... fxe67 9.'tII'hs+ oi>d8 10.~aS
and the queen is lost, while on 8...~gf6,
a promising piece sacrifice with
9.~f.J!? fxe6 10.~g6+ oi>d8 I J.~S is
possible. Whi Ie has a strong atlacking
position. The classical continuation,
S.~f3 ~gf6, is recently under a
shadow, and there are reasons for this.
After the exchange, 6.~xf6+ ~xf6
7.It:JeS ~e6 8..A.e2 g6 9.0-0 .i.g7 10.c4
0-0 II..i.e3 ~7 12.~3 ~6 13.h3
~e4 14.'iifcJ bS! IS.cxbS cxbS
16.~xbS ~dS 17.~S 'iifd6, black
achIeves active piece play,
compensating for the sacrificed pawn
(Beliavsky-Korchnoi, Montpelier
19S5). If white retreats with his lmight,
black undermines his center. With no
queenside wealmesses, black can look
forward to successful defense. In this
regard, the game Kasparov-Karpov
(Amsterdam 1988) serves as a good
illustration. It continued 6.~g3 e6
7.~d3 .i.e7 (not bad is the immediate
8S
7...cSg.0-0cxd49.~xd4~cS 10.c30-0
11.'III'e2 b6 12.~e4 ~b7, and black
equalizes) S.O-O cS 9.'ilfe2 0-0 10.:dl
Wc? (nothing is new Wl<Ier the sun! This
position occurred in some of
Capablanca's games, who played
II.~gS in this position) 11.04 cxd4
12.~xd4 a6 n.b3 Re8 14 ..i.b2 b6
IS.~S .i.b7 16.~e67! (Although the
position is ripe for decisive action, no
one has dared 10 sacrilice the picce here
after this game. More prudent is
16.:acl.) ... fxe6 17.Wxe6+ oi>fS
18.~xh7 ~cS 19.'ilfh3 ~xh7
20 ..i.xg7+ (even after the best 20.b4 g6!
21.~87 ~f6l black slops the threats and
retains a safe position) ...oi>gS 21..i.b2
'ilfc6 22.:d4 ~ 23.:el q:,.gS, and
black look over the initiative, with a
material edge to boot. [TrallSla/or's
/lO/~: III ,/,is c~/ebra'ed gallle, Karpov
ran out of tillle and lost aft~r I,a,';/lg a
comple/ely willning patti/ioll.].
S...IOIRi
This move is a vigorous attempt at
refuting the move S.~gS. The main
continuation is S ... ~gf6. With the
unorthodox lmighl maneuver, black
looks to let the bishop out to an active
position before playing e7 -e6. After
86 The Cara-Kann! In B/ackrJnd White
6.~lfJ -*.g4 this becomes possible,
because a£ler 7.lill.f7 -*.xf3 8.lill.d8
-*.xd1 9.~e6 -*.g4 10.~c7+ wd8
11.~xa8 e6, black will take the knight
in due time. But If he refrains from the
pin and plays 6...e6, then after 7.Jile5!
~6 8 ..i.d3, he ends up under a press,
since it is difficult for him to castle. For
example, Nunn-Tal (Brussels 1988)
continued 8 ....i.d6 9.c3 1Ifc7 (9...0-0 is
risky because of 10.Wc2 ~5 l1.g4)
1O.'II'e2 <;5 (now on 10... ().0 the pawn
attack with 11.~gfJ ~f5 12.g4 ~7
13.h4 follows) 11..i.b5+ We7 (Black
has to give up castling, since he Is afraid
of an attack after 11...-*.d7 12.~xd7
lill.d7 13.~xe6!, and for good reason)
12.0-0 cxd4 lJ.cxd4 IOf5 14.-*.e3!
lill.e3 15.fxe3 -*.xe5 16.-*.xe5 'll'xeS
17. Wd3 'll'xgS? (Black does not
wilhstand the tension; he could have
defended with 17•.. a6 IS.Wa3+ 'll'd6
19 .•xd6+ Wxd6 20.~xf7+ We7)
18."a3+Wd819.Ldl+-*.d720.-*.xd7
Black Resigned (1-0)
6.~e4
On 6.-*.d3 -*.g4 7.~lf3 .AM (not
7 ... h61 because of s.lt:lxf7! .i.xfJ
9.-*.g6!) 8.c3 e6 (after 8.....c7 9 .•c2,
9 ... h6 is again not good because of
IO.~61 and '10...fx<!6 is dangerous
because of .11 •.i.g6+ -*.xg6 12.Wxg6+
Wd813.~S ci>c814.Wf7)9.~3 "c7
1O.~S-*.d611.f4 ~7;withacomplex
game.
6 ••.lodS
6 ... e6 is not in the splrit.of 5...~f6,
and yet it is easier for black to organize
a defense, although after 7.~lfJ h6
S.~3 .i.d6 9.1Ife2, white has the better
chances. But in the game, black falls
behind in development and white attains
control over important central squares.
Black Is condemned to passive defense.
7.1()1f3 g6 8.0-0 ~r.7 9.:el h6
Otherwiseafter9...lOgf61O.~()'O
11.c3 h6 12.lOgf3, white firmly holds
the e5-square with his knigbL
10.l()e4 ~r.4 11.e3 ~gr6
12.i()cS!
As will later become apparent, this
knight has a bright future. For now,
white avoids simplifications. After
12...b6 13.~3 the knight takes part in
the struggle for the e5 square.
12...We7 13.h3 ~xB
ThIs is a doubtful exchange. Correct
was retreating with 13...-*.f5, but after
14.~e5, white's position is more
pleasanL
14.WxB 0-0 IS.~b3 b6
At this point, 15 ... JladS was
necessary. Still, after 16.c41Ob617.-*.f4
1Ifc8 18.Ld1, white's space advantsge
Is quite apparenL
16.i()d3 bS 17.a4 a6 18..i.r4!
~xf4
On IS ...1IfcS, 19.-*.e5 is strong,
increasing the pull. But now the strength
of white's light-squared bishop is
reveBled.
19.1()xf4
 The Caro-Kann! In Black and While
19...<t>h7
Black defends rrom the threat of
~f4xg6. On the obvious move, 19...e6
Psakhis had prepared a brilliant rook
sacrifice: 20.lIxe61 fxe6 21..i.xe6+
c£>h7 22.lOxg61 IIfe8 23.1IIrs IIxc6 (the
economical mate after 24.~+ ~h8
2S.1IIxh7+1! ~xh7 26.~g6* was
threatened) 24.~S+ c£>h8 2S.'iII'xe6
lIe8 26.1IIfS, and, in spite of the absence
of direct threats, it is difficult for black
to defend. But now he gets out of the
frying peln and into the fire.
20.allb5 clIb5 21 •.bt71 lbt7
22.~xg(i lZd8
Black cannot afford to defend the
a6-pawn, since after 22 ...lIa7 23.~
Rf8 24.~6, the e7-pawn falls under
attack.
23Jba6 <t>g8
The :knight is also Immune:
23 ...~xg6? 24.111e4+, but now the rest
of the game Is soloed by the knighL
24.lQe5 :rfS 25.~6 ~d5
26••e2 lZd6 27••lIb5 lZc8
28.~e5 lZb8 29•• a4 Rxb2
87
30':xd6 .lId6 3J.o!l\c4 Black
Resigned (1-0)
GAMED
Sokolov,A - Karpov
Bel/ort. 1988
3.~2 dxe4
1.e4 c6 2.d4 dS
4.~xe4 ~d7 S.~gS ~gr6
6..i.d3
6..i.c4 Is probably more flexible. It
leaves the opportunity, after lbd7 -b6, to
choose the diagonal for the bishop. Yet
the move 6 ..i.d3 has its plusses as well,
as it hinders black in his development
and for a while reaffirms the rights of
the ~gS; on 6 ...h6? 7.~6! is possible.
Black must always keep this motive in
mind in his calculations.
6...e6
Fianchettoeing the bishop with 6... g6
and 7 ....i.g7 comes at the cost of
weakening the kingslde, and this allows
white toeffectively utilize the eS-square
andthe~S. For example, 7.~If3.i.g7
8.1IIe2 0-0 9.h4 hS IO.~eS! ~xeS
1l.dxeS lbds 12.e6, and the more
academic 7 ..i.c4 ~S 8.~H3 .i.g7
9.G-O G-O IO.IIe! ~7r6 11.~1 ~8
12.~gf3. In both cases, white's
Initiative is quite dangerous.
Also unhealthy for black is the flank
diversion with 6 ... cS 7.1t:'Ilf3 cxd4
(7...1Ifb6 Is refuted by play in the center:
8.~SI ~xcS 9.dxeS ~g4 IO.1IIe2) and
eS-e6 Is already threatened) 8.0-0 h6?1
9.~6! 1IIb6 IO.lIel ~S 11.~xcS
1IIxcs 12.~xd4 a6 13.c3 e6 14..i.f4
i.e7 IS ..i.c2.i.d7 16.~fS.i.c6 17.1lcS
111b6 18.~xg7+ ~f8 19.~fS exfS?
88 The Caro-KJlml! In Black and White
(correct is 19 ___:dS) 20_:xe7! ItldS
21.:xf7+! ~xf7 22 .....5+, and white
won (Tseshkovsky- Khalifman,
Tashkent 1987).
M:no
7•••.i.d6
The next game is devoted to the move
7 __ .~e7. In either case, black has \0
watch very carefull y the mechanism of
the cooperation between the ~d3 and
the ItlgS. This mechanism can work in
case of the weakening move h7-h6, eg.,
7 ... h6 S.ltlxe6 'IIe7 9.()'Ofxe610.~g6+
~dS 11.~f4. ItldS J2.~g3, with a
dangerous attack, or 7__ .'IIc7 S.'IIe2 h6
9.~g61 (this is a nasty reminder that the
f7-square is insufficiently protected)
...h"gS 10..*.,,17+ ~d8, and again white
has strOllS threats.
S.'lWe2
White prepares queenl;ide castling
and takes control of the eS-square,
preventing the freeins. of the ~cS by
e6-eS. The alternative is the plan of
kingside castling. After S.O-O h6 9.1tle4
Itlxe4 10.~"e4 0-0 the position is calm,
but black is a little behind in
development. The following Is a good
illustration of how whi te can exploit his
small positional advantages.
Kasparov-Karpov (Amsterdam 1985)
continued 11.c31 eS 12.~c2 :e8
13.:el exd4 14.:xe8+ 'IIxe8 IS.'IIxd4
We7 (this is circumspect; after IS __ .'IIe2
16.~d2 ~cS 17.'11h4 We7 IS.~gS, or
1s...~cS 16.'i1'h4 ~e7 17.'IIg3, white
brings his queen over to the kingside)
16.~f4 ~xf4 17.Wxf4 IOrs 18.:el
~e6 19_1tld4 :dS (the rook would feel
better at e8) 20.h4 'IIcs 21.:e3 'IId6
22.ltlxe6 f"e61 1 (22 __ .Itl"e6 23.We4
~f8, is more natural) 23.Wg4.
Not only does black have a weak
pawn at e6, his kingside complex is also
vulnerable. After some preparation and
prophylactics, Kasparov swings his
rook to the f-fiIe, and his advantage
increases: 23 ... Wd2 24.~b3 ~h8
2S.:e2 'IId6 26.g3 a6 27.~g2 :e8
28.:e3 J:i:e7 29.:£3 :d7 30.-...s .e7
31..eS :d8 32.a4 bS 33.We4 .c7
34.:f4 cS 3S .•£3 .d6 (Black has \0
concede the f7-square, and with it the
seventh rank, since 3S...~g8 36.~h2
We737 .•c6, makes the queenside
weaknesses all \00 apparent) 36.axbS
axbS 37.:17 :b8 38Jla7 b4 39.~c2
b"c3 40.b"c3 WeS 41.:f7. With the
help of the rook and bishop, white has
 The Caro-Kann! In Black and Wllite
control of the main communications
and nows prepares to infiltrate_ Over the
past twenty moves white's small
advantage has transformed Into a clear
plus, and In another twenty moves blnck
had to give up_ In U1ybin-Georgadze
(Simferopol, 1988) black thought up an
improvement with 20___ 'IIId61 (instead of
20__ :lIIc5) 21.Iilxe61ilxe6 22_'llfe4 ~f8
23.g3 'llfc5? (23. __ g6 24 ..i.b3 ~g7
25_'llfe3 b6, with a stubborn defense,
was necessary) 24_.i.b3 Rd2 25J:le3
'llfe7 26.llf3! Wg8 27.llxf7!! ~xf7
28.'llff4+ We8 29_'llfxd2, and agnin
white won_
S•. ,M 9.lDe4 illxe4 10••xe4
Now black will not be able to prepare
the e6-e5 freeing break, and orients
himself toward the c6-c5 advance_
10...illf6
paisible is 10.. _c5, but I 1-.i.d2 Iilf6
12_.i.b5+ .i.d7 13. 'llfxb7 Ilb8
14_.i.xd7+lilxd715_'llfa6,giveswhitea
small but lasting advantage
(Psakhis-Meduna, Tmava 1988)_ In the
game Gelfand- Speelman (Munich
1992), black made the move with the
c-pawn after some preparation:
10___ 'IIIc7 11-'lWg4 Wf8 12_0-0 (12_.i.d2
with queenside castling was more
exact) ___c5 13_b3 eS 14_dxc5 tllxc5, and
in spite of the lass of castling privileges,
black has a quite satisfactory position.
l l.•ei
Keeping control ofthe eS-square_ On
I I.'lWh4 tlldS 12.'llfxd8+ Wxd8 13.c3
~e7, it is easier for black to defend in
the e'1dgame.
1l... b6
89
Black prepares a hiding place on the
queenside for his king_ On 11 ___ c5
12_dxc5 .i..c5 13 ..i.d2 0-0 14.0-0-0,
white prepares an attack against the
weakened h6-pawn, and with opposite
sides castling this is quite feasible, e.g_
14 ___ 'llfc7 15.g4 or 14.. _bS 15.g4 tlldS
16_llhgl, opening the g-file_ I L.'llfb6
and I L._'IIIc7 have also been tried, but
usually the position turned out in
white's favor_
12,.i.d2 .i.b7 13.0-0-0 .c7
14':hel
Also possible is the plan with the
knight blockade of the eS-square:
14.~bl (}-o-o 15_.i.a6 1ld7 16..i.xb7+
'llfxb7 I 7_IileS I .i.xeS 18.dxeS, (the
pawn replaces the knight and exerts a
paralyzing Influence on black's
kingside) ___ tllg8 19.c4 1ile7 20_-*.c3
llhd8 21.Ilxd7 Ilxd7 22_1ld I Ilxd 1+
23_'ilfxdl cS 24.'IIId6, and white has a
significant endgame advantage
(Thorsteins-Kamsky, Reikjavik 1990).
In the earlier game Sokolov-Spraggelt
(9th match game, Saint John 1988),
white chose 15.c4 (instead of 15..i.a6)
and also got a better game after 15...cS
16.-*.c3 Ilhe817.1lhe1 Wb8 18.g3 ~a8
19.-*.c2 a6 20.d.cS .i..cS 21.IileS lle8
90 The Caro-Kann! /" Black and Whi,e

22Jld2 l:IedS 23.l:Iedl l:I,,<12 24.l:I,,<12
.t.flI2S.f4.
14 ...0-0-0 IS..ta6 .txa6
After IS ... l:Ihe8 16.~eS .t.xe5
17.dxeS i&l5 IS ..t.xb7+ 'llfxb7 19.c4, a
position similar to the one earlier
considered occurs, but this time under
better circumstances for black.
16••"a6+ WbS 17••e2 llhls
18..:4 ~r4 19.•0 ~g6
Black has no noticeable weaknesses,
but his position is structurally passive.
Therefore, every pawn move demands
precise calculation. For example, the
pawn march 19... S5?! 20.g3 g4 is
tempting, but while has the strong reply
21.l:Ie4 gxfJ 22.l:Ixf41
Black has to keep 10 a waiting policy.
On 27 ...bS 28.cxb5 cxbS 29.JL: I, the
rook take. the c-fiIe and threatens to
penetrate on the weaksquares c6 and c7.
28.i.xf6 gxf6 29.~1 ~e7
3O.~2bS
Black understands that when the
knight hits e3, white will tum his
attention to black's klngslde
weaknesses. Therefore, black attempts
to complicate the position and hopes
that the fortune twns in his favor. But in
response, the white knight changes Its
path and, with the gain oftime, supports
the central breakthrough.
31l11b4 1Ib7 32.dS!

20.g3.te7
Now black's pIeces are restricted In
their mobility and he has difficulty
freeing himself. The move 20 ...cS
weakens the bS-square, and this is
apparentafler21.h4cxd422.~d4. The
move 20...eS Is refuted tactically with
21.dxeS ~xeS 22.l:IxcS! .,txeS
23.~xeS l:lxd2 24.~xc6+.

21.h4 hS ZZ:ife2 Ad7 23.1.gS

i.f6
The choice is limited. On 32...bxc4,
Black has to somehow cover the
33.dxe6! This same move Is also
eS-square. But now while turns to the
possible after 32...cs and If, after the
preapration of the d4-dS break. Besides,
trade of rooks, black takes the knight,
after the exchange on f6 black has to
the white pawn slides in on f1 and leaves
keep in mind his klngside pawn
weaknesses.
black n" hope for survival. If 32...exdS
33.cxdS ~xdS 34.~xdS l:lxdS 3S.l:IxdS
24J1d2 llhd8 2S.lledl .b7 cxdS (the second rook is exchanged at
.26.~bl waS
27.&3 .a6 malerial cost: 3S...l:lxdS? 36.1Ife8+ 'IIfbII
37.'llfxc6+) 36.l:ld4! Black's position Is
 The CIlro-Kann! In Black and While 91

overly compromised by the presence of 62.ilIxf6 We7 63.ilIh5 WfT

his weak pawn islands. 64.g4 ~g6 65.tOg3 llal
66.h5+ WfT 67.g5 llxa4+
33.cxbS :cS?! 6S.WfS Ra5+ 69_Wg4 :a4+
This is careless. Better was 33 ...Ibg6, 70.f4 :b4 71.tOfS :b1 72.b6
which forces white to spend time and :gl+ 73.Wh5 .:n 74.tOd6+
defend his bS-pawn with 34.a4. Still, We6 75.Wg6 Black Resigned
this does not change !he evaluation of (1-0)
the position.

34.1IIxhS tOg6 35.1IIe2 tOeS GAME 24

36.b3 ':dc7 37.llc2! Khalifman - Arkell
Leningrad. 1989
Prudent. While should not not allow
excessive activity by the black rooks.
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.~ dxe4
37•• J1xc2 38.tOxcl a639.tOd4 4.tOxe4 tOd7 5.ttlg5 ttlgf6
axbS 40.tOxb5111b641.a4111cS 6.i.d3 e6 7.tOl13 i.e7
42••d2!
While prepares further exchanges
along the c-tile.
I

42 ••• tOf3 43 •• c1 1IIxc1+

44J:1.xcl':dS
Black could have temorarily
reestablished material equality with
44 ... ll:\d2+ 4S.Wb2 llxcl 46.Wxc1
IOxb3+, but only at the cost of letting
the h-pawn through after 47.ci>c2 Il:\cS
48.hS 1l:\d7 49.h6 m SO.Il:\d6, with the
capture 011 f7 to come. After black Although the bishop move to d6,
avoids the rook exchange, while only which we looked at In the last game, is
needs to overcome some minor more logical and occurs more
technical difficulties. frequently than to e7, the bishop
placement here also allows black 10
4SJ:lc7 d4 46J:lxl7 d3 47.Wcl form a secure fortress. Yet sometimes it
d2+ 4S.Wdl ':d3 49.tOc7+ is possible to break this fortress ... Also
<t>bS SO.tOa6+ waS
51.tOc7+ possible is the slightly risky move,
~bS 52ll~xe6 ':xb3 53J:lf8+ 7... flc7.
Wa7 54.':dS ':bl+ 55.~e2
llel+ 56.<t>x13 dl111+ 57J:lxdl 8.0-0
llxd1 58.~r4 ':n 59.13 ~b6
60.tOg7 Wc6 61.tOh5 ~d6
92 The Caro-Kant'! In Black alld White
The move B. 'lll'e2 deserves a look. It
not only prevenls B... h6, but also makes
castling unsafe for black: B... 0-01!
9.lLleS h6 10.h4! c5 lI.g4.
8..•h69.ibe4
White did not dare to sacrifice 01\ e6,
although his threals are also quite
dangerous after 9.lOxe6!1 fxe6
10..i.g6+ Will I1.'III'e2 Ibb6 (11 ....i.d6
12.lOc5! 'lll'e7 13.f4!) 12.lLle5 'lll'c7
13.c4.i.d7 14 ..i.f4.
10.~xe4
9 ... ll:lxe4 ll:lr6
1l.~d3 0-0 12.~f4
Or 12.lLle5 cS 13.dxc5 -*.xeS 14.:.. 1
iOd7, (Ulybin-Dautov, USSR 1989) is
equal.
12...ll:ld5 13.~dl e5 14.dxc:S
~xcS IS.'li'e1 'llfe7 16.1ie4
ll:lf6
. Also possible is 16... f5 17."e2
(17."eS'IIi'xe5 IB.lbxeS.i.d4) 17....i.d7
IB.IbeS, although here white's chances
are also better. . •
17.'Wh4ie7
]8.~xh(j!?
A standard shot. Of course, the
sacrifice is intuitive, but it is not very
pleasant for black to defend.
IS ... lxh6 19.'li'xh6 ZldS
10,ll.e1Zld5
The countersacrifice of the exchange
with 20.•.:xd3 21.cl<d3, also leaves
white with a dangerous attack.
Khalifman gi ves the follow ins
variations: 21. .. lbg4 21. "hS Ibf6
(22 ... f5 23."g6+ "'fB 24.h3 Ibf6
25.lbgS! .i.dB 26.:x,,6) 23."g5+ with
a dangerous threal of 24.11eS; 21...b6
22.LS lLleS 23.Jlcl followed by llc4;
21 .....dB 22."g5+ "'f8 23.lbe5;
2l...iOeS 22.lbg5! .i.xgS 23."xg5+.
21.ll:lg511xd3 22.exd3 "dS
More exact is 22 ...'III'f4! but after
23.1:1.4 (23.lbxf7 "'xh6 24.lbxh6+
"'Ill, is not clear) .....fS 24.Zlh4 1Ob7!
2S.f4!1 (25.lbxh7 .i.xh4 26."]lh4
"xh7 27."dB+ "'87 2S.l:Icl ....5!)
.....,xd3 26.b4!, white retains the
initiallve.
23,1le3~18
Now white's advantage takes serious
fonns. 23 ...'III'1lI! 24.""31 eS 2S.'t11'h4
.i.f5 26.I:I]le5 .i.xd3, 27.l:Ifel .i.d6
2B.iOe61? was necessary.
24.'IIIhS+! ~xhS 25.ll:lxf7+
~g816,1bxd8 .ic5
The ·decisive error. Correct was
26...1bdS27.~A.i.g7! 2S.lbxe6.i.xb2.
27.11e1 ~d4 28.ll:lxe6 ~xe6
29.lbe6 ~xb2 30.l:le7! bS
31.l:lbl l:lc8 J2.Wfl /DdS
33.11d7 ll:lf6 J4.11xa7 llc1
 The Caro-Kann! In Black and While
35.J:l.e7 liId5 36.J:l.eS+ ~f7
37.J:1.be1li1f4
On 37 ....i.c3. 38.lI&21 decides.
3S.J:l.Se3 <&>g6 39.g3 .te3
40.J:l.bl liId5 41.J:l.el J:l.xel
41.~xel
This ending is hopeless for black.
41 .••.td4 43.<&>dl b4 44.0
.te5 45.We2li1c3 46.J:1.al.!tie2
47.Wb3 .tgl 48.~xb4 .till
49.a4 .txg3 50.a5 .i.bS
Sl.'~c4 <;prs SUlbl Black
Resigned (1-0)
GAME2S
Kasparov - Karpov
. Linares. 1992
1.e4 c6 1.d4 dS 3.lOd2 dxe4
4.liIxe4 liId7 S.liIgS liIgf6
6•.i.c4 e6 7••elli1b6 S•.tb3
In general. the bishop can have more
prospects on the &1-g8 diagonal than on
the neighboring one. In any event. we
should regard Garry Kasparov·s
intuition with attention.
S•.• h6
Here al.o. this move must be timely.
After 8 ...cS 9.lOlf3 h6 (after 9 ... cxd4.
10.0-0 .i.e7 lI.lIdl. is possible. with
active piece play) 10.dxcS .i.xcs
1l.lOe4 lille4 12.•xe4 0-0 13..td2.
white achieves a better game.
The flank operation 8 ...aS 9.c3! a4
10..1c2 03 l1.b3 lObdS 12..1d2 .1d6.
executed In Kasparov-Speelman
(Linares 1992), does not achieve much
93
for black. Instead of 13.1·01fJ tt:lr41.
white could have gained an advantage
with 13.~4.
This is considered the most logical
continuation. The inclusion of the
moves 9 ... aS 10.04 c5 practically
excludes the possibility of queenside
castling for black and allows white to
affirm himself on the eS-square: 11 ..i.f4
.i.d612..i.g3!? (also possible is 12.lOeS
cxd4 13.0-0-0 0-0 14.lOgf3 IObdS
IS ..1g3) ...0-0 (or 12....1xg3 13.hxg3
flc7 14.lOes cxd4 IS.iQgn 0-0 16.g4!
with an attack) 13.lIdl IObds 14.lOeS
cxd4 IS.lOgf3 .1b4+ 16.WfI lOd7
t7.lilld4 lilleS 18..1xeS .1d7 19.h4!,
and white's initiative was dangerous In
Tseitlin.Mikh-Lutz, Budnpest 1980.
IO•.tf4
The while pieces aim 10 control the
important eS-square. After 10.c3 cxd4
l1.lLlxd4.te7 12.lOgfJ 0-013.0-0, it is
easier for black 10 defend.
1O... .id6
Black wants to trade the active
bishop immediately, but as it turns out,
94 The Caro-Kann! In Black and WhIte

this is not 10 easy 10 achieve. The main 12,dxc5 ~xcS 13,~e5 ~d7
response is considered to be 10... fi}bds, 14,lllgf3111h5
after which white can continue the
active play with 11..*.eS. For instance. Black plans 10 castle queenside. But
Short-Speelman (Hastings, 1988(89) it is very dangerous for him to concede
continued 11...'1135+ 12.1txl2 bS 13.c4 the h2-b8 diagonal (14 ... 0-0-0?
bxc4 14.-*.xc4 ft)b6 IS.b4! 'IIxb4 Is.lOxf7! 'ilfxf7 16.'ilfe5, would leave
16.1I.bl "'as 17..*.bH .*.d7 18..*.xf6!
gxf6 19.1Ogf3 cxd4 20.0-0 J:d8
him defenseless). So he hurries to
exchange white's dark-squared bishop.
2I.tQe4!. and white had a dangerous Note that white cannot make use of the
initiative for the pawn. But black's 12th hanging position of the lObs. After
move is inexacL After 11... cxd4 13.lOn Is.lOxf7lOxg316.hxg3~xf717.tQeS+
.*.e7 14.lOxd4 0-0 lS.O-o .*.d7 16.c4 ~e8 18.'IIhS+ ~d8 19.1Og6 'IIgS
(16.:fel Rfc8 17.a3 .*.a4!. equalizes) 20."xg5+ hxgS 21.lOxh8 ~e7, white
...lOb417.~n4X:618..*.c3.fS 19.a3 has a material deficit.
1I.fd8 20.J:fdl .*.e8. the chances are
equal (Anand-Karpov, Monaco 1993). 15_0-0-0 lllxg3 16,hxg3 0-0-0
The continuation 10...a6 has been
recently in use. The idea is to sacrifice
the pawn with II.J:dl c4 12 ..i.xc4
IOxc4 13.'IIxc4 bS 14.'llfb3 .i.b7. or
11.0-0-0 c4. which is similar. But
10...a6 creates dark-square weaknesses
on the queenside, and this is apparent in
the variation 1l.c4! CXd4 12.0-0-0.*.cS
13.tOxd41 .*.xd4 14.ft)f3. and after the
capture of the bishop, its white
colleague will ha1le no worthy
opponenL It seems more logIcal 10 play
13 .....e7. after which white responds
with 14.lOgf30-0 IS.:ligl. threatening 17Jlh5!!
10 march the g·pawn.
We give Kasparov the microphone:
11.~g3! We7 "Usually I do not give a move two
exclamation points. but this move, in
Now it is clear that the exchange of my view. deserves them. Outwardly
the dark-squared bishops with calm, I might say creeping. it sharply
11....*.xg3 12.hxg3. is in white's favor, changes the course of the game. The
since after the opening of the h-file white . pieces. having awakened from
black's kingside castling becomes hibernation. are filled with energy of !he
dangerous and the rook is activated attacking rush. The threat is 18.lOxf7
while still at its original square. And yet .xf7 19.1I.xcS,and 17....*.xd618.1I.xd6
the queen would have been placed beller does not help. or course. black can
at c7. since the eS-square is now fully relieve the pressure a long the hS-aS rank
Wtder white's control.
 111e Caro·Kann! In Black and While 9S

with 17... g6, but after lS.l:iI4, white's
positional advantage Is unquestionable,
since the opposing pawn structure on
the kingslde is hopelessly
compromised. "
17....t.e81Ulxd8+ Ii>xd8
The king must return to the center,
because the queen is busy defending her
.*.c5.
19.'ifld2+! .t.d6
The only defense. Black cannot run
with the king (l9... <Pc8) because of
20.10<13 .*.d6 21.'ilFc3+. If the knight or
queen interpose (19... lOd7 2o.lOxd7
.i.xd7 21.1005, or 19... 'ilFd6 20."Oxf7+
.*.xf7 21.l:tx,,5), black succumbs to the
pin along the d·file.
20.tt:ld3 We7
Obviously. 20... <PcS? is unplayable
because of 21. 'ilFc3+ <Pb8 22.'ilFxg7, but
20 .. .f5 is possible (20.. .f6 is weaker
because of 21.l:taS I) 21.l:th4 <Pc8, but
black is not willing to weaken his pawn
structure.
according to lCasparov's analysis, ends
In disaster for black: 23.gxh6 .*.xdJ
24.hxg7 l:tdB 25.g3! (on 2S.l:thB?! black
has a defense: 25 ...-*.h71 26.lOgS -*'8B)
...-*.e4 26.l:thB .i.xfl 27 ..*.xe6+1 fxe6
2B.gB'II l:txgB 29.l:txgB+ <Pd7 30.l:tg7+
with a wiMing endgame.
23•.I1h4!
While the black bishop explores its
original square, the white rook moves to
a new attacking position, supporting the
queenside pawn attack.
23... i>b8 24.a4 §Le7?
Definitely a loss ofUme.lt was belter
to immediately retreat with 24 ...lOcs in
order to transfer the knight to c6 or g6.
25.aSlDd5

21.g4~8

At this point, black did not have time

to drive back the rook, i.e., 21...f5
22.10<141

22.g5 j,f8
Black looks forward to gelting his A high-quality move. It threatens the
rook into play (23.gxh6 l:txh6). But his win of a piece with 27.c4. What does
black do? Kaspatov indicates that
hopes are not to be fulfilled, and
26 ...l:trs is answered by 27.-*.xdS exdS
therefore he should have continued the
2B.1OM hxgS 29.lOxdS 'ilFdB 30.l:td4,
king walk with with 22...<PbB, making
where 28 ....1c6 loses to a neat "pawn
use of the tactical resource, 23. gxh6
combination": 29.gxh6 -*.xh4
gxh6 24.l:txh6? .*.f4! The attempt to
30./Oa6+! bxa6 31.'ilFb4+ 1I'b7
exchange the bad bishop with 22 ....i.bS,
96 The Caro-Kann! In Black and WlJite

32.'III'xf8+ 'IIc8 33.hxg7. 26 .. .I:[g8!

retained some chances for survival.
Even here, after 27.:c4 'IId6 (or
27 ... 'III'dS 2S'86! fX86 29.~4) 2B.:d4
hxg5 29 . .,4 .i.f6 30.cxd5 .i.xd4
31.~xd4, life is not sweetfor black.

26...i.dS 27.a6 'IIIaS 2S.'IIIe2!

Kasparov: "Another 'creeping'
move of great force. The deadly
29.'III'e5+ is threatened."

2s ... lZIb6 29.axb7 i.xg5

30_lZIxg5 Wxg5 3Ulh5!
Finally, the black position seemingly
unwinds, and he has retained material
equality, but it is \00 late. The rook, as
If fidgeting on the hS-h4-h5-squares, is
now ready for the decisive sIonn of
black's king. Black has no time to
capture the g2-pawn, as after 31...'III'xg2
32.~5 he can defend against the mate
threat of 'lll'e2-e5 in two ways, both of
which are insufficient: 32.•.f6 33.'III'xe6
"c6 34.'III'e7, 'or 32.!.~d7 33."a6
~xcS 34.:xc5 'lll'xb7 35.'III'd6+ ~aS
36. 'lll'dS+ 'lll'b8 37.:,,8 (analysis by
Kasparov), And do, the sfruggle is over.
What remains is a small technical
operation, the aim of which is to extract
the opposing king into the fire of white 's
pieces. '

Jl ...Wr6 J1JlaS! i.c63J_1.tJc:5

i.xb7 34.lZIxb7 <bxb7
35."a6+ IPc6 36..ta4+ IPd6
37_'llfd3+ I.tJd5 JUIg3+! 'ite5
J9."aJ+ We7 40.'IIIc5+ WdS
41Jlxa7 Black Resigned (1-0)
 The Cara-Kann! In Black and While
PART II
CARO-KANN DEFENSE
Black Viewpoint
Introduction by Anatoly Karpov
In 1974, I turned to the Cato-Kann
for the first time in high-level
competition, as I employed it with the
back Ilieee. against Spassky in our
Candidate.' Semifinal. Things turned
out really well, and I inc:luded it In my
permanent opening repertoire. In the
last decade, I have almost never played
l.e2-e4, and therefore I usually play the
back side of this opening, and in fact, I
have played it quite a bit It is enough to
mention that [ trusted all of my "black"
games in two important matches - the
Superfinal against A.Sokolov and the
Quarter-final against V.Anand - to the
Care-Kann, and I did not regret my
choice. My great experic:nc:e with this
opening allows me to state that it is quite
secure for black, although, like in other
openings, first of all black has to think
about equality, At the same time,
white's desire to fight for the initiative
usually leads to a very intense struggle,
and black achieves sufficient
eounterchances.
I hope that readers will convince
themseJ ves of this after going through
'the 2S games I have annotated. Because
97
many important Ideas in the Cam-Kann
were born in encounters In which I was
a partici pant, it should not be surprising
that more than half of these 2S games
were played by me, and the most
modem and critical variations have
been accentuated. Some of the games I
have selected may be already familiar to
the reader from my book "The
Semi-Open Game In Action", but for
thIs work, these critical and
irreplaceable encounters have been
supplemented with new comments,
taking into account the latest theoretical
accomplishments, It so happened that I
was finishing my part of the book when
Beliavsky's half had already been
completed. As 8 result, many useful
ideas and recommendations on how to
play the Caro-Kann, for both white and
black, that have been formulated by my
co-author, have been naturally omitted
by me, to avoid repetition.
So, let us begin to look at the
Caro-Kann, from black's point of
view ...
-Anatoly Karpov
98 The Caro-Kann! In Black and While
 The Cam-Konn! In Black and White 99

CHAPTERIB
THE PANOV ATTACK
(1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 cxdS 4.c4llJf6 S.llJc3)

In response to the attack on the

<is-square black can choose one of two
plam of defense.
a) The organization of
counter-pressure on the d4-pawn with
~b8-c6 and (after the white knight
appears on f3) .t.c8-g4 or the
fianchettoing of the .t.f8 - this as a pure
Caro-Kann motif; b) Maintaining the
<is-square with e7-e6, having in mind
the Isolation of the white d4-pawn and
the seizing of the <is-square with pieces.
The resulting positions are not 1be variation of the pawn structure
Indicative of this opening and are not Is Interconnected with the events In the
valuable for their own sake, but are center of the board. Will white
instead similar, and in some cases exchange on dS or move his c-pawn
identical, to the positions typical for forward? If white exchanges, will black
Closed Openings, first and foremost the capture with the knightorwith the pawn
Queen's GambiL In the Panov Attack, (after e7-e6)? Finally, will black play
normally everything starts from the g7-g61 We must also point out that
pawn structure shown In the next some other variations, that do not
diagram. conform to the pawn structure shown In
Actually, we cannot consider the the preceeding diagram, also belong to
pawn position in this diagram finalized. the Panov Attack. For example, often
The further development Of the pawn white's d-pawn does not leave its
structure is described in the first half of original square for a while. The 8ames
the book by Beliavsky, and he also I have selected illustrate the various
points out the most important plam for black treatments of the Panov Attack.
both sides.
100 The Caro-Kann! Tn Black and White
 The Caro-Kann! In Black and W1.i1e
GAME 26
Wabls - Karpov
Baden-Baden. 1992
1.e4 c6 2.d4 dS 3.exdS cxdS
4.c4 ~f'6 S.~ e6
Strange as it may seem, this move
essentially transforms the game from a
semi-open game (the Caro-Kann) to a
structure more typical for one of the
closed openings (the Queen's Gambit or
the Nimzo-lndian). I always choose the
move e7-e6, because such a
metamorphosis suits me quite nicely;
the aforementioned openings occupy a
firm place in my repertoire. But if black
is not agreeable 10 this transformation,
he should select the move S ....!tlc6.
typical for the Caro-Kann Defense.
More popular is 6 ... -*.e7. which we
shall discuss later. The active move to
b4 leads to a position similar to the
Nimzo-Indian Defense.
'.cxdS It)xdS S.i.dl
Another possibility is 8."c2 /l)c6
9.-*.e2. which occurs in one of the
101
games amotate<! by Beliavsky. After
8.'il'b3 /l)c6 9.-*.d3. Smyslov recently
employed a very strong novelty against
J.Polgar, with 9 ... 'il'b61 (instead of the
normal 9 ... 0-0 10.0-0 -*.e7) 10.-*.d2
(10.0-0 -*.xc3 l1.bxc3 "xb3 12.axb3
~xc3, leads to simplifications) ....i.aS
11.0-0 ..xb3 12.axb3 -*.b6. The game
is perfectly equal. and a draw was soon
agreed upon.
s...~ 9.i.d3 0-0
Also playable is 9 ...~f6. Here is one
oC the fresh examples: 9...lt)C6 10.0-0
0-0 11..i.e3 .i.e7 12.'llfe2 b6 13.a3 .i.b7
14.JUdl 'llfd6 IS.LeI Ilacs 16.L6
"bS 17 ..i.gS JlCdS IS ..i.xb7 "xb7
19..i.xf6 .i.xf6 2O.dS ~!1 21.dxe6
fxe6 (more precise is 21...JleS!1
22,li~4. and white has a tiny advantage)
22. ""e6+ 'i'n (Skembris-Fossan.
Gausdal 1993). and now 23.JlxdS+
JlxdS 24.1Ifxf7+ ~xf7 2S.~f1 /l)c4
26.~4 ~xb2 27.Jlc7+. would have led
to a noticeable white advantage.
10.0-0 i.e'
And so we have arrived at a known
position, which occurs from the
classical move order (with 6...-*.e7) in
the Panov Attack or the Queen's
GambiL Here. white has made an extra
move with .i.cl-d2. But it is wtclear
whether this tempo gives him anything.
11.83
After 11.1Ifc211 li.:Idb4 12..i.xh7+
~h8 13.'il'b1 (13.'II'e4?fS) ...fS 14..i.g6
IDxd4 IS.~S ~2+ 16.~e2 'lrxd2
17 ..i.hS. chances are mutLial. Also
possible is 13 ... lDxd4 In this line. wilb
Imclear play.
102 The Caro-Konnl /11 Blackalld "'hile

1l_..i.f612.lIM 16..JkS
If 12.11'.. 2. bla.,k plays 12 ... h6
13Jladl lOxc3 14.-*..0.,3 (14.bx.,3 eS!)
...&7 15.1I'e2.t.d7 16.1I'e4g617.&5
-*.a41 18.lIde I .1.,6. and equalizes
(lIIescas-Dorfman. France 1991).
Interesting is the exchange sacrifice
18.dS! 1 in this line. But according to
Dorfman's analysis. it only leads to a
draw: 18...-*.xdl 19.dxe6 -*.b3 20.lOxf7
IIxf7 21.exf7+ Wxf7 22.-*.xf6 Wxf6
23.1Ie1 -*.dS 24.1I'eS+ Wf7 25.11'£4+
Wg7 26.1I'eS+. etc.

12...lt)xc3
I play an important novelty. After
12... lOxd4 13.lOxd4 -*.xd4 14.-*.xh7+
Wxh7 IS:We4+ Wg8 16."xd4 lOx.,3
(more precise is 16...lOb6l) 17.1I'xc3
-*.d7 18.1I'g3 L4 19.-*.b4 lle8 2O.lIfel
f6 21.lIe3. white haS' !he initiative
(Huebner-Campora. Blel (987).
Unclear Is 12... -*.lld4 13.lOxdS 1I'xdS
14.-*.e4. with sufficient ' compensation
for the pawn.
13.bxc3 g6 14.i.e4
If 14.Lbl b6 15.-*.e4 ,j,b7. black
already has the initiative.
14...i.d7 lS.J:rabl '
15.lIfdl lIe8 16.-*.h6 lIe8 17.c4. is
not dangerous for black.
lS...b6
If IS.....e7. 16.c4 preparing 1?dS.
17.f4?!
After this somewhat venturesome
move. I already began to think about an
advantage.
17...i.g7 18Jlbe1 J:rc7 19..1:1:D
to.s20.g4
The klngside attack Is not dangerous
for black. But also bad is 20.c4? lOxc4
21.lOxc4 -*.bS 22.-*.d3 .1xc4 23 ..t.xc4
1I'xd4+.
20.. JZ.e8! 2i..tbl
If 21.g5 h6!. black is beUer. But
more consistent was 21.fS ex!5 22.gxfS
.t.xf5 23..1.0£5 ga£5. or 22 ... .t.cB. with
an unclear game.
21...i.cS 22.15

16,1t~S

On 16.c4 lIe8 17.dS exdS lS.cxdS

lOd4. the same is even. but black has a
good move: 16... lIeBI.
 The Caro-lGJnn! In Black and While
Now 22.fS comes too late: 22...exfS
23.gxfS iDe4 (or 23 ....ib?!?) 24.lDc6
Rxe2 2S.~xd8 ~xd2 26.Jbe2 ~xf3+,
and black prevails.
22....1b7 23.:g3 1Ifd5 24.<t>rl
:ec8 2s.h4iOc4 26..1&2
Or 26.~c4 "xc4; black Is beUer.
26.: •.1a6 27 •.bc4
No better is 2?hS ~eS 28 ..ixdS
.ixe2 29.lIxe2 (29.fxeS .ixh5) ...iDe4,
etc.
27•••.1xc4 :zs:lIe3 .1a6! 29.hS
.a1!
Wilh the decisive threat of llxc3.
30:i'gl gxbS 3Ulh3 .1b7
Reintroducing lite IItreat of IIxc3.
Or 33.JtxhS IIxc3.
33••• bS 34':gl .a1!
Now it's all over.
103
3S.:cl .1e4 36.:e3 .1rs
37 •.1el .xa3 White
Resigned (0-1)
GAME 27
Sokolov,A - Knpov
Candidates SlIperfinal. Linares
(mlJ).1987
In this match. Sokolov and I only
needed two openings! As white, I
always began with l.d4, and the
Queen's Indian appeared every time.
My opponent always chose 1.e4 willt
white, and in all six games I reacted willt
the Caro-Kam.
In 1991 against Anand, I had a
slmilar occurrence. In lItat Candidates'
Match, I also chose only the Caro-Kam
with black, while when Ihad while, only
the Queen's Gambit saw the light of
day. Later, you will have the
opportunity to familiarize yourself wilh
games from that match. The Caro-Kam
games with Sokolov from this match
were all very entertaining and
theoretically valuable. In the first two
games, the Panov Attack tnu>spired, and
I will begin my story with them.
1.e4c62.c4
If 2.d4 cIS 3.exdS cxdS 4.c4 ~f6
S.iDe3 e6 6.~f3 .ie? ?cxdS, black can
capture on cIS wllh the pawn. After 2.c4,
he will have no such opportunity. Here
is anolher subdety: in the variation 2.c4
dS 3.exclS "lidS 4.clldS ~f6 S.iDe3, it Is
hardly a good idea for black to play
5...g6, since white can do wilhout the
d2-d4 move and use the tempo for
development and defense of the
104 The Caro-Kann! In Black and WIIile

dS-pawn. But 2.c4 has ils drawbacks as in Game 7. He presented B good

well. as we shall see. example of how while can achieve an
advantage, and at the same showed how
Z••• d5 black should react to S..tb5+.
2 ... e5 leads to non-routine play. Here
is an example: Tal-Garcia(Sochi 1986):
3.d4 ~f6 4.~3 .tb4 S.dxe' ~e4
6.111'd4 d' 7.cxdS 1II'aS 8.1II'xe4 .txc3+
9.Wdl cxdS? 10.1II'c21 d4 II.bxc3 dxc3
12.~e2 0-0 13.1II'xc3 1II'a4+ 14.Wel
.te6 15.~d4 lIc8 16 ..tb5. black
resigned (1-0). A jolly miniature. but of
course. it is not the refutation of the
move 2 ...cS. In fact, 9...-*-b4 gave black
counterplay.

3.exd5 cxd5 4.cxd5lllf6

Capturing with the knight is more
logical, although it is possible Co take the
pawn immediately with 4...1II'lIdS. In
Sax-Bass (Seville 1987). 5.~3 1II'd6
6.d4 ~f6 V~lge2 (7.1Ot'3 e6 8..tdJ .te7
9.0-0 0-0 10.a3 ~6 II..tc2 lId8
12 . .te3 .td7 13.1II'd3 .te8. with
equality. Dolmatov-Douven.
Amsterdam 1986) ... e6 8.g3 .td7 9..tf4
1II'b6 10 . .tg2· .te6 I J.dS ~lIdS?
12..txdS! .txclS I3.~dS exclS 14.0-0
.tc5 15.~3, led Co B white advantage.
Correct is 1 J...exdS12.0-0.tb413 ..tg'
~bd7 14.~xdS ctlxdS lS..txdS 0-0
16.a3.td617..txc6111'xc618.lIcI1ll'a6
19.~4 1II'aS 20..te31Of6 21.ille6 fxe6
22.1II'xd6 1II'f5, with equality
(Mestel-Dlugy, London 1986). Instead
of 8....td7. 8....te7 9..tg2 0-0 10.0-0
lidS 11.1II'c2 1II'a6. is also not bad. In
Nunn-Miles, Biel 1986, the two playelS
soon signed a peace agreement.
5.1t~c3
The Sleiner System. which begins
with S..tb5+. is discussed by Beliavsky
Already here. we can point out a
weakness of 2.<:4. Black could have
played 6...~6 here. and on 7.d4 -*-g4,
transposing to B known theoretical
variation. In case of the standard move
order, 2.d4 dS exdS cxdS 4.c4 ~f6
S.~3. ~r6. white has a choice between
6.1tlf3 and 6.-*-gS, not allowing the
-*-g4.
In the next game, we examine
6...ctlxc3. .
7.d4.te7
Black also had another. more active
possibility: 7 ... .tb4, sliding over to
positions characteristic of the
Nimzo-Indian Defense.
This Is Botvinnik's favorite
continuation. In modern practice,
B•.td3 occurs more frequently.
Formally speaking, we are now in the
Queen's Gambit rather than the
 17Ie Cara-Kann' In Black and While
Caro-Kann Defense. Black always has
to be ready for this sort of change... So,
it is quite appropriate to present several
games dealing with this Issue.
8,..0-0 9.0-0 1.2k6
After 9 ...tt:lb6 10..*.b3 tt:lc6, black
was able to hold his position in
Sokolov,A-Zhuravlev (Riga 1987):
l1.a3 .*.£6 12..*.e3 IllaS 13 ..*.c2 lilac4
14.tt:le4 .*.e7 15..*.el 86 16.b3 tt:ld6
17.flIeS ~ 18..1116 :"8 19.1WdZ b6
20.tt:le4 It:l~e4 21..1xe4 .1a6 22.:'£c I
:'c8 23.b4lt:lf6 24 ..1c6 :'xc6 2S.:'~c6
.1b7 26.:c2 .1xf3 27.gl<f3It:ldS.
10Jle186
1O... b6 is a misl:lke. This has been
known ever since the game
Botvlnnik-Alekhine (Amsterdam,
1938). White very subtly el<ccuted a
squeeze of black's position with
1l.It:ll<dS! exdS 12 ..1bS! .i.d7 (or
12....*.b7 13."III'a4 :'c8 14..1f4) 13."III'a4
itsb8 14 . .1f4 .i.xbS IS.tlxbS a6
16.'ilra4!.1d617..1xd6 "lll'xd6IS.l:Zacl,
and won In classical style.
The once popular 10... itsxc3 II.bxc3
b6 12..1d3 .1b7, is now rarely seen, as
after 13.h4! white's attack is dangerous.
However, 10... .1£6 Is possible. In the
game Tal-Petrosian (Moscow, 1966),
black slJccessfully completed his
development: I I.tt:le4 b6 12.&3 .1b7
13."III'd3 :'c8 14.lt:lfgS .1xgS IS •.1xgS
f6 16..1dZ"III'd7 17.l:tadllt:lce7 IS ..i.&2
Rfe8 19..*.bllt:lg6 20."III'g3 f5.
11.~b3
105
In the old game Botvlnnik .
Makogonov (SverdloYsk, 1943),
Il..1d3 ltscb4 (Il...its£6 12 ..*.gS bS
13.lIc1 .*.b7 equalizes) 12 ..i.b I bS
13.itse4itsf6 14.a31t:lbdS IS.tt:lcS "tII'b6,
resulted in a sharp game, but white's
chances were better.
11. ..Il~xc3
After ll...bS 12./l)xdS exdS 13.tt:leS,
black must suffer without many
prospects. If 1l ...1t:lr6 12 ..*.f4, white
prevents 12 ...bS in view of the variation
l3.dS exdS 14.itsxdS It:lxdS IS ..1xdS
.1b7 16.lt:leS :'c8 17./l)d7!? Re8?
IS . .1d7+ Wxf7 19."III'dS+ Wg6
20."III'e4+ ~f7 21.tle6ll. In fact, the
simple 17."tII'b3 is also possible.
12,bxc3 b5lJ.1rd3l:ta7
Black gave his preference to this
modest rook move, over the natural
13 ....1b7. The latter move weakens the
e6·square prematurely.
14 •.tc2 g6 15 •.th6 l:te8
16••e3l:td717.h4!
Tempting was 17..1e4 .1b718 ..1xc6
.1xc6 19.1t:leS, but 19... .II:d6 rescues
black.
106 The Caro-Ka,,,,! Tn Black and White

17...i.f6
Of course, not 17 ... -*.xh4. After
IB.lihh4 "'xh4 19.-*.gS "'g4 20.-*.dl
1II'fS 21.84 'l!i'dS 22.-*.f6, black will not
survive.

18.~gS ~b7 19•• f4 i.xgS

2o.iLlxgS
After 20.hxgS lbe7 21.lbeS lbdS
22.'lI'h4 Jlc7, the c3-pawn is doomed,
while the weakness at £6 is easy to cover
with h7-hS or even f7-f6. The decision
taken by Sokolov forces the play, all the
way to ... a drawn ending. Now. both
sides must stick to a narrow path.
20....c721 ••f6lilxd4!
The culmination of the opening
struggle. If 22.h5. 22... 'itxc3!. and due
to the threat of ...lbe2+. black takes over
the initiative. For example. 23.'i>hl
lbe2 24.ll:lxh7 'ilth3'. or 23.ll:lxh7 Wxh7
24.-*.xg6+ WgB. 22.cxd4 'itxc2 23.:eS
'itc7. and th~n ... "'d8. also gives
nothing. . ending is approximately equal. Black
22.~xg6 hxg6 23.cxd4l:tdS
Some commentator.; cOndemned this
move. Indeed. 23 ...... d6 was better.
while after 23 ... "'d8. 24. "'f4! was
unpleasant. But the rook maneuver is
alSo not so bad.
24.l:tac1.d7
On 24 ......e7. 2S.:xe6 was possible.
The critical position. After 2S.:cS.
we quickly sailed to the drawish haven.
Much more dangerous was 2S.lbe4.
Now If 2S ... Jlxd4 26.ll:lcS "'dS
27.ll:lxb7 Jlg4 28.0 Jlc4 29.:xc4 bxc4
30.hSl gxhS 31.:eS "'xb7 32.JlxhS.
black should resign. Also wrong Is
2S ...JlfS 26....x£SI And yet the threat of
retreating the queen, and then 1l:lf6+
looms. Still. black has a sufficiently
convincing response. namely 2S .. .ZlhSI
After 26.ll:lg3 26... Jlh7 27.hS 1II'e71
28. "'xe7 :xe7 29.hxg6 fxg6. the
also keeps equality after 2B. "'f4 gSI
Finally. 26."xg6+ fxg6 27.1l:lf6+ "'g7
2B.ll:lxd7 Jlxh4 29.Jlc7 JlehBI 30.lbeS+
"'gB! leads to an unclear position.
Leads to the loss of a pawn, but the
tension on the board is relieved.
26Jlxe6
Flashy. but at lite same time forced.
26....xf6!
After 26.. .fxe61 27 .... xg6+. a deadly
knight check on h7 or f7 awaits black.
 The Caro-Kann! In Black and While
27Jbf6:d7
Although white has won a pawn, the
aclive position of the black piece, first
and foremost his stfong bishop,
equalizes the chances.
28.&3 ~g7 29Jlb6:el JOJlc3
:d2 J1.o~~f3 .ixf3 32.lbfJ
D.2xd4 33.D.xa6 Rxb4 34.g3
Ilh5 35.<I;>g2 D.hd5 Draw
('''-1/2)
GAME2B
Sokolov,A - K.rpov
Candidates Supeljinal
Linares (mIll), 1987
1.e4 c6 2.c4 d5
We have already mentioned the
possibilityof2... eS in this situation. The
move 2... e6 leads to a somewhat
passive, but quite safe position. White
has responded to this with 3.iOc3,
3.m, and 3.d4.
J.elld5clId5
Black can offer a promising pawn
sacrifice with 3...li:lf6, and it Is hardly
beneficial for white 10 accept iL After
4.d4 cxdS, the game follows the usual
patha.
4.nd5 lLIf6 S.lLIeJ lLIxd5
6.lLIf3
6.d4 immediately is probably better,
since in Karpov-Miles (Amsterdam
1981), white got an advantage after
6 ... g6 7 ..1bS+ li:lc6 8....a4li:lxe3 9.bxe3
.1g7 10.lOCJ! 0-0 11.0-0.1,,6 12..1xc6
bxe6 13 ..1a31 1Ie7 14.lIfe1 IIfe8
107
Is.lt~S RabS 16.c4. Of course, black
can transpose to the classical Queen'.
Gambit construction after d2-d4. 6 ..1<:4
has also been seen. Spassky-Portisch
(Mexico City 1980), continued with
ts..,o[\b6 7..i.b3 o[).,6 (Of 7 ....ifS 8.i0f3
,,6 9.d4 .1e7 10.0-0 0-0 1t.o[)eS li:lc6
12.o[\xc6 bxc6 13..1c3 lOdSJ 14.1In
o[\xc3 IS.fxe3 :':8 16.llad 1 1rb6 and
whlte's position is not better, as the
breakthrough d4-dS I. difficult to
achieve, GUfgenidze-Mikhal<:hisin,
Thilisi 1979) g.o[\n .1rs 9.d4 e6 10.0-0
.1e7 Il.dS exdS 12.lilxdS o[\xdS
13..1xdS 0-0 14 ..1e3 .if6IS.:':IIDb4
16..1xb7 IlbS l7.1IxdS .1xd8 l8 ..i.c:6
IDxc619.Jlxc6l1xb2 20..1xa7 (Ih·lh).
6... lillleJ
In the first game of the malch (see
Game 26), 1 faced certain difficulties
after 6... £6. Here, in the last game, I
decided upon another way.
7.bltc3 g6
Now the position is closer 10 the
English Opening.
8.h4
A very spirited move, which,
however, violates closslcal opening
108 The Caro-Kan1l! In Black and ,Whlre
principles. Correct is 8.d4 .1g7 9 ..1d3
lbc6 10.0-0 0-0 11.:el, with
complicated play. If white had chosen
the nonnal move order with 2.d4, this
position would most likely have
occurred. But Sokolov decided to save
the d2-d4 tempo... Interestingly enough,
the d-pawn will move in this game only
when black already has beg\D1 decisive
actions! Let me note that the
continuation h2-h4 waS tested in
practice on more than me occassion.
Before this game, black automatically
'continued with h7-h6, preventing the
development of a white Initiative on the
kingside. Intense play would transpire.
But, as this encounter shows, the move
h7-h6 is not necessary.
8.....tg7!
Not afraid of M-hS. In
Huebner-Lombardy (Gennany, 1973),
after S... h6 9.'llfa4+ lbd7 10.'llfd4 e5
11.1Ifd!S 'llff612 ..bs .i.d6 13.0-0 0-0
14.d4! lbb61S.dxe5lbxdS 16.exf6"'h7
17.:dl I'OxcJ 18.:xd6 lbxbS 19.J:ld2
white had the initiative.
lI.h51Dc6
It is already clear that the loss of
~mpi by white has led to the loss of
initiative.
10':bl
If 10... d4, black had 10... e5! with
excellent prospects. But 10..i.c4 was in
the spirit of the position (10....i.&4?
11..i.xf7+).
10...Wc7 1l •..taJ ..tf5 12.:b5
a613':c5 Wd7
I counler his flank strategy (first with
the h-pawn, then with the rook) with
centralization, which prevails In the
end.
14.WbJ
Sokolov continues to abstain from
d2-d4, leaving the fourth rank open for
possible queen or rook shifts. The
endgame after 14... 'llfe6+ IS..i.e211fxb3
16,axb3, is favorable to white, and so I
prefer to calmly conclude the
developmenL
14 ...0-O!
White is so far behind in
development that the attack on the h-flIe
is only a distant dream, never to come
true. At the Same time, black's
counterattack is already no joke.
15.hxg6 hxg6
I debated for a long time here, as
IS ....i.xg6 was also good. but at last I
decided upon the forcing line.
16...tc4
16.1II'a4 runs into the sudden
16...lbc:I4! 17 .... xd7 lbxf3+! IS.g"O
(afler 18."'e2 .i.xd7 19.",,,0 .i.c6+
20."'83 :acS 21..1102 eSt life is also not
sweet for white) ....i.x<l7 19.:c7 .i.c6
20.:xe7 IIfe8, and while's problems on
the e-file cannot be'resolved. The
aggressive 16.lbgS is not justified, as
after 16... lIad8, the belated movement
of the d-pawn loses' immediately:
17.d4? .i.xd4! 18.cxd4 lbxd4 and
19...lbc2+. White would have had 10
play 17 ..1cl with a dreary position.
16.....tf6!
 170e Caro·fVJnn! [n Black arul While
The immediate 16...bS 17 ..t.dS lOas
was bad because of IR. 'IIb4.thteatenlng
19."iWh4. If 17... lIac8, the following
pretty variation is possible: lR ..t.xc6
lIxc6 19.1hc6 "xc6 20."b4 eS
21.~gS!andboth21...f6and21 ..."xg2
are rebuffed by the thunder-like
22.l:lhs+1 with mate nexL
17.d4
Eight moves too late .. ,
17... bS!
Starting the decisive counterassault
Of coUrse. black had to foresee the
consequences of the tactical
complitations.
18.i.dS iLlaS! 19.1tdl iLlb7!
The same knight maneUver would
have followed 19. trh4. Now the white
queen makes a desperate attempt to get
to the black king. It is now fat away. on
dl.
20.I.ZleS
After 20..t.xb7 "xb7 21."c1 "e4+
22.Wfl IUdS. there is no while attack.
109
Same story /Jfler 2o.lIfd2l2lxcS 21. 'l'h6
iOd3+ 22.~fl gS\
ZO ••• ionS :n.dnS iLliteS
22••d4
It may appear that white's taclk:al
concept. which involved a rook
sacrifice. Is now s'uccessful\y
Implemented In real life. Both Ille direct
23:.114 and the flashy 23.Jlh8+ ~xh8
24.e6+1 sre threatened. But I had taken
this tum of events Inlo account and
prepared a nest refutatiOll. If 22.'tIfd2.
22 ... tt:ld3+ 23.Wfl tt:lf41 24."xf4
"xdS. with the threat of2S ... 'tIfd 1II. also
decides.
22...0!0d3+ 23.~
If 23.~e2 'ilxd51 24.1Wh4 'ile4+.
while on 23.~d2 either 23 ... tt:lf4 or
23 ... 'ila7 works.
23... 1Ifa7! 24.~lIte7
Trading down with 24.'iI"4 'ilxf2+
2s.'tIfxf2 tt:lxf2 26.Wx!2 lIa7! only
slightly prolongs the resistance.
24 .... xd4 25.cxd4 LOr4!
26.i.r6LOhS! White Resigned
(0-1)
110 TIre Caro-Kann! In Black and White
GAME 29
Be\lavsky - Karpov
Moscow, 1986
1.e4 c6 2.c4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5
4_cxd5 ~f6 5.~c3 ~J(d5
6.~f3 ~c6 7.d4 e6 8_.t.d3
The bishop appearance on d3 has
almost completel y replaced the move
8 ..*.c4_
8....t.e7 9.0-0 0-0
This classical isolated pawn position
Is a kind of "!abiya... It has occurred for
over a decade in tournaments of all
calibelS.
.As a rule, white aims to create an
attack against the opposing king,
employing the J. + 'lIf battery on the
bl-h7 diagonal. Biack, in his tum,
blockades the isolated d4-pawn and
uses the dS-square for pi.ece maneuvem
and to create pressure in the center and
on the queenside. And if black can
exchange into an endgame, his chances
will already be a bit better, since it i.
then ea.<ier to make something of the
weakness of the isolated pawn.
Let us note that the diagrammed
position can result from quite different
openings: the Semi-Tarrasch In the
Queen's Gambit (which i. where it
occupies its "place in theory") - 1.d4
cIS 2.c4 e6 3.1Oc31/)(64.lllfJ cS S.cxdS
lOxclS 6.03 llk6 7.J.d3 cxd4 B.exd4
J.e7 9.0-00-0; the English Opening -
1.04 c4 2.M 1Qf6 3.1Oc3 e6 4.103 dS
S.cxdS lOxclS 6.d4 clld4 7.exd4 J.e7
B.J.d3 1llc:6 9.0-0 0-0: and even the
Sicilian Defense - l.e4 cS 2.c3 dS
3.exclS 'lIfxdS 4.d4 e6 '.M Illf66 ..t.d3
cxd4 7.cxd41Oc6 B.1llc3 'lIfd89.0-0.t.e7
10.:elo.o.
10Jle1
Much less frequent is 10.'lIfe2. which
involves a pawn sacrifice. True,
accepting it is risky: 10... liJdb4 II.-*.c4
Ii:llld4 12.li:lxd4 "xd4 13.-*.e3 'lIfeS
14.f4; with a dangerous kingside attack
(Udovc:ic-O'Kelly, Hastings 1965).
Safer is 10...1/)(6 first. attacking the
d4-pawn. Here Is an old but convincing
example: II.:dl Illb4 12.J.bl b6
13.lOeS J.b7 14.'lIfe3 :cB IS.'lIfh3
Ii:lbdS 16.-*.gS lOxc3 17.bxc3 1llc:41
18.-*.d2 g619.-*.xo4 J.xe4 20.J:le1 J.dS
21.i.h6 ReB 22.-*.f4 f6 23.lllxg6 hxg6
24.'lIfh6 -*.f8. and black gol an
advantage. having rebuffed the attack.
10•••tLlffi
In this classical Isolated d-pawn
position. at least six more con-
tinuations have been tried: 10...1llc:b4.
IO ... J.f6. IO ... li:lxc3. IO ..... d6.
10... -*.d7 and 10...:e8. In the last few
ye:lrs, 10... -*.f6and 10...1Qf6have been
most common. The following two
examples illustrate the first of these
moves.
 The Caro-Konnl In Black and Whi,e III

Beliavsky-Portisch (Reggio-Emilia 11.&3 b6 1l•.1gS

1986-87): 10 ... .i.f6 11..i.e4 "d6
12.lObS (apparently a new move; The most popular move. and It is
12."d3. 12 ..i.g5. or 12..i.c2) had been currently regarded as best. In the past.
seen earlier) ...'irb8 13.g3.i.d7 14.1Oc3 12..i.c2 immediately had been played.
1Oce7 15..i.xd5 IOxdS 16.lOxdS exd5, but black was able to find serious
with approximately even chances. But counterplay with 12 ...h6! 13.b4 IIc8
while made a few mistakes and 14.b5/t)aS IS. "d3 .i.b7 16..*.gS. with
suddenly lost very quickly: 17 ..i.g5 equal chances In a complex posllion.
.i.xgS 18.lOxgS "dS 19.1Of3 "b6
20."d2' :fe8 21.IOe, .*.h3 22.:e3? f6
23.:b3 "861 24.1Od3 gSI 2'.0 lIe7 The alternative is 13 ... lIe8 14."<13
26.1Of2 lIe2! 27."b4 :c81 White g6 IS.:adl. and then IS ... lOdS or
Resigned (0-1).
1'.. ':c8. Blru:k's chances. however. are
Ivanchuk-Karpov (Paris 1992): worse here.
10....i.£6 11..i.e4lOce7 12.IOeS (In the
well-mown Spassky-Petrosian World 14 •• d3 g6 IS.lladl IOdS
Championship Match game (Moscow. 16•.i.h6neS
1966). efter (12."c2 g6 13..t.h6 .i.g7
14..*.gS f6 15..i.d2 .i.d7 16."lIfb3 .*.c6
17.Ld5 exdS 18.1Oe4 :f7 19.1Ocs
1Or5 20.h3 .i.f8. chances were even)
....*.d7 (the game Pioch-Tseitlin,Mikh.
Minsk 1990). finished very quickly
after 12...o!DfS?! 13.1Og4! 1Oxd4 14."d3
IOxc3 15..i.xh7+ "'hS 16.bxc3 1Of3+
17."xf3 "'xh7 Is.lIdl '11M 19.h3!
"1a3 20."e4+ g6 2I.lOxf6+ "'g7
22."eS. Black resigned (1-0» 13.'III"d3
1Og6 (usually 13... g6 14..i.h6 had been
played) 14 ..i.d2 .i.c6 IS.lOxc6 bxc6
16.1Oa4 IOb6 17.lOxb6 'lll"lIb6 18..i.e3
lhds 19.1ledl "xb2 2O.lldbl IIl1d4! 17•.1&4
21..i.xd4 "lId4 22."c2 "c3 23."a4.
Also possible is 17.h4. when
Now after 23 ....i.d4 24.lldl. white was
better. But black could have given a 17 ....*.1h4 loses to 18.lOxdS. After
17...101c3 (17...8618.hS il:lxc3 19.hxg6
funny "perpetual garde" to the white
hxg6 20.bxc3 .i.xa3 21.1OgS!) 18.bxc3
queen with 23 ..... d41. because if
.i.£6, white'schances are a bit better. but
24.1II'xc6. black activates with
black can take a chance and graba pawn
24 ...lOxeS 2'."c2 1Og4, threatening
with lS ....i.lIa3.
IOg4xf2 and 'lll"d4-eS. Because this is
dangerous for white. he has to accept the 17... a61S.lZlxdS WxdS
draw resulting from the perpetual queen
attack.
112 The Caro-Konn! In Black and While
After 18...exd5, while's position is to
be preferred.
19."e3 .if6 20•.ib3 "d7
Only here black finally plays a new
move. Thus far, the players had repealed
the old game Smyslov-Karpov
(Leningrad 1971), where White was
winning after 20 ..:.'hS 21.dS! lOds
22.d6 %lcS 23.d7 %le7 24.9f4 J.g7
2S.'l!rb8.
21.dS
While achieves nothing with 21.ttleS
lLllleS 22.dlleS "c6 23.f3 J.e7 24.Whl
RedS.
21 ...exdS 22.Wxb6 lhel+
23J1.xe1 .bb2 24•.ixdS .iii
2S•.ixg7 q;oxil
The many exchanges h3ve cleared
out the board, and yel Beliavsky has
retained a small initiative. Therefore,
black still has 10 exercise certain care.
26.h4
While should have kepi his bishop.
After 26.J.a2lOdS 27.1rb2+f62S.1rb3
J.xf3 29.9xf3. the bishop is stronger
than the knlghL
26.....xdS!
Black gives up the pawn but rids
himself of passive pieces. Afler
26...lOds 27.J.lIb7 9l1b7 2S ....d4+. his
king would have been in danger.
27••xb7 :bS 2!I.'lltxa6:b3
Threatening 29... 9cS, attacking the
a3-pawn and also seizing the second
rank.
29.Wa4 :e3 3O.:eJ :e4
In a knight ending. while's chances
for victory would have risen.
31. Wb3 ft)d4!
Therookendill8 afler 32.tOx.d4 lIcl+
33.Wh2 "'xd4 34.g3 9dl 3S.9xdl
%lxdl, is drawn. But now the black
knight Is pilUted. Exact calculation was
required.
32••b2Wh6!
After 32 ... WgS 33.%le8+ Wg7
34.ttleS %lc2 35.111>4, black is at risk of
losing.
33.~eS ltd 34 •• bS Wg7
35.hS ~fS 36.l:tel phS
Simplest, although 36... 9d4 37.lZn
gxhS, is also safe for black.
37.itlf3 WeS 3S.WeS+ WxeS
39.ltxeS ltc1+ 40.Whl Wf6
41.:bS :al 42.ltb6+ Wg7
Draw ('!J-Itz)
 The Caro-Kann! In Black and White
GAME 30
Psakhis - Granda Zuniga
Manila. 1992
I.e4 c:6 2.d4 dS J.exdS cxdS
4.c4 illf6 S.1llcJ .!£x6 6.~gS
The continuation 6.cxdS ~lIdS
7.1Of3 i.g4 8.'iib3 i.lIfJ 9.gxf3. leads
to one of the most popular Panov Attack
positions. It is discussed in detail by
Beliavsky in Game S.
6...ro.
Black has defended the dS-pawn in
the most natural way. But another
method exists. 6 ...i.e6 was introduced
by the master Belavenets and has not yet
bten reruted. The most important
continuation is 7 . .*.xf6, and here
7 ... gl<f6 is dependable enough. Black is
not afraid of the squeeze with 8.cS, as
he has in store Miles' idea of 8 ...1IId7,
preparing i.e6-g4, the exchange of the
bishop for the knight, and attack of the
d4-pawn. In Salt-Miles (Wljk san Zee
1989), white had problems with his
d4-pawn after 9.lOf3 i.g4 10.i.e2
i.xf3 1l.i.xf3 e6 12.0-0 .*.g7 13.i.e2
a6, (stopping the maneuver
.*.e2-bSxc6) 14.1IIa4 0-0 IS.!:lfdl fS
I\J
16.!:ld3 1IIc7. If 9.i.bS, 9 ...!:lg8 10.g3
0-0-0, is possible, with a sharp game.
7....d2 g6 8.g3 looks more logical for
white. with the mirror idea of .*.f1-g2.
eltchanging on f6 and Increasing the
pressure against the dS-pawn. For
e_ample, on 8 ... aS. 9 ..*.xf6 g_f6 10.cS
Is already good. White intends 11.i.g2
and IOgl-e2.
We should also mention the move
6 ......aS. not afraid of 7 ..*.xf6 exf6
8.ClldS, in view of8....*.b4 9 ....d2 .*.xc3
10.bxc3111xdS lI.iOe20-0 12.lOf411105
1J.i.e2 :d8 14.:"1 i.e6f IS.dS ~S
16.c4 "'cS, with equality (Belia.sky -
Bagimv. Tbillsl 1978). 9.dxc6 .*.xc3+
10.b_c3 "'"c3+ 11.~e20-O 12.f3 J:le8+
13.~f2 "'eH 14.~g3 "'85+. only
lends to a draw in this line.
7.c5
The c4-cS pawn push Is considered
most effective with the black 1tX6.
because it Is more difficult for black to
undennine this pawn. At the same tim ...
white threatens a positional squeeze.
After 7.lOf3 .*.e7 8 ..*.d3 0-0 9.0-0.
black has. besides 9 ...dxc4 which leads
10 QGA positions, the sortie 9 ...lOb4!,
and if 10..*.e2dxc411 ..*.xc4 .*.d712.a3
lDbdS, black wins an imortanttempo for
the blockade of the isolated d4-pawn
(Fedorowicz-Sei ...wan, WiJk aan Zee
1991).
Another way is to liquidate the pawn
tension with 7.c_dS exdS. Here too,
black must be attentive in defense. True.
he need not worry about losing the
dS-pawn to 8.i._f6 "xf6 9.lOxdS. as he
has the checks 9 ......e6+! 10.1IIe2
.*.b4+. and now l1.Wdl is dangerous
because of 11. .. 0-0 12.lOc7 'i'd6
13.lOxa8 IOxd4 14 ....c4 i.g4+. while
114 The Caro-Kann! In Black and ,While
after II.IDxb4 IDxb4 12.Wd2 0-0
13.1I1'xe6 (if 13.a3 ~3) .. ixe6 14.a3
IDc6 Is.lDf3 .i.dS 16. .i.e2 .i.xf3
17..i.xf3 IDxd4, black has a better
endgame. If 8 ..i.bS .i.e7 9./Oge2 0·0
10.0-0 h6 11 ..i.h4 .i.fS (also possible Is
11 ... .i.g4 12.f3 .te6) 12..txc6 bxc6
13.JZel ReS 14.1Da4 1IFaS IS.tllee3
1IFa6! black maintains equality
(Vaiser-Finegold, Groningen 1991). In
ihis game, black achie..,d a decisive
advantage after 16.JZeI 11M3 17.lIe311
1IFxd1+ Is.lDxdl gS! 19..tg3 tt:le4!
20.II"c6 .i.d1 21.JZ,{6 .tf6 22 ..teS
JZac8123.13 :cI24.:el .txeS 2S.meS
JZxeS! 26.fxe4 Rxe4 27.lIxe4 lbdl+
2S.Wf2 dxe4 29.1Dc3 'JZd2+ 30.We3
JZxg2 31.tllxe4.i.e6 32.M? IIx32.
7••• iLd7
Planning the push b7-b6. Black
defends the 10:6 In advance. He expects
the standard maneuver .i.f1-bSxc6. Itls
true that black has to accept falling
behind in his kingside development, and
he has to make certain positional
concessions. The main continuation Is
7, •..i.e7 8.tllfJ 0-0 with a complex game
(see the next diagram).
For inslance, on 9 . .i.bS lDe4
10 . .i.xe7 tllxe7 (also possible is
10...'Ib.e7 11."c2 IDgS!) 11.lIct b6,
black manages 10 undermine the
cS-pawn. After 12.c67! "d6 13.0-086,
the c6-pawn is surrounded and
captured. Also bad is 12.M1 bxcS, and
now both 13.bxcS IDxc3 14.:xc3 "as
IS.1IFb3 IIbS, and 13.mc!l IIbS 14.1IFe2
lDg6 IS.g3 "f6, favor black. White
must therefore choose between
12.lDxe4 dxe4 13.1Des bxcS 14..1bcS
"as+ and IS .. :lIxa2+, with certain
compensation for the pawn, and the
exchange 12.cxb6l11'xh6 13..i.d3 .tb7,
with approximately equal chances.
It is better to immediately defend the
cS-pawn with 9.l:lcl b6 10..i.bS .i.d7
II..i.xc6 .i.xc6 12.b4 bxcS 13.tt:leSI
(13.bxcS tt:ld7!) •••JZcS 14.bxcS lDe4
(safer is 14... li:Id7) IS ..i.xe7 "xe7
16.0-0 IDxc3 17.JZxc3, with a small
advantage to white (Hort-Mestel,
London 1992). White's chances are also
~tter after 9 ...tt:le4 10..i.xe7 lII'xe7
1I ..i.e2 li:Ixc3 12.lIxe3 eS 13.li:lxeS
IDxeS 14.JZe3, (analysis by Byme sod
Mednis).
8.i.b5
 71.c Cora-Ko",.! In Block olld Wlrite
Another idea is 8.a3, in order to
protect the c5-pawn.
8 ...b6 9.cxb6 Wxb6 ID•.bf6
gxf6
The upshot of the prophylactical
move 7 .~.i.d7. Black must concede this
pawn structure weakness.
ll.lllgel a6
After 11 •.. f5 12.0-0 ~g7 13.~"c6
~xc6 14."d2 Jlb8 15.Jlabl 0-0
16.Jlfdl, the dangerous maneuver
~2-g3-h5 Is in the worles. But black
should have conslderecl 11 ... ~6.
lZ.lLxc6 lLxc6 13J[bl lLd6
14.0-0 hS
It made sense to slow down while's
queenside pawn pair wilh' 14 ... sS
15.1Oa4 (beller is 15./tlg3) ...'irb4 16.b3
.i.M.
IS.b4 <t1e7 16.1Ifdl.tbS
It is importanllo actl vale lire bishop.
On 16... Jlag8, white prevents this
possibilily with 17.a4, making use of the
Indirect protection of the b4-pawn
(17 ... .txb4?? 18.Jlxb4!).
17JUel?!
It was correct to immedialely capture
Ihe bishop. Now, black could have
retained it with 17 ••. .i.c4, but he does
not do so.
\IS
17 ... Aag8 18.lllxbS axbS
IM)C:3 'it>f8
Defending against the threat of
0xd5+. The plan of attacking the d4-
and b4-pawns with 19...'llfOO 20."d3
Zlb8 21.Zlec1 Zlhc8 22.~e2 "'108,
deserved attentIon; here, the rook
Inmt111tes on c4.
10.Wd3 Wb811.h3
11 was risky to play 21.g3 h4
2HI'xb5 "'c7 23.~2 hxg3 24.bg3
"'xg3. In an attempt 10 win the
bS-pawn, white has allowed a terrific
attack.
11..J[gS
It now tutn'! out thai white cannot
defend the g2.pawn. If 22.'~hl Jlhg8
23.Zlgl, then 23 ....t.h2. But now the
game reaches an ending, in which the
pair of connected pawns give white
some advantage.
12."I'xbSllhg8
On 22 ... Wc7, Psakhis had intended
23.~1 Zlhg8 24.llle3, and now on
24 ......£4, white can choose between the
endgame after 25 ....c5+ 25 ..... xc5
116 The Caro-KtJnn! In Black and White
26.bxcS i.xe3 27.l:lbS+ ~e7 2S.l:lb7+
~f8 29.l:lxe3l:lxg2+ 30.~f1, where the
passed pawns are very dangerous, and,'
the middlegame with the exira pawn
after 2S.lle2 i.xe3 26.be3 "'g3
27.~h1.
23.1Ifxb8+ i.xb8 24.&4
Not 24.g3 ~xg31
24•. J:[xg2+ 2S.wn l%h2 26.&5
White cannot afford to protect the
pawn with 26.l:le3, because of the
unexpected resource 26... i.a71 27.l:ld3
eS, and the f2-pawn is x-rayed by the
bishop: But given the passed pawns on
both sides of the board, ,the speed of
their adv,mce decides everything.
26.. J:[xh3 27.1l~b5 i.r4 28.&6
<Be7
It was easier to defend after the rook
trade with 2S ... l:lhl+ 29.We2 Rxel+
30.llxel We7. With the pair of rooks,
white has attacking chances against the
black king.
29.'i!'e211aS 30.a7 Wd7
31J:[ecl IIh4
The rook is immune. After 31 .•. i.xcl
32.l:lxcll:lh433.l:lc7+WdS34.l:lb7,the
a7-pawn would cost black a rook.
32J:[cS :g4 33.11b3
33.l:lbcll Ilgg8 34.l:lc7+ Wd8
35.l:lc8+ ~d7 36.lllc7+ .i.xc7
37.l:lxc7+ ~dS 3S.llxn h4 would have
been a logical implementation of the
rook sacrifice idea. The finish is
piquant: 39.lOI6! h3 40.bS h2 41.b6!
hi'" 42.b7 "'hS+ 43.Wd2 "'xf7
44.bxa8'111"+ ~e7 45. •7+. If instead
33...i.xcl, white wins with 34.l:lxcl eS
35.llc7+ We6 36.l:lb7 IlggS 37.ti)C7+
~d6 38.t1:\xa8IbaS 39.Jlxf7. But after
the text the black rook comes to the
king's rescue.
33 ••• lIgg8 34.:bc3 llgd8
3S.Wf3 .i.d6 36.it)xd6?
With th~ exchange of the minor
pieces white loses the pride of his
position, the a7 -pawn. It was still not 100
late to sacrifice the exchange with
36.l:lc7+1 .i.xc7 37.llxc7+ We8
38.Jlb7, and after tt:lbS-c7, the
movement of the b-pawn is dangerous.
But now white already has to think
about drawing the game.
36 ... wxd6 37.111:7 lld7
38.1131:6+ We7 39.bS :xa7
. 40.b6 lIa8?!
With the last move of the time
control, black lets his advantage slip. In
a rook ending, the rook should strive for
maximal activity, even at the cost of
material loss. After 4D. ..Jla3+ 41.We2,
It would not have been easy for white to
save the game. But now the black rook
is passively placed. In spite of a material
 11Ie Caro-KoIIII! III Black alld While 117

advantage, black will not be able 10 diagram - 22.g3, with npproximnlc

avoid the drawn outcome. equality, was necessary).

4Ulxd7+<t>xd742Jk7+Wd6
43Jlxf7 llbB 44.b7 f5 45.'otf4
h4 46Jlh7 h3 47.Wg3! ~c6
48Jle7 llxb7 49Jlxe6+ ~b5
50Jlh6! <!>c4 51Jlxh3 ~d4
52.Wf4 <!>c4 53.11hl d4
54.WxfS d3 55.f4 lle7 56.'0tr6
lle2 57.£5 d2 58Jldl Draw
(I/.-~,,)

GAME 31
Polgar,S - Glpslis 22...tt:lg4! 23.-*.e2 tt:lxf2! 24.'III'f3
Smo.1991 (24. ~xf2 -*.xd4+ 2S. ~1 iOe3+ is also
bad) ... -*.xd4 2S.tt:lrs tt:lg4+ 26.~f1
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.exdS cxd5 (26.tt:lxd4 9h2+ 27 .~f1 'll'h 111)
4.c4 ~ 5.th3 P 26 ... tt:lh2+. while resigned (0-1).

Black sacrifices a pawn, fianchcttoes 7...0-0 8.i.e2 tt:\bd7 9.i.f3

his bishop and comfortably places his tt:\b6 10.tt:\ge2 i.g4
pieces. Usually white gets the better
chances by sacrificing the pawn back
with dS,-d6 at the right time. But should
he make a slight inaccuracy, black can
take the initiative.

6.cxd5 i.g7 7••b3

This is the most exact way 10 defend
the pawn. 7.-*.c40-08.~ge2lOa69.0-0
1Oc7 is not as good. This position (by a
different move order) was arrived at in
Conquest-Bronstein (Bayswater,
1989). This game concluded quickly
and suddenly after 10.1Or4 (10.d6 is More precise than 10...-*.fS.
correct) ...b6 I1.a4 -*.b7 12.'iI'b3 llb8
13.~e3 a6! 14.11fc1 (14.'iI'xb6? -*.xdS 1l.i.xg4 tt:\xg4 12.a4 tt:\f6
1S.'iI'cS ~7) 14 ...gSI IS.~fe2 h6!
16.h4 bS! 17.axbS axbS Ig.-*.d3 b4 The knight does well 10 return home.
19.hxgS hxgS 20.~a4 ~cxdS!? In Polgar,J-Skembris (Korfu 1990),
21.-*.xgS 'll'd6! 22.~g3? (see following after 12...&5 13.0-tl 'il'd6?! (here also
13...tt:lf6 14.~r4 'll'd6, with a complex
118 T)Ie Caro-Kann! In Blackand While

game was necessary) 14 ..*.f4 "'b4

IS ....dl! it became clear that !he queen
is offside at h4. As a result, after
IS ... lEfdS (I s... LOf6 16.d6! exd6
17.LObS lEfd8 18.b3, and the queen is
trapped) 16..*.c7! :d7 17.d6! exd6
18 ..bb6 "'xb6 19./DdS "'a7 20.lOec3!
"'xd4 21.h3 LOh6 22. "lrxd4 .i.xd4
23.lilbS, white won !he exchange and
!he game.

j3.lt~r4

Or 13.aS LObxdS 14."lrxb7 "'d6 23... bS! 24_axbS l:b7 25.b2

IS ....b3 :ab8 16....dl eS! with rich
play.
13••_a5!
This well-known pawn maneuver
had not occurred before in this
particular position. The continuations
13 ......d7 14.a5 lOe8 IS.O-O LOd6
16.11eJ. and J3 ... 11c8 14.0-0 LOe8
IS ..i.e3iOd6 16.lObS, favor white.
14.0-0 1Wd6 IS.lObS
WxbS 26.lOcl /l)d727..bd6
/l)b6 28_.1f4 /l)xdS 29•.idl
/l)cJ! 30..ixc3 .ixc3 31••0
l:1c8 32.%lcZ l:bc7 33.l:dl ~j1
34.h3
Correct was 34.g3 and then h2-h4,
stabilizing the kingside.
34 ... .if6 3S.l:xc7 l:xc7
36./l)e2 hS 37.l:d6 .e5
38.%ld5 'ilr81+ 39.<t>h2 h4!

More precise is IS.llet. Material is even, but black's

positional advantage cannot be doubted.
IS •.•1Wd7 16.d6 exd6 17.dS
lEfc8! 40.g3 'ilrn 41.l:d2

Not 17...llac8? 18.lOa7. If 41.gxh4, !hen 41...llc2 decides.

18.1Wd3 /l)e8 19.1:&2 /l)c4 41 ....ie5! 42.1Wgl We143.%la2

lO.b3 &S 21.Wdl l:e7 44.1Wgl .b4 4s.1Wdl
.e4! 46.lld21lb7 47.lld3
The queen would have felt better at
e2.

21. •• /l)c7 22./l)xc7 l:xc7

l3•..ia3?!
23 ..*.e3 was necessary. Now black
grabs the initiative.
 The Caro-KiJnn! In Black and While 119

47•••a41
. Glpslisfindsaneatandeffectlveway
to break white's defenses.

48.J:e3 1Jirs 49.f4 1.(6 SO.bxa4

If 50.g4. then SO ......c5. threatening
84-a3.

SO .•. l:tb2! 51.1Jid6 .bl

52••d5
If 51.lleR. Gipslis was also going to
play 52...'iI'el! and then 53.'ilfll+ Wh7
54.'ilxf7+ .l.g7 55."88+ ~6.

52 ....el! White Resigned

(0-1)
120 The CDro-Kann! In Black find JfI1IjIt!
 The Caro-Kann! In Black and While
CHAPTER2B
THE ADVANCE VARIATION
(1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5)
The white pawn at eS defines a
certain white space advantage. This can
be illustrated with a diagram of the
pawn structure typical of the Advance
Variation.
After 3 ......fS with ... e6 later, the
position that takes shape resembles the
French Defense, but here the difference
is that black has already solved the
121
problem of developing hi. light-squared
bishop, whereas in the French he, we
might say, he does not gel the chance 10
bring it to an active position, having
already played e7-e6. In the beginning
of this century, at the dawn of the
development of this variation, white
would trade bishops with 4.... xd3 "'xd3
S.'I'xd3, but it was soon shown that
white cannot expect very much out of
this. Then, at different times, white
chose 4.tOe2, 4.c4, 4.c3, 4.f4, 4.g4, and
4.h4. But each time, it tumed out that
t."ese continuations are also harmless
for black, given his precise play. In the
recent years, 4.1Llc3 and 4.00 have
been the most popular continuations,
and we discuss them in the games
below. I feel, (and my feeling are
derived from my own experience) that
In these cases black's Caro-Kann armor
withstands the trials, and I will try 10
convince the reader of this.
III nrc Caro-Kann! In Black and White
 The Caro-Kann! Tn Black and White 123

GAMEJ2 .i.d7 6..i.g2 e6 7.l£lge2 cS 8.0-0, with

Sokolov, A - Karpov better play for white. I think that 4 ..• hS
Is also worse for black; see
Candidates Supetjinal
Short-Seirawan, Rotterdam 1989.
Linares (m/9), 1987 (Game 8 In Beliavsky's part of the
book).
I-e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 .tr5
4.ttk3 5.g4
It Is unlikely that the move 4.c3 can After S..i.d3 .i.xd3 6.1Irxd3 1II'b6
cause black hann, for example, 4 ...e6 7.'llge2 cS, black has no difficulties,
5 ..i.e2'Oe7! 6.iOd2 cS 7.g4?1 (7./.0gf3) and this has been known ever since the
.. -*.g6 8.h4 h69.hS .i.h7 10.l£lgf3'Oec6 game Nimzovlch-Capablanca, New
11.03 iOd7 12.b4 c4 13.1i:lf1 bSI and York 1927.
black's position is already to be
preferred, Shorl-Timman, Prague 1990. 5....116 6.lllge2 cS
The variation with 3.eS achieved
popularity in the early 1960's afler the
BOIvinnik-Tal World Championship
Match. The Rigan continued 4.h4 then,
with the follow-up g2-g4, and for a long
time d.is plan was regarded as virtually
the only way. But now new ideas have
replaced them. In particular, Anand has
developed the knight to a3 as well as d2.
In the recent years, the opening
disussion has revol ved around the
moves 4.1£lc3 and 4.1£lf3.

4...e6 Hitting the opposing center is the

typical way to react to a flank attack by
your opponent. Sometimes, In this
position, it is done by 6 ... f6, but
according to Nimzovich, the pawn
chain should be attacked at Its base. In
this case, d4 is the base. Let me note that
this position is one of the most popular
in the so-called Freiman variation,
which is characterized by the moves
5.g4 and 6.l£lge2.

7.h4
The most dependable continuation. On 7 . .i.e3, possible is 7 ••. cxd4
4 ... 'iIFb6 is not as good, forinslance, S.g4 8.l£lxd4 1£lc6 9..i.bs IIc8 10.f4 1Irc7
124 The Cam-Konn! In Blaclc and White
11.0-0 .i.cs 12.'~g2 .i.xd4 f3_.i.xd4
Ibge7 14_.i.cS 86 1 S_-*-d6 .b6
16..i.xc6+ .xc6 17."d4 :trc4, with
complete equality (Gurieli-Mureshan,
Thilisi 1982).
7 __ .h6
It is hardly a good idea to allow the
exchange of the light-squared bishop:
7 ...1bc6 8.bS .i.e4 9.lbxe4 dxe4 10.c3
cxd4 1l.lbxd4 .i.cS 12_.i.e3 ~d4
13.1II'a4+! Wf8 14.cxd4 .i.b6 lS..i.g2
ibM 16. .i.xe4 Ibxg4 17.0-0-0 fS
18.exf6 tOxf6 19..i.g2 ~f7 20.~b I, and
white is better, Kengis-Kvilan, Latvia
1979. We shall mention the move
7 ... cxd4?! in comments to the next
game. In the game Timman-Selrawan
(Hilversum 1990), black advanced the
h-pawn two squares and after 7 ...hS
8.lbf4 played a novelty, 8 ...1bc6!? After
9.lt:lxg6 bg6 10.1II'd3? (correct is
10.lt:le2! hxg4 11.lt:lf4Ibxd4 12.1II'x84,
or 10...cxd4 I1.lt:lxd4 Ibxd4 IHrxd4,
with betler play for white) ... cxd4
11.tObS hxg4! 12_"X86+ ~d7
13.1II'x84111'1>6! black got a lot of play.
8 •.i.e3 1Ifb6
Against Timman (Selfort 1988) I
chose a novelty which did not tum out
too well: 8... lt:lc6?! After 9.dxcS lQ"eS
lO.tOf4! a6 I 1..i.g2lOf6 12.1II'e2, white
had a big advantage. No better is
8 ... cxd4 9.tOxd4.i.b4 10.bS .i.e4! 11.0
.i.h7 12 ..i.d3 .i.xd3 13_"xd3 tOd7
14.0-0-0 .i.xc3 IS."xc3 lies 16."e1l
wilh a better game for white
(Timman-Seirawan, Tilburg 199O).
9.'Wd2
The queen move was recommended
by Tukmakov, under the impression of
his game with 011 (White) (USSR,
1986), .in which the natural 9.hS .i.h?
10.dxcS?! .i.xcs 11..i.xcS 1II'xcs
12."d4.aS 13.b41ffb6! 14."xb6axb6
IS.lQbS ~d? 16.1Qd6 (16.c4 is correct)
...It:le7 ,led to difficulties for white in the
ending. The move 9.f4 deserves
attention. Here, on 9 __ ."xb2, white
seizes the Initiative with 10.fSI exfS
1l.Jlbl "a3 12.tOxd!l. Instead, in
Timman-Seirawan, Hilversum 1990,
black replied with 9 ... tOc6. This
fantastic game is annotated In detail by
Beliavsky.
9...lOc6
Here, 9._."xb2?! 10.Jlbl "xc2
11.1II'xc2 .i.xc2 12Jbb? c4 13.IQbS
tOa6 14_.i.g2, Is also dangerous for
black. White's advantage is noticeable.
10.0-0-0
Most commentators justifiably
condemned Sokolov for this novelty.
.as
Earlier, lO.kS .i.h7 11.0-0-0 c4 12.f4
13.f5 bS 14.~dS! b4 lS.lt:lc?+
.xc? 16.tOf4 c3 17.1II'g2 tOge? 18..i.c4
0-0-0, was played. In this position,
 The Caro-Konn! In Black and While
Nunn-Seirawan continued 19.fxe61.
butI9.dS! led 10 unclear play.
By choosing a more restrained move.
Sokolov practically excludes the sharp
possibility of c5-c4. since with the
bishop at s6. the march of the f-pawn
gives white a cNcial tempo over the
Nunn-Seirawan game. But a surprise
awaits While... .
'IO••. h5!
Solves all problems. While does not
have time to begIn an aUack with
l"2-f4-f5. He also does not have dIe
possibility of 11.lOf4. due 10 1I".cxd4
12 . .*.xd4 IOxd4 13 .... xd4 "lrxd4
14.Jlxd4 .i.c5. He must turn to defense
with 11.£3. or. aa Sokolov decided.
accept significant positional
concessions in an attempt to keep the
initiative. Note that had black chased
the c2-pawn. a calsslrop/te would have
occurred: 10... tOb4 11.tOf4 .*.xc2
12 . .*.bS+ wd8 13.dxcS .*.xc5
14.tOfxdS! exdS Is.lOxdS. with
decisive threats.
1I.dxc5 ..ixc5 l2...txc5 1IFxc5
13.1Dr4 fllge7
With the exchange of the
dark-squared bishops. white's center
has weakened noticeably. His initiative
has Nn out of steam. Black. in the
meantime. has successfully developed
the kingside.
14.lOxg6 lOxg6 15.f4 hxg4
16.h5~e717..teZ
Sokolov has consolidated his pawn
center and is slightly ahead of me in
development, but black has the extra
pawn. The attempt 17.tObS would nm
125
inlo the unexpected reaction. 17...O-O!.
and the king feels quite confident, e.g.
18.h6 g6 19.tOd6 f61 On 17.lOb5.
17 ... Wf8 18.tOd6 tOrs 19.tOxf5
(19.l£lxb7?! "'e7! 20.l£l85 tOxaS
21."lrxaS g6) with powerful passed
pawns on the kingside) ...exfS 20. 'llfxdS
"'xdS 21.JlxdS Jld8! is also good.
17....&51
If 17... g3. 18.lObs now gives white
counterplay. The subtle queen move.
which prevents 18.lObS. summarizes
the opening struggle: whlte's I'ositlonls
difficult.
18.&3
Defending against 18 ..• d4 and
19......xal.
18... g3 19•.tg4 b5!
With this maneuver. black
exchanges queens without worsening
his pawn structure. The plan
1lIc1-c8-b6-c4 would have been quite
risky in view of f4-fS and "f4.
ZO.l[hgl b4 ZI.~bl
Mistaken is 21.axb4? "81+ 22.tObl
Jlb8 23.c3 IOxb4! 24.b3 (24.cxb4?
Jlc8+. winning the queen) ...10&2+
2S.Wc2 1Oc6. is dangerous for white. as
black has many threats.
21 .•• bxa3 22.~xa3 1IFxd2+
23':xdlJ:lb8
Preventing lObS. The sharp
middlegame has been replaced by an
endgame. where black's chances are
better due 10 better pawn structure and
the more mobile pieces.
126 The Caro·KiJnnlln Black and White
24Jlxg3g6
This move rids white of his
weaknesses but wins a pawn Also good
wa\: 24...1Ib4.
25.hxg6 ~xg6
26.51
A serious miscalculation.
Apparent/y, Sokolov underestimated
black's 29th move. 26.1If2 1lb4 27.c4
cbc4 28.1Dc2 1Ih1 +. was also hardly
good. But the tactical shot 26.Le6!
would have minimized white's losing
chances because of the almost complete
disappearance of pawns from the board,
For example, 26... lIhl+ 27.lldl Ilxdl+
28."'lId 1 IOlIf4 29.j,xf7+! "'xf7
30.1lf3 "'e6 31..lZxf4 IOxeS 32 ..lZh4
lIxb2 33."'c1, and the endgame is
drawish.
26...l:lhl+ 27.l:ldl l:lxd1+
28.<t>xdl exlS 29.i.xfS ~ge7!
This is the third time black has played
...lLIge7, and once again it is a very
strong move. After 29... lL\gxeS, white
would have traded rooks, while if
29...<Oclle5 30.:e3! "'d8 31.b3, black's
pieces are tied up in defensive positions.
30..*.h3 ~xeS 31.b3 l:lb4
Now black begins to push the f·pawn,
and this allows us to evaluate his
winning chances very highly.
32.~bl r5 33.~c3 <t>r7
34.~e1 <t>r6 35.11c3 liM
36•.*.12 llh21
A lime-pressure error. Correct was
36 ... f4, and if 37.lOd4, only then
37 ...:h2. If 37."'el, black has a
combination which wins a piece:
37."'et f3 38.j,xf3 d4 39.lLIxd4 :xd4.
Another way is 36...:g4 37.j,f3 10,,(3
38':,,(3 "'e5 39.:h3 f4 40.lIh7 IOrS,
with wiming chances.
37.~4d4
While would still have some
problems after 37...ct>g5 38.lOxdSlbg2
"'fS
39.lLIxe7 £4 40.lIcs "'f6 41.lL\d5+
42.lOxf4 "'''f4 43.L.5 :g7, but 40.<Oc6
keeps the balance in this line.
38.llh3 llxh3 39.~xh3 ~7g6
40,ct>d2 ~h4 41 •..tb7
This move was sealed. The limited
remaining material determines the
drawn outcome, especially given the
fact that two knights alone cannot
deliver mate. But black has an extra
pawn, and it seemed to me a bit
premature to offer a draw.
41 ... ~hr3+ 42.We2 d3+
43.cxd3 lLId4+ 44.ri>e3 lLIxb3
45.d4 ~d7 46 •..thl ~b6
47.<t>d3 ~l+ 48.¢>d2 llla2
49.111f4 ~b4 50.'it>cJ as
As the a·pawn advances, it becomes
more and more a weakness rather than
 The Caro-1(Qnn! In Black and Whi,e
a stength. But without Its help, black
cannot look forward to anything.
Sl.Wb3 We7 S2•.!l)g6+ We6
S3.lOeS 104d5 S4,fllc6 84+
SS.W83 1Oc:7 S6.~b4 ci>d6
57ll!Ye5 1Oc:dS+ 58.*83 1Oe3
59.""b4 1Oc:2+ 60.""c:3 1Oe3
61.""b4 1Oc:2+ 62.""c3 &3
63.""b4 ct>c7 64.lOd3 ll\ec4
6S •.i.g2 a3 66.ct>b3 ~e3
67•.i.hl .!l)bc4 68.&S ""d6
69.~xc4+ ~xc4 70•.tg2 r4
71..i.hl 'it>e6 7Z . .tg2 ""rs
73 •.i.hl ~4 74.dS
The immediate 74 •.tdS forces a
draw. While instead embarks on some
dangerous activity.
74...'it>fS 75.d6 we6 76.d7!
The only response. Now, 76..idS+?
WxdS 77.d7liJas+, does not work.
76 •••""xd7 77.i.dS Draw
(1/.- 111)
GAMEl3
Yudasin - Seirawan
Jacksonville, J99fJ
1.e4 c6 2.d4 dS 3.eS .i.rs
4.1Oc:3 e6 5.g4 i.g6 6.iOge2 cS
7.h4 h6
Theory earlier recommended
7 ... cxd4, but this is premature. The
game van der Wiel-Speelman (Wijk ann
Zoe 1983) conlinued sharply: 7...cxd4
8.1Dxd4 hS 9.f4 hxg4 10..ibS+ lOf7
IUS lbh4 12.:gl .ihS 13.fxe6 fxe6
14.lDxe6 "b6 15 ..ixd1+ W"d7
16."l\dS+ .id6 17.lOf4 lIe8 18.e6+
127
WeB. But later, the stronger move,
12.lIft! was found (see following
diagram)
In this position, 12...lIh21 does not
work because of 13 ..id7+! (not
13.",,&4, after which Black should not
play 13....i"(S1 14.IO"rS exeS IS.e6!
"e7 (15 ... f"g4 16.ex£1+) 16.-*."d7+
wd8 17.•'4 :xc2 18.•xfS "h4+
19.wdl :g2 20..if4 1Df6 21.lOxdS!
which led to his defeat in Nunn-Wells
(England 1984), but instead IJ ...exfS
14.ll\xfS .i"fS IS.lIxfS 'ifh4+, holding)
...Wxd7 14."xg4 exfS IS./DxfS -*.xfS
16.'lifxfS+Wc617..igS, with a decisive
edge 10 white (Moore-Mills, USA
1984). In the diagrammed position,
12 ... exf5? 13 ..if4 .6 14.06 axbS
15."e2 -*.e7 16.lDxdS (not 16.exd7+?
""d7, and it is black who is better,
Westerlnen-Adianto, Thcsalonnlkl,
1989) ...lOts 17.1Dc7+ wfS IB.O-O-O
"eB 19.cx£1 -*.1£1 20.lDx.8 'IIh.8
21.lDxfS 1Oe6 22.-*.g3! lib) 23.lDxe7
Wxe7 24.-*.d6+ WeB 2S.""bS+, is also
winning for white (analysis by
Kamsky). But if 12 ... :hS!?, as
suggested by Seirawan, the game is nol
SO clear: 13.fllg6 ~4+, etc.
Now we return to Yudasin-Seirawan.
128 '/Jte Caro-Konn! In Black and White
B.hS
Before bringing the bishop \0 103 (see
the' pre~ious game), white fixes the
kingside pawn chains.
8...11h7 9.11e3lOc6
After 9.. JIlb6, the position from the
Oll-Tukmako~ encow.ter (USSR 1986)
would take shape.
lO.dxcS
ActiYe play on the kingside with
10.f4 'il'b6 IUS f6 12.fxe6 0-0-0
13.exf6 ~xf6 14.-*.h3 ~b8 15.1Id2,
deserved attention.
lO ... ~xeS 11.~d4 ~f6
12.llbS+ ~rd7!
This is the righl knish!' as the other
nnlSt control the weak squares c6 and
c:4.
13.f4?!
Seirawan belie~es that white should
have continued 13.11102 a6 14.-*.a4
-*.xc:S 15.~xe6 fxe6 16,i.xc:S bS
17.i.d4 bxa4 18.i.xe5, with chances
for both sides.' Now black achieves a
better gallle.
13...a61
Much stronger Ihan 13 .•• 'ilc4
14.i.xc4 dxc4 15."IIf3 (IS.c6 bxc6)
... ~c5 16.0-0-0, and white's allac:k is
dan8erous.
14.fxeS?!
Here, Seirawan gives the following
yariatlons: 14.-*.102 ~c6 (14 ... ~4
15.bc4 dxe4 16.1If3 1Ic7) 15.~c6
bxc616.b4 as!? (more exact Is 16...h7
17.i.d3) 17.b511c718.b6Wb819.~
i.e7. The capture on 105 further worsens
white·sgame.
14...axbS lS.~dxb5 tmcS!
Nol so clear is 15...1ilxe5 16..*.f4
"IIf6 17.~7+ ~d7 18.~7xdS exdS
19.'ilxdS.
16.1II'd4?1
One mistake leads 10 another. But
eyen after 16.~d6+ i.xd6 17.exd6
~4! (but not 17...1Ixd6 18."IIc14 ~
19.~e4 be4 20."II"g7) 18.11<14 f6!
or 16."IIf3 ~e4! 17.0-0 "IId7 18.a4

/l}xc3 19.b"c3, black has a noticeable
advantage.
16 ... i:t:'le4! 17 •• b6 .xb6
18•.i.xb6 ~d7!
The simple IS ...:c8 is also possible.
But instead, the black Icing suddenly
enters the struggle with a decisive
effect. He looks 10 assume a
comfortable post at e6.
19.0-0 f6! 20..i.d4
If 20./l}xe4 .i.xe4 21.exf6 g,,(6
22.:"f6 IlgS 23.l:lt7+ then 23...<£>c6
decides.
20•••.i.e721Jlael
Also losing is 2 LIOxe4 .i.xe4
22.exf6? g"f6 23 •.i.lIf6 IlhgS. White
can only try to hold by playing 22.:1'2
in this line.
21 •• Jlht8! 22.i:t:'lxe4
Finally, theexehange one4 has taken
place. Now black's light-squared
bishop decides the issue.
22....i.xe4 23.&3 ~xc2 24.':c1
%lac8 25.exf6 gxf6 26.:n
.i.d3! 27.1lJc3 Rc:4 White
Resigned (0-1)
GAMEJ4
Anand - Karpov
Candidates Quarter-Final
Brussels (mil). 1991
Here is another Candidates match
(the firstwas against A.Sokolov), In
which I solved the problem of the black
129
pieces with the Caro-Kann Defense. All
four games were drown.
1.e4c:62.d4
Anand chose rarer continuations in
the first and third games of our match.
Let us mention them.
Anand-Karpov (game 1): 2.d3 cIS
(More exact than 2 .. .eS, for example:
3./l}d2 1Or6 4.lt:Igf3 d6 S.g3 g6 6 ....g2
.i.g7 7.0-0 0-0 8.a4 /l}bd7 9.aS lle8
IO.b4 :b8 II •.i.b2 bS 12.axb6 axb6
13.1l07 .i.b7 14.c4 '1Ifc7 IS.1II>3 :as
16.:"oS .i.xa8 17.:'1 dS 18.c"dS cxclS
19.IOgS, with better ehances for white,
Ljubojevie-Karpov, Amsterdam I98S)
3./l}d2 eS 4./Ogf3 .i.d6 (In !he famous
game Tal-Smyslov (Candidates'
Toumament 19S9), white was better
after 4 .../l}bd7 S.d4. The biS/1Op move
looks more natural) S."e2 (In another
old game against me, the Yugoslav
grandmaster fianchettoed the bishop but
achieved nothing out of the opening:
S.g3 1Or6 6 ..i.g2 0-0 7.0-0 ReS S.IleI
/l}bd7 9.e3 dlle4 10.dxe4 'llfe7,
Ljubojevie-Karpov, Buenos-Aires
1980) ...'llfe7 6.d4 (Leading the game
into a position typical of the Tarrasch
variation In the French Defense.) ...exd4
7.ClIcIS exclS S./l}l(d4 /l}c6 9.lo2b3'Of6
10.'llflle7+ WlIe7 Uid2 :es 12.0-0-0
a6 13.f3 Wf8 14.h3 It}es, and the
game is completely equal. In the
endgame, I was able to outplay my
opponent, but the game still ended in a
draw.
Anand-Karpov (game 3): 2.lt:If3 cIS
3.lt:Ic3 .i.g4 4.h3 .i.lIf3 S."lIf3 (this
variation was widely in use in the
1950's, but it does not offer white
much) ...e6 6.d3 (6 ..i.e2 d4 7./l}bl /l}f6
B.d3 cS 9.'llfg31Oc610.0-0h5 1l.f4 h4
130 The Caro-Kann! In Black tmd Wllite
12.•f2 ~5 13..*"xh5 JbhS 14.lt:Jd2,
also gl ves white nothing, Short -
Seirawan, Barcelona 1989) ...lDd7
7 ..i.e2 g6 8.0-0 .i.g7 9 . •g3 'llfb6
10.ci>hllDe7 1l.f4 f5 12.e5 d4 13.lObl
lDdS, with approximate equality.
Now back to our feature. game.
l •••dS 3.eS .trs 4.li.'lB
We examined the move 4.1Dc31n the
previous two games.
4_••e6 S•.1e2lZld7
In Game 36, we shall look at S... c5.
This knight jump Is an improvement
over 7.c3, which occurred in the fifth
game oflhis match. Now afler8.~ a6
9.1Dc2.i.h7 IO.lDcel c5 Il ..i.d3 .i.xd3
(1I ... lDg6 is also possible) 12.lllxdJ
lDg6 13.g3 .i.e7 14.h4 h5 15.:el :c8
16.L3 c4 17.1Dc1 :c6 18.•c2lDb6I,
black had no problems, allhough I
proceeded to play Inaccurately and only
managed to save the ending with great
difficulty.
Let me note that after 7.c3, 7 ...cS is
not as good. due to the exchange in the
style of Ihe Advanced French: 8.dxc5l,
after which the knight replaceslhe
pawn, for example, 8 .•.lllxc5 9.lDd4
.i.g6 10..i.b5+ lDd7 11..i.g5, or 8 ...1Dc6
9.b4 lDdxe5 10.lDd4 .i.xbl 1l.:Xbl
.i.e7 12.f4 lDd7 13.15 e5 14.lDn e4
15.lDd4lDdes 16..i.f4 a6 17.:h2 .i.f6
18.:d2, with advantage to white
(Benjamin-Seirawan, USA 1991).
7....116
7 ... "i11'b6 alsO deserves attention; see
Ihe next game.
8.lZld2 c:S 9.c:3 c:xd4
I c:ould have continued devloping,
without rushing with this move. After
9 ...1Dc6 IO'lDXg6 bxg6 11.lDf3 .i.e7
12..i.e3, the bishop carefully watches
the g5-square, which can become an
atlacking base for white. For example,
In Anand-Ravi (Calcutla 1992), black
treated this carelessly, playing 12... 'llfe7
13 ..i.d3 c4 14..i.c2 b5 IS.g3 ~b6 (too
optimistic, Is ... lilf8 was the right
defense) and after 16.lDgS b417.lDxf71
ci>xf7 18.•g4, was under a severe
atlack. In Khalifman-Lobron (Munich
1992), black played more prudenlly:
12...a6 13.g3 (white is preparing Ihe
base at g5, planning h2-h4, but meets
resistance; perhaps he should have been
content with 13.1td2 :c8 14..Ilacl)
... g5! 14.ci>g2cxd4 15.cxd4lDf816.:C1
f6, and black got sufficient counlerplay.
lO.cxd4111fS l1,lZlxg6
The varialion 11.Illxf5 .i.xfS 12g4
.i.g613'£4 'tib6 (13 ...£5 14.exf61 favors
white) IUS .xd4+ 1S.ci>g2 'tixeS,
leads to a position in which black has
SIIcrificed a piece for three pawns. This
position is a special research projecL
 77re Coro·J(o....! I.. Black and White
1l .••hxg6
The alternative capture 11 ... f"g6
deserves a look.
11..!Of3 i.e7 13.i.d3
White's calm maneuvering and
outwardly slow movements are actually
not so calm for black. Athough his
position is safe enough, he has virtually
no real counterplay. The continuation
13.1Irb3 %lb8 14..t.d2 0-0 IS •.t.d3, also
looks promising for white, as he
prevents g6-85 and intends LI-cl.
13•••.!Ob814.i.d2.!Oc<; 15•.ie3
a6
The maneuver IS ...l:lc8 16.%lcl ~
is parried by 17."a4+.
16.b3
A bit slow. The alternative 16.a3
immediately is better, with b2-b4 nexL
Black cannot slops this willi 16... ~
because of 17."a4+.
16...'!oh4
An inaccuracy in return. Also
possible is 16....i.a3 willi lIIe idea of
utilizing the weakened white queenside
with :.8-c8 and "d8-b6 looked
attractive. The immediate 16-..1Ifb6and
then %la8-c8, preparing the knight
transfer 1tX6-a7-b5, was also good.
17.'!oxh4 i.xh4 18.g3 .ie7
19.a311fb6
Now lIIis move is not as good. Soon
the queen will have to return home.
Therefore, beller was 19...0-0, and if
20.M, black ha.~ a defensive maneuver:
20.....e8 21.h5 gllh5 22."xhS fS.
131
20.b40-0
At thIs poInt, black could have
waited willi castling and interpolated
lIIe useful move 20...:c8, lllreatening
1tX6xeS. As lIIe game goes, white has •
choice between squeeze play on the
queenside and lIIe organi:r.ation of a
kingside attack. He chooses the latter.
11.1Ifg4 :fe8 Zl.l1ac1 .i.f8
13.M fi)e7
14.h5
Instead, white could have not hurried
and brought in the reserves. Anand
gives the following variation: 14.Wg2
~fS2S.JlhI L726.hS~627.1I'f3gS
28 ..t.bl Jlc4 29.1td3, switching to play
on the light squares. Still, black has
rs
counterplay with 29... 30.e"f6 .t.xf6.
14...gxh5 15."xhS g6 26.1Ifh4
.dB
Urgent help is needed, as white was
threatening the rook lift after Wgl-g2.
26...~S 27 . .1"rsexfS 28..t.d2, would
have lost time and given white the
chance to decisively regroup his forces.
132 The Caro-Komt! In Black and WTtite
27.~dZ lbc1 28.lhcl l:te8
29Jldllt)fS
Again, black cannot walt, as after
29....*.g7? 30..*.g5! white's aUack flows
freely. For example, 3O.. .llc7 31.~g2
'!te8 32.l:lhl ~f8 33 . .*.f6 /t:lg8
34 ..lbg7+ ~"g7 3S. '!th8+ ~f8
36.l:lh7, and white should win.
3O••xd8 l:txd8 31.i.xfS pfS
32Jlcl bS!
Active defense requires space for the
rook. After 32... lZd7 33.lZc8 ~g7 34.a4
.*.e7 3S.b5, it is much more difficult for
black 10 hold the position.
33Jlc6
Black's only weakness, the a6·pawn,
is easily defensible. White has no
apparent winning plan. He has 10 try and
make use of other drawbacks in the
enemy position: the passive king
position. The monarch is tied 10 the
defense of the f7-pawn. But first of all,
white had 10 coordinate his bishop and
rook, simultaneously keeping the
a6-pawn under surveillance. This could
have been achieved with 33.ZL:1 %la8
34.lZb7 lZc8 35.lZb6 lZa8 (or 3S... lZc2
36. .*.g5) 36 ..i.g5 controlling the
f6-square.
33..Jla8 34Jlb6
With this move, white leis the black
bishop out. It was still not 100 late for
34.lZc71, planning the maneuver
.*.d2-gS after the preliminary Rb1, as in
the lastnote. Butaflerthelext, black can
defend.
34...~e7 3S.Wn .id8 36.l:tb7
Wg7
If black attempts 10 move the king in
the direction of the center 36...<ifs
37 .~e2 WeB, white can penetrate 10 the
important h4-d8 diagonal by following
the path. With the king on the g7- and
g6-squares, it seems that black faces no
threats, and he can pursue a waiting
strategy, content with just moving the
king. But appearancea can be deceptive
as we shall see.
37.~e2 l:te8 38.~d3 l:te6
39Jlb8 ~e7 40JlaS ~g6?
An error on the last move of the time
control. Black should have immediately
freed the king from the burden of
defending the f7-pawn.
After 4O... f6I, he reaches safe haven.
But after black's move, as Anand
analyzed, white could have attsined
winning chances with the subtle
maneuver 41.lZg8+! 'i>h7 (41 ...~hS
42.lZgS+) 42.lZcs ~g6 (black has to
keep the gS-square covered, or else,
atter 42 ... lZc4 43.lZa8 Rc644 ..ig5) the
bishop moves to cS viae7) 43 ..i.f4! (An
importsntlink, as now black cannot free
himself with 43 ... f6?, which he could
have done if he had time to move his
rookfrom the pin Ioc4) ...lZc4 44.:g8+!
~h1 45.:a8, and black has no
 The Caro-Kann! In Black and While
satisfactory defense. Here are some
variations: 45 .. Jlc6 46.-*.&5 and the
bishop goes to c5; 45...-*.b6 46.-*.e3 as
41.bxa5 Ra4 48.axb6 lIxa8 49.-*.d2
lIbS 5O.-*.aS, and the king approaches
'the main battlefield, or 45 .... 5 46.bxaS
lIa4 41.lIa1 lIxa3+ 48.~e2 -*.xa5
49.lIxfT+ ~g6 50.lIe1 with winning
chances for white. But white failed to
make use of this chance.
4Ule8? f6! 41 •.i.e3
If 42.exf6, 43 ... lIc4 (this move isalso
good after 42.~(4), and 43 . .tg5 ~xgS
44.£1 does not help because of
44... -*.d6.
The following white moves are
spurred by his memory of the missed
opportunities.
42 ...<t>r143.ex£6~xr6 44_.i.dl
:.c4 45.%11"8+ ~1I6 46':'a8 :e6
47.:g8+ ot>f7 48.:c8 :e4
49.%188 :e6 50.:87 ~g6
51.~e3 ~d6 S2.~dl i.e7
53.%la8 i.d6 54.:b8 'i!;>g7
5S.11h6 .i.e 7 56.:h1 .i.d6
57.0 ~e7 58.g4 fxg4 59.fxg4
.i.d6 6O.11h6 .i.f8 61 •.i.gS 'i!;>g8
61.11bl i.g7 63.i.e7 Draw
(Ih_lh)
GAME 35
Sbort - Adams
England,1991
1.e4 e61.d4 d5 3.eS .i.rs
This move is now automatic. Other
possibilities, like 3 ... c5, 3 ... g6, or 3 ... e6
are rarely seen.
133
As [continue to relate the story of the
Advance Variation, let me mention that
[ have touched upon the two modem
continuations, 4.10:3 and 4.lOf3. But in
the beginning of this century, 4.-*.d3
-*.xd3 5,'tlrxd3, was considered
necessary. But the maneuver found by
Nimzovich, .<I8-a5+ and "a6, leading
to play on the light squares, severely
hurt the reputation of the system, and it
became regarded as completely
harmless for black.
The move 4.h4 attained popularity
after the repealed use of it by Tal in his
1961 return match with Botvlnnik. But
It was determined that 4 ...115 (more
exact than 4 ... h6) gives black fine
chances.
Other 4th moves: 4.il:lc3, 4.g4,
4.il:le2, and 4.c4, are also not dangerous
for him. It Is intriguing that the move
4.il:lfJ, one of the most common at the
present time, was absent in the opening
book.. as recently as five years ago. But
[ believe that it, too, is not SO dangerous
for black...
4 ... e6 5.i.el lLld7 6.0-0 lLle7
7,ll)b4
We diseussed the move 1.c3 in the
previous game. After?il:lbd2 .i.g6 8.c4
il:lf5 9.cxdS cxdS 10.il:lb311c8 11.-*.d2
.te? 12.il:laS 12... 0-0 13 ....a4 ~b6
14.'l'b3~h51S.-*.c311c116.:fe1"'d1
11.-*.bS "'c8 18.-*.e2 "'d?, black
equalized easily in Nunn-Seirawan
(Wijk aan 'Lee 1991), although after
12.-*.oSt1 b6 13.J.c3 as 14.-*.bS 0-0
15....e2, his position would still be quite
overcrowded. It looks more to the point
to continue 8 ...dxc4. After 9.il:lxc4 il:lcs
134 The CtJro-Kann! In Black and W}dle
10.J.d2 1OIb6 Il.iOaS JIbS 12.b4 a6
13.a4 fi:Ja7 14.lOb3 J.e7 IS.bS axbS
16.8xbS IObe8, black was able to hold
equality In Gelfand-Seirawan, Belgrade
1991.
7•••t1'b6
As you remember, r retrealed 10 g6
with the bishop In Game 7 of my match
with Anand (Brussels 1991). This time,
black does not spend time to retreat and
makes an active move immediately. The
chances will soon be equal. But this
game is interesting mainly not in the
opening, but in the romantic finish (see
the final diagram!). Incidentally, we
have Incorporated OM Chandler'snates
into our comments.
8,tt~xfS ~xfS 9.c3 cS 10.-*.113
~e7 1l.dxcS 1IxeS 12.We2
'IIc:7 13.f4 g6 14l11d2 ~rs
15.~fJ .i.c:S+ 16.Wbl b5
With the unambiguous threat of
hS-h4 and IOf5-g3+.
17.g3
To greet 17... h4 with 18.g4.
17...~b8 18•.idl ~ 19.b4
-*.b6 20.Aael ~ 21.1:4 dxc:4
22.:xc:4 Wd7 23.-*.e4 ~g7
24••4
Losing time, as now black seizes the
initiative. Correct was 24.Jldl Rad8
2S.Jlccl.
24 ... ~ed4! 25.~xd4 -*.xd4
26':'13
Now if 26Jld1 h4! and 27.g4? is bad
here because of 27 ...lOg3+ I 28.hxg3
hxg3+ 29.Wg2 m.2+.
26 ...:.e8 27.:xe8 'IIxe8
28.<&>g2 :d8 29 •• 5 .i.b2
30.:d3 .c4 31. Wo ~d4
32.Wdl bS 33 •• xb6 axb6
34.<&>b311e8 3S••b1?! /l)c2!
36.•hl
Of course, the bishop exchange
36. 'tIfxb2 'tIfxe4 favors black.
36,..~b4 37J1.d7 WbS
 The Caro-Kimnlln Black and While
So black Is a pawn up, and
compensation is not apparent. But now
Short sacrifices a rook, and suddenly the
situation on the board sharpens.
38J1xf7+!? ~f7 39•.ixg6+!
The bishop is sacrificed after the
rook. Bulaf~r 39... ~xg6 40. "IIIe4+, and
42."IIIxc8 the rook is regained, and the
naked black king allows white to save
himself. Adams is looking for more.
39•••~e7 40.'IIb7+ ~d8 41.fS
The threat of 42 .... gS/# is a bit
unpleasant...
41. ... f1+ 42.WM .<:4+
43.ci>g5
The king is in the way of the bishop,
and black can breathe.
43 . ..I()d5 44.fxe6 ~c7
45••xb(i.b3
It looks like white's threats have been
parried, but his king bravely gocs
forward, creating new threats.
46.1Pf6!
135
Black is still a rook up, but it is
Important tor him not to get mated. For
example, if 46... h7+ 47.Wn. white
threatens 48."IIId6+1 "'xd6 49....g5+
"'e7 SO.... xe111.
46... .t.c547•.t.,5!
Picturesque! If black takes the queen.
any white king move delivers mate!
47...lLJ8!
Freeing space for the king. If
47 ... "IIIg4 48.1PxcS "ll'xgS+ 49.~f7!
decides the issue.
48.~f7+ ~c8 49."c6 lI.a6
50.•d7+ ~b8 SI •.US lI.a7
Sl.ci>g6:'6 Draw (lh·llz)
The black rook either bothers the
e6-pawn, or creates threats along the
seventh tank. Black cannot try for more.
A positional drawl What a worthy
conclusion to an amusing gamel
136 The Caro-Kann! In Black and White
GAME 36
Anand - Karpov
Reggio Emilia, /99/
1.e4 1:6 2.d4 dS 3.eS .tIS 4.1.Qf3
e6 5•.te2 c5
As you may remember, I chose the
move S.•. iDd7 against Anand in the
Candidates' match. But now I decided
not to await opening preparations by my
opponent and decided to change the
course of the game myself. After c6-c5,
the knight takes up a worthy post at c6,
rather than d7,
6.0-0 1.Qc6 7_c3 .tg4
In the game Nunn-Seirawan (Wijk
aan Zee 1992) black allempted to close
the queenside with 7 ...c4?1 But this,
apparently, cannot be recommended.
The game continued: 7... c4?! 8.b3 bS
9.a4 a6 10.0!0a3 (IO.I.Llbd2, followed by
:el and iDd2-fl-g3 is another idea)
...h6(According to Seirawan'sanalysis,
10 ... lOge7 runs into an unpleasant
exchange sacrifice: l1.axbS axb5
12.lbxb5:xaI13.iDd6+Wd714.lbxt7
'IIrbs, with dangerous threats. It is not
easy to defend the bS-pawn, as on
1O...:b8, white beneficially opens the
queenside with 11.axbS axbS 12.bxc4
bxc4 13.'lIra4 'lIrd7 14.lbbS, already
threatening -*.cl-a3.) 11..~b2 -*.xa3
(Now he should have played l1 ...:bB!
12.axb5 axb5 13.bxc4 bxc4 14."a4
'fI'b6! IS.iDd2 lbge? 16.lbaxc4 dxc4
I7.lOxc4 'lIrb3 18.lbd6+ Wd7, with
l'nclear play) 12.-*.xaJ IOBe7 13.-*.cS!
0-0 14.h4! :b8 1S.1llh4 -*.h7 16.f41!
(For several moves, white could have
closed the queepside w~tha4-aS, turning
to bailie on the kingside, where his
chances are much higher.) ... :eB?!
(Black should have immediately begun
queenside action with 16... aS) 1'.aS!,
and white's advantage is clear, yet later
the game became wild. Here it is, with
light notes by Seirawan: 1?aS! -*.e4
IB.'lIrd2lOfs 19.1bf3l:1b7 20.LeI /.i:)M
21."e3 IOxf3+ 22.-*.xf3 .i.d3 23.h2
-*.e4 24'-*'847! (Better is 24.-*.d I,
preparing f4-f5) ... g67 (24 ...lbe7 was
right) 25.-*.f3 -*.d3 26.:f2 (26.-*.e2
-*.e4 27.fSl 'lIrgS 2B.'IIIxgS hXB.5 29.f6,
Bives a decisive edge) ...Wh7 27.g4lbe7
2B.:g2 :hlh (2g ... lbgB is more
tenacious, planning t7-fS) 29Jlg3lbgB
30.•£2 Rd7 31.'IIIg2 Wg7 32.-*.d1 1-*.04
33.:xo4! dxo4 34."xe41 (It was first
necessary to play 34.f" .v 3S.f6+
Wh7, and only now 34.•xo4, winning)
...lOe7 3S.fS IOdS 36.-*.c217 (This
second bad mistake completely changes
the situation; 36.f6+ WgB 37.h4, with
the threat of g4-gS was correct) ....g5
37.f"e6 fxe6 3B.h4 'IIIcl + 39. WhllOf4,
and now black has a winning position,
which he successfully converted to a
full point.
In the fourth game of the match with
Short (Linares 1992), I immediately
removed the tension with 7 ... cl<d4
8.cxd4. This game is annotated by
Beliavsky in detail. Other continuations
are 7...'lII'b6, 7 ... h6, and 7 ...-*.g6. But the
praxis of the last few years Indicates that
white is better in all of these cases. Here
are some pertinent examples:
Short-Selrawan (Tilburg 1990):
7...1Irb6 B.•a4! c4 (If 8 ...cl<d4, 9.1Ol<d4
and .i.c1-e3.1f9.dl<cS -*.l<cS 10.h4 ~e7
11.-*.e3.c7 12.bS.aS I 3..i.d I! .xa4
14.-*.xa4 ~eS lS.b6 and white's
initiative is very strong).
 The Coro-KDnn! In Bloc1cond W/rife
Here after 9.~bd2?I, complex play
resulted. But after the game, Short
showed that 9.b3! refutes the c-pawn
advance. 9 ... '!WaS 10."xaS ~S, does
not help, as after the maneuver
II.~fd2! :tcS 12.bxc4 dxc4 13.illa3
.i.d3 14.-*.xd3 cxd3 IS.~e4, the
d3-pawn is doomed.
Short-Selrawan (Manila 1990):
7... h6S.~e3 cxd4 9.cxd4 ~ge7 10.~3
~S 11.llcl a6 12.~ ~b6 13.~5
.i.xcS 14.llxc5 0-0 15.'irb3 ~d7
16.:tc:3 'lWb6 17.Ilfc1 "xb3 IS.llxb3
IlfbS 19.~2 ot>tl! 2O.h4! ot>c8 21.84
-*.h7 22.hS, and white i. better in the
endgame.
Anand-Karpov (paris 1992): 7... -*'86
8.-*.e3 cxd4 9.cxd4lOge7 10.~3lOfs
11.llcl .i.e7 12.illa4 0-0 13.~S -*.xc5
14.%lxc5'lWb6 15."d2 a6 16.%I(c1, with
an extremely strong queenside attack.
Now back to the feature game.
137
A novelty. The gsme Benjamin -
Dzind:dchashvili (USA a..,mpionship
1991) wenlS.-*.e3-*.xf311 9.-*.xO cxd4
IO.cxd4 ~e7 11.~3 ~f5 12.-*.g4
~xe3 13.he3 .i.b4 14.llr4 0-0 IS.'IiI'fJ
-*..c3 16.bxc3 '!We7 17.:tflIlac8 18.e4
dxc4 19.1II'xe4, and white developed a
fierce kingside attack and eventually
won. Apparently, black should not have
traded the bishop for the knight. After
S .•. cxd4 9.cxd4 (9.lOxd4 -*..e2
10.".e2 IOge7 with complex play)
...loge7, the play is iruense, and chances
are even (Seirawan).
8. .• cxd4
Instead 8 ....~~ge7 9.dxc:! IOg6
10.b4!? leads to sharp play with beUer
chances fot white.
9.cxd4 /C,ge7 IO.h)
Later, in the second game of the
Candidates' Semifinal, Short tried to
improve white's play with 10.a3 and
delayed h2-h3 with the exchange of the
minot pieces for a couple of moves. aut
he did not achieve much. Here Is that
game (Short-Karpov, Seville (m/2)
1992): 10.a3 IOfS 11.b4 -*.e7 12.h3
-*..f3 13.'!oxf3 0-0 14..i.b2 a6 IS."d2
lleS (1t is possibly even better to play
138 The Caro-Kann' In Black and WIllIe
15 ... f6!7, challenging the center.)
16.lIadl ~ (The knight moves in the
direction d7 -b6 and then a4 or c4.)
17..i.d3 liJh4 (17 ...loI7!1 immediately
is more consistent) 18.~el ~7
19.'0:2 (White should have prepared
the standard f2-f4, i.e., 19.93 ~g6
[19... ~fS 20.84 iOh4 2l.f4) 20.f4)
...~b6 20.li:Ie3 "'d7
21.lIdei lIc7 22."'dl lIfcS (Black
already has the initiative.) 23.g3 ~fS!
24.~xfS exfS 25. "f3 g6 26.'llff4 ~4
27 ..i.cl lIc3 2S ..i.bl :b3 (In time
pressure, I decided to force a draw, yet
..,e6
after 2S... [2S... h5?1 29.e61) 29.g4
(not 29.li>g2 bS) .. .fxg4 30.hxg4 lISc4,
2S ... a5!1 black's advantage is quite
definIte.) 29..t.a2 lIbe3 3O•.t.bl lIb3
31.""'2 :bc3 32..i.bl Draw (11)-'1>)
Let us return to the Anand-Karpov
encounter.
IO ••• i-xf3 1l.~xf3 ~fS
12.llbl!?
After 12.g4 ~h4·13.fuh4 Wxh4
14.li>g2 hS, black has sufficient
counterplay.
12...1Ifb6
Instead 12...h7 is worse, as after
13'84 liJh4 14.~4 .i.xh4 1S.b4, the
bishop ends up on h4. and white's
initiative is clear.
13.i.e3
Losing for white is, 13.b4? ~xd4
14.~xd4 ~xd4 IS.'llfa4+ "c6 16.b5
lDxe2+ 17.li>hl "iPc4.
13....i.e7 14.b4 0-0 IS•.i.d3
Or lS.bS io..s (or IS •..fue3 16.fxe3
~aS) 16. .t.d3 :acS. leading to play
with chances for both sides.
IS ... ~xe3 I6.be3 .asc8
17.ci>h1
If 17.~, black can play the shot
17 •.•~"eSl1 IS.dxeS 'IIf"e3+ 19.1i>h1
"'"e5.
17.....d8
More precise than 17 ...85 IS.b"aS
"'uS 19.1I"b7 'llfxa2 20.'ilb1, and
white eJlcbsnges into a belter ending.
IS."el
If IS.a31!, black takes over the
initiative with IS...aS 19.M (19.bxa5
ltlxaS 20.a4 J:c3) ...~ 2O.a4ltJd7.
18...a6
More exact is IS...g6. not allowing
the opening of the I>-fiIe.
19.bS nbS 20.:xbS .ab8
2l."bl
The immediate 21.e4!? deserved
attention.
 TIre Caro-/(D1I1I! 111 Bloclc D1Id White 139

2l ... h622.e4

The advance 0{ !he c-pawn allows

black to solve all of his problems
immediately. But 22.:xb7 lOb4
(22... :xb7? 23.'ilrxb1 "a8 24.:bJl)
23.:xb8 'ilrxb8 24.a4 :c8! (24...lOxd3
2S.'ilrxdl 111'b4 26.:al Jla8 27.'ilrc2
favors white) 2S..tbS :c3, also otTers
nothing. But after 22.Jlcll? lOaS
(22 ... 'l'd7 2l.Jlb6 ro.,7 24.e4) 2l.e4
dxe4 24..txe4 b6. white would retain a
slightly better game.
22... Q}xd4! 23.Q}xd4 dxe4
24,lDxe6 fxe6 25.11xf8+ .txf8
26..txe4 W'd4 27.W'd3 Draw
(1/2-Ih)
If 27..txb7 .i.e!! with mutual play.
Both p!a!crs decide 10 avoid risk.
140 The Coro-Ko",,! in Black and WhIte
 me Caro-Konn! In Black and While 141

CHAPTER3B
THE NIMZOVICH SYSTEM
(1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.ttJc3 dxe4 4.ttJxe4 ttJf6
5.li)xf6+ gxf6)

I am nol a proponent of prematurely

moving the knight to f6 in the
Caro-Kann. After 4 ...LOf6 s.LOxf6+,
black's pawn structure changes afler
S... exf6 or S...gxf6, and the change is
not 100 beneficial for him. 11terefore, I
prefer to first play 4...lOd7 and only then
...iOgf6, and then I Can take on (6 with
the knight when white captures there,
and black's pawn structure does not
worsen. The last chapter of the book is
devoled to this system. After 4...iOf6,
the system with s.LOg3 takes a special
place in theory, but we will bypass it In this chapter, we look at S...gxf6; In
because no one plays like this any more. the next chapler - S...exf6.
In facl, such a method of play is not Even though black's pawn position is
justified: black develops his knight, and compromised after S ... gxf6,
white spends time to retreat his own. counterplay along the d- and g-fIIes can
Still, I have decided to include a bring success.
game niuslaling the capture wi th the
g-pawn as well as with the e-pawn.
142 The CaTQ·Konn'In Black and White
 The Caro-Kann' In Black and White
GAME 37
Siniega - Grozspeter
New York, /988
1,e4 c:6 2.d4 d5 3.1Od2 dxe4
4.121xe4 l2lf6 5.121xf6+ gxf6
This is one of the sharpest variations
of the Care-Rann Defense. Usually
black first thinks about equality, but in
this system he exhibits more aggressive
intentions.
6 •.i.c4
The most common continuation. Due
to the tltreat to the n
-square black has
only one decent move (if he does not
want to lock in his bishop with e7-e6).
and that is 6 ....i.f5. Another popular
move for white is 6.lOf3. and now
besides 6 ....i.fS. black can also play
6 ... .i.g4. and after 7 . .1e2 We7!
(preventing the appearance of the .i.f4)
8.0-0 lOcI7 9.c4 0-0-0. or 9 ...:g8. black
has quite sufficient counterptay.
White also has many other
possibilitles: 6 •.i.e3. 6 . .1e2. 6.g3.
6.~2. 6. Wd3, and 6.c3. but they occur
much less frequently and are not too
dangerous for black.
143
6..,.i.fS 7.lOe2 e6 8,0-0
Sometimes 8.c3 Is played.
supporting the center.
8. .. .i.d6
Other possibilities are 8 ... hS and
B... lOcI7.
9,.i.r4 1Ifc7
The standard ploy. Black forces
white to immediately exchange on d6.
Also possible was 9 ...hS.
10 •.i.xd6 Wxd6 11,04 IOd7
12.aS h5?!
Here. 12... 86 was safer. preparing
queenside castling.
13•.i.d3!
The exchange of bishops is in white's
favor. The closer the endgame. the
greater white's advantage. Of course. he
would gladly exchange everythIng and
win a pawn ending.
13....i.xd3 14. Wxd3 h4 15.c:4
0-0-0
Here. IS ... a6 was necessary for
survival. Black had to try and contain
While's queenside play.
16,&6 b6 17.9f3
A very useful move. White aims for
tlte c6-pawn and frees his knight, whkh
will move to c3.
17...11dg8
In this situation. black's counterplay
on the g-file does not promise much.
144 The Caro-Kannlln Black and WhIle
18.~3 f5 19.b4?!
Too impatienL White should have
exercised necessary prophylactical
measures. [n the later game
Sis."iega-Hurtado (Mexico, 1992),
whIte played the stronger 19.h31, not
allowing the :g4. The game went
19.h3! :gS 20.'i>hl :hg8 21.:gl,
Beliavsky covered it in his part of the
book.
19•• Jtg4! 1O.e5 "llte7 Zl.cxb6
iOxb6 22.l:I.fcI?I
An inaccuracy. 22.h3 is correct, not
fearing 22...:xd4 (22 ... Zlg6 23.Zlfcl)
~3.Zlfcl Zlc4 24.lOa41, with beller
chances for while.
22 ••• l:hg8 23.iOb5 l:xgl+
14.wn· .
Of coUrse, not 24."II'xg271 :xg2+
2S.ct>xg2 'lrd7, with advantage to black.
24•••1Ifxh2!
Black already has a preferable
position. 25. 'lfxc6+ "'d8, and
2S.l:lxc6+ "'d8 26.:xb6"ilfh1+ 27."'e2
'lfn I, are both bad for while. While
finds the best practical chance.
25.iOxa7+! ~d726.1Ifxc6+?!
26.lOlI.C6! /OdS 27.a7 Zlx£2+
(27 ...h31?) 28."II'x(2 'lfhl+ 29.ct>e2
"ll'e4+. with equality. is stronger. Now
black's advantage becomes real.
26...~e7 27.... c7+?
The de<:isi..e error. After 27. "cS+
~6 28. "ll'eS+ "ll'xeS 29.dxeS+ ct>xcS
3o.lOc6+ ct>r6 31.<i>e2 h3 32.'Od4 h2
33.10£3 Zl8g4, black only has a small
plus.
27 ••• 1Ifxc1 28.l:xc7+ ~f6
29.:aJlDdS
Black's advantage is already
sufficient for victory. While is now
faced with the threat of /OdS-f4 and has
 The Caro-/(ann/ [" Blacle and White 145

to exchange a pair of roolcs and also 42.:b4 fJ 43.:04 f5 44.:b4 f4

surrender two pawns. 45':04 ¢>d3 White Resigned
(0-1)
30':c8 lDxb4 31':xg8 :xg8
32.lDb5

32...I£:lx06!
White must accept this Greek gifL
But now he sets a small trap. and black
unexpectedly falls into it. Still. it does
not alter the result.

33':xa6 h3 34.1Dc3 hZ'l!

34...lZ84 would hsve prevented the
white king from approaching the
h-pawn and forced immediate
resignstion.

35.lOds+! ~g5 36.~g1 exdS

Simplest. If 36... lZh8 37 .f4-1- ~g4
38.lilf6.f- ~xf4. then 39. ~h 1 and 40.dS.
and white can still muddy the waters.

37.1t>xh2
The rook ending is hopeless for
while.

37... ~f4 38.:a7 f6 39.1[86

:g6 4M.hl ~ 41':a4 f4
146 The Caro-Ka"ni In Black IUId White
 The Caro-Kann! In Black and While 147

CHAPTER4B
THE S... exf6 SYSTEM
(1.e4 c6 2.d4 dS 3.tbc3 dxe4 4.tbxe412Jf6
S.tbxf6+ exf6)

As the reader has already noticed, I
treat the early knight move to f6 with
some skepticism, and therefore I
decided to only present one example for
each of the two systems with the
exchange on f6. In principle, we can say
that after S.tilxf6+ exf6, black does not
have sufficient compen.ation for
white's quecnside pawn majority.
But black does have certain ph......
in his construction. He can quickly
develop. His king position is quite safe
after klngside castling. The doubled
f-pawns control important squares,
making it more difficult for white 10
realize his attacking posslbilitles.
Finally, black has great chance. to
safely blockade the d-pawn, which Is
the pride of white's position.
148 n.e Caro-1(ann! In Black and While
 11re Caro-Kann! In Black and W/rile
GAME 38
Chandler - Christiansen
Germany, 1988
1.e4 c6 2.d4 dS 3.M dxe4
4.~xe4 ~r6 S.~xf6+ exf6
6.c3 ~d6
Recently. the move 6 ... ~e6 has
become somewhat popular. In Mokry-
Mirkovich (Belgrade. 1988). after
7..tdl .td6 8.~2 lI'c7 9.lI'c2 tlld7
10M (),(),O Il.c4! .tb4+ 12..td2 'llfaS
13 . .txI>4 "xb4+ 14."d2 'llflld2+
IS.'''xd2. white's advantage was
minimal. In another game.
Golubev-Mirkovich (Belgrade. 1991).
white attempted to improve on this
game. but suffered a fiasco: 9. ~g3 tlld7
10.~4 0-0-0 11.~xd6+ 'llfxd6 12.0-0
hS? 13 ..te3lDb6 14."f3 h4 IS.h311'd7
(stronger is the immediate IS ... gS!
16."xf6 (16..tfS~) ...tlldS 17."f3
(17."xgS? f6! 18.1I'g6 :dg8 loses for
white) .....d7! willt an attack) 16.1:lac1
sS 17.c4 g4 18.hxg4 .txg4 19.'ilhf6
:dgS 20."'h2 "'bS 21..t8S? (a gamble;
after 21.dS! cxdS 22 ..txb6!? life is sour
for black) ..."'as 22 ..txh4? (White
mistakenly grabs a second pawn;
22 ..te3!? was necessary. Now black
149
manages to take lite enemy king as
prisoner.)
22 ... .tf3\ 23.S3 (the bishop is
Immune: 23.sxf3 "'d6+1 24.'llfxd6
llxh411. or 23.lI'xf3 llxh4+ 24.'''81
'ilfxd4. etc.) .....g4 24.llc3 ~d7!
(Suddenly the white queen is trapped.)
2S ..tfS (2S.'ilfe7 f61 26 ..th7 ll87)
... ~xf6 26 ..txg4 .txg4 27.f3 .i.e6
2S.llhl ~ 29."'g2 ~xg3! 30..txg3
llxhl 31."'xhl :xg3. and White
Resigned «()'1).
It is more promising for white to play
9..te3. 8S in Ermenkov-Mirkovich
(Belgrade 1991). Now 9 ... tlld7 10....d2
~b6 II..tf4 0-0-0 12 ..txd6 "xd6
13.0-0 hS 14.~g3 h4 IS.~4 'llfc7
16.~S tllds l7.llfel ~4. followed.
willt chances for bollt sides.
Instead of 6 ....te6. 6....tfS?! has
been tried. In Nunn-Arkell (London
19S7), after 7.~2\ .td6 8.~3 .tg6
9 . .tc4 0-0 10.0-0 :eS? 1l.f4 bS
12 . .tb3 .te4 13."hS, white'.
advantage was decisive.
7,.id3 0-0 8.'ilfcllle8+ 9,~e3
h6
ISO The Caro-Kann! In Black and W1rite
Weaker is 6 ....i.f4?! 10..i.xh7+ ~h8
II..i.d3 .i..e3 12.fxe3 IIxe3+ 13.1.i'Je2,
with a clear advantage.
10.lt~2 ~a6!?
Before, 10...1OcI7 had been played.
For Instance, In the game
Matulovle-Cirie, Yugoslavia 1982,
after 11.0-0 'tIIe7 12.h3 tOrs 13.lIael
.i.d71 14.e4 eS IS.dS b6 16.tOc3 .i.eS
17..i.d2, white was slightly better.
ll.O-O~7
Christiansen suggests 11...bS!? (We
now begin to use his notes).
12.c4~d7
Here 12 ... tOe6 or 12 ... .i.g4 is
possible.
13.~g3 ~e6 14.lladl
White has kept the opening
advantage, yet 'black's position is solid
enough. Here, he should have played
14...'tlle7. As it goes, the queen arrives
on e7 with a loss of a tempo.
14 ... 'IIIa5 IS.'IIIb3! 'IIIe7
16.~bl ~gS?!
This Is already a significant loss of
time. 16...llad8 was eorrecL
17.'IIId3?!
A mistake in retum. After 17.f4 tOh7
18.cS .i.e7 19.fS, white retains an edge.
17...fS! 18.d .b:gl 19.hxgl
.i.e6 20 •.i.r4 1IId7 21.0 f'6
22,14 1IIf7I
More exact than 22 ...£:.g4 23 ..i.xgS
hxgS 24.'lIh7+ ~f8 2S.fxg4, when
white has the initiative.
2J.b3 g6 24•.i.d6 ¢>g7
Now white takes the opportunity to
seize the al-h8 diagonal, but at the cost
ofapawn.
25.dS!? cxdS 26.'IIId4 fXl4
27.fxg4 j,d7!
The threat was 28.lIxf6! was the
threat. Now white transfers his
dark-squared bishop to the long
diagonal in an attempt to maintain the
pressure.
28..i.f4! .-.c6
 11re Caro·/(a",j! [n Black and While
Not 28...It~6 because of 29.'ilfxdS
lllxf4? 30.'ilfxf7+ 'i>xf7 3\.lIxd7+. But
now 29...tt:le6 is a threat.
29..i.cl l:I.e6 30..i.d3
Preparing 10 set the queenside pawns
in motion. But black's counterplay is
rich.
30...1Ite7 31.M a632•.i.b2 l:I.f8
33.1Itf4
Tougher is 33."12 tt:le4 34. 'ilfh4,
activating the queen.
33...lOe4 34•.i.c1.i.bS 3S•.i.d3
.i.e636•.i.d4?!
The turning point of the game. Whlte
should have kept repeating the moves.
Now black takes over the initiative. He
makes use of the fact the d·CiIe is
overcrowded with white pieces.
36...~a4! 37.l:1.del.i.bS!
Virtually forces the exchange of
light-squared bishops in a beneficial
situation for black. 38.lIdl is not good,
as 38•.. 'tII'd7 acti vates the queen.
38•.i.xbS axbS 39.l:I.dl l:I.a8
40•.i.al l:I.xa2 41.l:1.xdS
lSI
41 ...l:I.xal!
The decisive shot!
42.l:1.xa1~3!
A picturesque positionl The terrible
check on e2 forces white 10 gIve back
the exchange. Now, black Is simply a
pawn up. In addition, whIte overlooks a
transillon Into a hopeless pawn ending.
43.1IId2?
Tantamount to resignation. 43.11<12
tt:le2+ 44.lIxe2 IIxe2, still allowed
white to resist.
43 ... ~xdS 44.1IhdS l:I.el+
4S.l:I.xel111xe1+ 46.<t>h2111eS+
Now white should have thrown In the
towel, but he makes five more
unnecessary moves.
47.lIIxeS fxeS 48.~3 <t>f6
49.WfJ hS SO.gxhS gxhS
Sl.We4 h4 White Resigned
(0-1)
152 The o.ro-Kann! Tn Black and White
 770e Caro-XtJnn! In Black and While IS3

CHAPTER5B
THE CLASSICAL SYSTEM
(l.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.lLlc3 dxe4 4.~xe4 .irS)

The Classical System is one of the
most solid and safe systems in this
opening. It leads to complicated
positional play. After the standard
moves, 5.~g3 -*.g6 6.h4 h6 7.W ~7
S.hS .t.h7 9 ..t.d3 .t.xd3 lO.'llrxd3 e6, we
get lite following pawn structure:
True, lite hS.pawn ties down the
black kingside. But in the ending, litis
pawn can become an object of attack.
Black's light-sq.... red bishop has spent
several tempi, but has in the end left the
board and no lonser inhibits the
harmonious development of the
remaining black pieces. White has a
space advantage, but black can castle
queenslde and organize pressure against
the d4-pawn, and, gi yen the
opportunity, undermine it with the
move c6-cS. In a lengthy maneuvering
battle, black has every reason to lock
forward to equality.
154 The Caro-Kann{ In Blacle and White
 The Caro-KDnn! In Black and While
GAME 39
Sax-Karpov
Haninge, 1990
1.e4 c6 2.d4 lIS 3.10:3 dxe4
4.llIxe4 ~fS
Actually, I now almost always play
4 ... ~7 here. But, for the sake of
variety, why not tum to the Classical
System?
The moves S.l()cs, S."ilfd3, and
S.~d3 have to be regarded as rarities.
S....ltg66.h4
The main continuation in this
variation. Other known moves, 6.f4,
6.l()le2. 6 ..i.c4. and 6.1Of3 are hardly
ever seen today.
6...h6 7•.!LID .!LId7 8.hS .lth7
1I..t.d3 .t.xdJ 10.Wxd3 e6
Other possibilities, 10•. :tlrc7 and
1O...lllgf6 usually lead to transposition.
The entertaining game Ivanchuk -
Seirawan (Nov! Sad 1990), which went
1O. ..tt:lgf6 II..*.f4 e6 12.0-0-0 ~e7
155
13.c4 bSI? 14.cS! is ellamined in Game
41.
ll •.t.dl
Sometimes white chooses the ellotic
1I.:IIh4. I think it is nevertheless more
sensible to first complete the
centralization of the pieces. On 11 ..*.f4,
black plays 1I ...1I.S+, and white has
nothing better than 12.'*.d2, with dIe
SlIme position as in the game. This move
order Is often selected in practlce, In
order to gain time on the clock by
making an elltra move and having fewer
moves to make in C8$C of lime pressure.
From now on, we omit the extra bishop
and queen moves, in order to avoid
confusion in the move numbering.
11.....c7 12.0-0-0
12."e2 is another popular move,
which has occurred many times in my
8ames, and I have played this position
bothasblackand aswhite. Let me recall
a few old examples:
Karpov-Hort (Ljubljana 1975)
12...iOgf6 \3.c4 0-0-0 14.cS Ilg8! 15.b4
g6 16.llb I gxhS 17. 'i>fl :1184 IB.llb3!
'i>bB 19.1LIxhS lLIxh5 20.1l1lb5 lLIf6
21.:IIeS .*.g7 22.bS .!LIdS 23.b6 axb6
156 11,e Caro-Kann! In Black and White

24.cxb6 "'d6, and black managed his The waiting move 14.ct>bl allows
defense adequately. 14.Ii:\eS ~ IS."S black to take over the initiative with
lObdS Was more exact (here, an 14 ... cS! 15.0xf6 0xf6 16."83 ct>b8
interesting tactical shot is possible: 17."a4 c41 (van der Wiel-Portisch,
IS ... .i.xcs 16.dxeS Ilxd2! 17.'~xd2 European Cup 1985).
"'xe5 18."xeS lDc4+ and 19...lOxeS
with active play that compensates for 14...tt:\cS
the exchange), eg., 16.0-0 "'e7 17."f3
1Dc7 18..i.e3 "e8 19.M .i.e7 20.a4, The immediate 14... c5Ied to a white
with a strong attack (Bach-Teschner, advantage after IS ..i.f4 c4 16."e2 "e6
Berlin 1976). 17.iOxf6gxf618.dS! exdS 19.1bd4"a6
20.ct>bl i.d6 21."f3 i.xf4 22."xf4
The position after 12 ...lOgf6 13.c4 0eS 23.'IIl'fS+ ct>b8 24.f4,
.i.d6, by transposition, occurred in the Tseshkovsky-Kasparov, 46th USSR
eighth game of my Candidates' match Championship, 1978. Besides the witty
with Spassky in 1974 (Leningrad). knight maneuver to cS, the exchange on
Incidentally, it Was fOr this match that I e4 is also popular (see the next game).
first carefully prepared the Caro-lCarm
defense. Now, there followed 14.lOfs lSli~xcs ~xcS
.i.f4 (allowing the exchange on d6 is not
a good idea: 14...0-0-0 IS.lOxd6+"xd6
16..i.aS! Rde8 17.Ii:\eS "'e7 IB •.i.c3
:lids 19.f41OxeS 20.fxeS o!i:Ih7 21.0-0-0
lOgS 22.s3 fS 23.exf6 8"f6 24..:Ilhfl
:llhe8 25 .:IIde 1, with a sizable advantage
to white, Karpov-Pomar, Nice 1974)
15 ..i.xf4 'IIl'xf4 .16.lOe~, and here I
retreated to c7 with the queen, having in
mind the sharp possibility of 16.....c7
17.0-0-0 bS!? yet after 18.cxbS cxb5+
19.ct>bl 0-0 20.g4 1i:\e4, black would
have been faced with a dangerous
assault after the correct 21.0g2. In
Tal-Portisch, BU8ojno 1978, black 16.c4
responded with 16... c5!, ~d 17./bdS
0xdS 18.cxdS 0-0 19.dxe6 :IIfe8 20.0-0 In the old game Zaltsev,I-Petrosian,
:II..e6 21.'I\l'bs "e7 22.Lcl a6, led to Moscow 1968, 16.ct>bl i.d6 17.c4 cS,
approximate equality. led to an even game. The move 16....c4
Is also known. In Ljubojevic-Karpov
(Linares 1981); after 16... i.d6 17. "a4
ct>b8 18.ltk5 lOIs 19.f4 IOb6 20.'ifb3
In Game 43, we look at the popular i.xeS 21.dxeS lOIS, white carelessly
"",,'ilion which arises after 13 ....e2 weakened his position with 22.c4 and
0-0-0 14.tlleS. lost in the endgame. But 22."£31 would
have kept a minimal advantage.
13...0-0-0 14.g3
 The Caro-Kann! In Black and While
Now let us look at Karpov-Miles
(Amsterdam 1985): 16.'I'e2 (another
possibility) ... .tb6 (after 16... .td6
17.c4 c5 IB ..tc3, white has the
initiative, but 16 ... .txd4 Is quite
possible. In Tal-Chandler (WijkaanZee
19821, white mistakenly captured with
17.ifud4, and after 17...11xd4 18..tf4
llxd1+ 19.'I'xd1 [19.11xd1 'l'aS11 ...05,
black had the advantage. After the
correct 17..tf4 eS [17 ... 'llb6 lS.ll:Jxd4
llxd4 19.'I'e5) 18 . .txe5 .txeS
19.1OxeS, with f2-f4 comins, white
enjoys a small endgame advantage.)
17 ..tf4 (Perhaps it was better to
immediately bring the rook into battle
with 17.11h4 lld7 IS.c4 cS 19..te3.
Instead, 17.c3 'l'e7 18.~ ~b8 19'84
liJd7 20.iOxd7+ "xd7 21."eS+ .te7
22."xg7 1ifdS 23.'I'f6 'l'xa2 24 ..txh6
e5 2S..te3 exd4 26.cxd4 cS, was equal
in Gtller-Campora, Amsterdam 19B7.)
... 'I'e7 1B.c4 :heB 19.'I'oS .te7
20.'I'xc7+ 1I'xc7 21..txc7 ~xc7
22.:h4 Re7 23.lOe5 IOd7 (In
Ermenkov-Campora [Amsterdam
1985), white also had the better chances
after 23 ... b5 24.b3 bxc4 2S.bxc4 llb8
26.lldl ~d6 27.11a3 lle7 2B.1a6 llbeB
29.11f4) 24.:f4 llf8 2S.~c2 IOxeS
26.dxeS lld7 27.llxd7+ ~xd7 28.c5.
The resulting rook ending is objectively
drawn; but I eventually managed to
outplay my. opponent.
16...i.d6
The mOVe 16... Zlhe8 led to a serious
white advantage in Christiansen-
Chandler (Wijk aan Zee, 19S2):
16... Zlhe8 17 ..tc3 WbB 18.'I'e2 i.fS
19.iOes cS 20.dxcS i.xcs 21.f4.ln van
der Wiel-Miles (Tilburg 1984), black
look over the offensive after 17..tc3
,i.b6 IB.'I'e2 c5 19.~b1 lle7 20.a3
IS7
cxd4. In Tal-Miles, he also stood well
after 18.~b1 a6 19.'I'c2 lIe7 20.~
.taS 21.b4 .tb6 22.84 1Ib8r (Bugojno
19B4). Miles-Hort (Bath 1983)
concluded quickly: 17 ..tf4 '1'07
18.'1'03 llheB 19.~bl Draw (112- 112).
But the retreat with the bishop 10 b6
does nol equalize, as the game
DeFlrmian-Miles (Tunis 1985)
showed: 17.~bl cS 1B..tf4! 'l'e7 19.dS
:heB (19 ...exdS 20.lIhel 'l'd7 21.~
'l'e6 22.lOg6 dxc4 23.iOe7+ 1I'xe7
24.'I'f5+ 'l'e6 2S.11xd8+, is also not
good for black.) 2O.11hel 'l'fs 21.iOes
.tc7 22.'l'fl, and white is dearly better.
17.i.c3 Wb8
If 17 ...cS,IB.dSisstrong.
18.1IelWa8
Deserving attention is 18 ... "S
19.dxcS .i.xcs 20.b4 (or 20..i.eS .i.d6
2Ulxd6 Rxd6 22 ..txd6 1I'xd6 23.IO.S,
with some pressure on the kingside)
... .td6 21.cS 'OdS 22.11xdS exdS
23. 'l'c2 d4 24..txd4 'l'c6, and both
sides have chances.
19.<t>bl bS!
158 The Caro-Ko"n! In Black and w.hite

Here also, on 19...cS, 20.cIS Is good. 24.1l:Ib3 1l:\e4!1) .•.Jlxc3! 2S.bxe3 .ia3
Black sacrifices a pawn and receives 26.Jlbl (26.il:Ib3 -*.xcl 27.Jlxcl WxhS)
strong points for his pieces, especially ... -*.b2+ 27.Jlxb2 1Ixhl+ 2B.l:.bl
d5. 1Ixh5, with complete equality.

20.cxbS
GAME 40
In Timoschenko-Marucenko
(Budapest, 1991), white played an Tiviakov - Miles
important novelty, 20.d5! After Moscow, 1989
20... bxc4 21.-*.xf6 (stronger is 21.dxe6!
lOdS 22.-*.xg7l1hg8 23.-*.d4 c3 24.exf7 1.e4 e6 2.d4 dS 3•.!Dd2 dxe4
Wxf7 2S.-*.xc3, with advantage to 4.1t:lxe4 .irs S.iOg3 .ig6 6.h4
white.) 21. .. gxf6 22.dxe6 c31 23.exf7 h6 7.ttlf3 ttld7 S.hS .ih7
Wxf7 24.1014 Wh7+ 25.Wc2 'ill'xc2+ 9•.id3 .ixd3 10.'lrxd3 lllgftJ
26. oi>xc2, white prevailed in a sharp 11..id2 1I"c7 12.0-0-0 e6
ending. In order to properly evaluate the 13.ttle4 0·0-0 14.g3 ttlxe4
entire variation with 20.dS we must IS.'lrxe4 .id6
consider the moves 20... cxdS 21.-*.xf6
gxf6 22.cxd5 Wc4! 23.'IIIxc4 bxc4
24.dxe6fxe6 2S..!lXI4 (25.Jlh4 -*.c5, and
black is in good shape) ...-*.cS 26.il:Ixe6
Jlxd1+ 27.Jlxd1 .ixf2 28.84 Jlh7!
(28 •.. Jlg8? 29.Jld8+ Jlxd8 30.il:Ixd8
-*'83 31.il:If7, ahd white has a won
ending) 29.Jlfl Jle7 30.Jlxf2 Jlxe6
31.Jlf4, and it is true that black must
fight for the draw in the resulting rook
ending.

20 •• JlbS
After 20 .•. cxbS 21.dSI1 il:IxdS
22.-*.xg7l1h7 23.-*.d41? whiie is better.
21.bxe6 'lixc6
Black has good piece play for the
pawn.
22Jlcl 1I"dS! 23..!Dd2 Draw
('/2_lh)
The following variations illustrate
that this result is just: 23.il:Id2 RheB
24.oi>al (24.l:.h4 WfS+ 2S.il:Ie4 il:IdS!;
In Tal-Huebner (Montreal 1979),
15 ..•il:If6 16.We2 cS 17;dxcS -*.xcS
IB.lIh4 oi>bB1 (18...lOdSl was required)
19.-*.f4 -*.d6 20.Jlxd6! Jlxd6 21.Il:IeSI,
led to a black defeat.
\s
The bishop not as securely placed
on e7, for example, 15•.. .ie7 16.oi>bl
Jlhe8 17.1Ie2 -*.d6 18.-Jlhel il:If6
19.Il:\eS cS 20.dxcS -*.xeS 21.1IxeS
1IxeS 22.JlxeS Jld4, and white is better,
Geller-Kasparov, 46th USSR
Championship, 197B. Later, Kasparov
chose white in this variation: (18.lIhel
Jle7 19.c4 cS 20.-*.e3, with strong
 The Caro-Kalln! In Black and White
pressure [Kasparov- Vukic, Skara
19S0]).
16.c4
If white plays the waiting move
16.Wbl, black, as practice shows, Is OK
after 16. ..cS or 16...:IIeS.
16.••cS17.d5!?
Here as well, the neutral 17.Wbl
gives black a good game: 17...:heS
18..i.c3/t)f6 19."e2 ",,6 20.:114 .i.c7
21./OeS .i.xeS 22.1II"eS :d7 23.:cl
c"d4 24..i.xd4 b6, and he takes over the
initiative (DeFirmian-Adianto, San
Francisco 1987). Another example:
17.../t)f6 18.We2 cxd4 19.1Oxd4 .i.xg3
20.lllxe6 :heS 2Uxg3 :xe6 22."f3
"c6 23.1II"c6+ :"c6 24.b3 Zlcd6, and
white must fight for the draw in the
endgame (Spassky-Izeta, Ovlado
1991).
Beside the central breakthrough,
white also has the calm continuation
17..i.c3, which takes the eS-square
under control and also aims to attack the
g7-pawn. In Hjartarson-Tlmman
(Amsterdam 1989), after 17 ... c"d4
IS.lllxd4!? Illes (18.....xc41 19.IllCS!
etc.) 19."c2 a6 20.:hel .i.e7 21.~bl
.i.f6 22.f411 (22.1llb3 Is equal) ... Zld7
23.lllf3!? (again 22.lllb3 is more
precise). all the rooks were exchanged,
and black stood better in the ending:
23 ...:"d1+ 24.:xdl :dB 2S.JlxdB+
"xdB 26..i.x£6 gxf6 27.a3 CS 2S.Wa2
f61 29.b41l\c4 30.g4 "d6 31.gxfS 1IIxf4
32.1IIg2 IllgSl, winning. Correct was
19."e31?, keeping control of the
eS-square. After 19 ... a6 20.lllf3,
white's chances are sli~t1y better.
In case of the bishop capturing on d4,
it is easier for black to defend because
IS9
of Ihe possibility of oUacking Ihe
hS-pawn: IS.,i,xd4 Illf6 19."e2 1IIaS
20.r.t'b 1 "rs+ 2 \. ~a 1 .i.b8!? 22. "e3
Jld7 23 ..i.eS Illg4 24."cS+ :c7
2S.1IId4111xf3 26..i."c7 .i.xc7 27.1II"a7
illeS and white soon resigned
(Hellers-Miles, Biel 1989).
17....!l)nt
It is probably not good 10
Immediately lake the dS-pawn:
17...exdS I g.cxdS (but not IS."xclS
1llb619."fS+~bS20..i.aSg621.hxg6
f"g6 22.""g6 "c6 23.1IIhS "a4
24 . .i."b6 1I"'c4+ 2S.~bl 1IIe4+
26.Wa1 axb6, and black, having
regained the pawn, look the offensive in
Solomon-Adianlo, Sydney 1991)
.. .'~bS 19..i.c3 :hgS 20.:IIel ~aS
21.1llh4 bS 22.Il\fS, and white soon won
in Bikert-Bemai (Capelle la Grande
1991). In Ivanov-Miles (philadelphia
19S9), black played 17...:heS and after
IS ..i.c3e"dS 19.1II"dS.i.eS! (instead of
19...1l\es?!) could have stood well.
18.1ie2exdS
Here. the intellllediate IS ... Zlhes Is
not very successful: 19..i.c3 exdS
20 ..i.xf6 gxf6 21.JlxdS, and the
weakness of the black kingslde pawns
can haunt him in the future.
19.cxdS Jlhe8 20•.i.c3
160 The Caro-Ka""' In Block and White
20...<i>b8
In Arakhamla-van der Sterren
(Sydney 1991), after 20_ .. 'IId72I..1xf6
g"f6 22,loh4, black decided to munch
on the h-pawn with 22 ___ :e5 23.f4
Rxh5?, and, as a result, after 24_'III'e2
:xdS 25.l::txdS .1xf4+ 26.gxf4 'lll'xdS
2?1:td1 'llfxn2 28.:xd8+ Wxd8 29./of5
"'e6 30."ilfd3+ We? 31.tt:lxh6,lived to
regret it
21J:1.h4
Why not double the pawns
immediately with 21..1"f6 gxf6
22.tOh4 (?). While is then betler.
21...1IId7!
Preparing to double rooks on the
c-fiIe, which will fully equalize.
22 ...txf6 pf6 23.Ile4 fS
Also good is 23 ...:xe4 24.'11,,104 f5!?
followed by fS-f4.
24J:1.xeSlbeS 15.li)h4
If 2S.:e11 lbel+ 26.1oxel f4!,
black rids himself of the J-pawn and
obtains good chances.
25 •• Jle4
Also 25 ... lZeSI? deserved atlention.
26.<i>bl ..teS
If 26...a6, 27.a3 is equal.
27.1IIxc:S 1le2 28.1IIfII+
The only move, for otherwise white
will not survive.
2S ... 1IIc8 29.1IIxc:S+ 'ottxc:S
30J:l.c:1+ ct>d7 31.1lc:2 11e1+
32.:c1 :e2 33.:c2 Draw
('t._llz)
GAME 41
Ivanc:huk - Selrawan
Novi Sad. 1990
1.e4 c:6 2.d4 dS 3.lOd2 dxe4
4.li)xe4 ..tts S.li)g3..tg6 6.M
lOcI7 7.h4 h6 8.hS ..th7 9 •..tdJ
..txdJ 10.1IIxd3 lDgf6
It is OK to play the move e7-e6 a bit
later. Basically, the move order is not
too Important here. If white wants to
bring the bishop out to f4, black cannot
stop this with lO...'III'c7 1l.:h4 106
12..i.f4..
11 ...t(4 e6 11.0-0-0 ..te7 13.c:4
Theory regards the move 13.I()cS
higher, but the advance of the c-pawn is
usually part of white's plan anyway.
13...bS!?
A counterthrust which we have seen
before. This time, it occurs at the earliest
stage ofthe game. As usual. the struggle
 77.e Caro-Ka"n! /n Black and While 161

for the central squares is the key to 16...84

black's play.
After 16...1Ib8 17.~2 ~S 18.g4!
14.cS! lId8 19.Jldgl .i.gS 20.~JtgS hxgS
21."d2 f6 22."d3, white's threats are
serious.

17.lOe:zWb8
After 17...~g4 18.Jlhfl (I8.Jldfl?
~xcSI) ...'IIIc8 19.'11104 ~gf6 20."c2
lOg4, the game could ha ve ended in a
repetition. But 19.~1 with the future
f2-n and g2-g4 gives white the beUcr
chances. As the game goes, black
Intends 10 move the e-pawn forward
and this Induces to speed up his attack:

The correct reaction. He completely 18.g4

conced~ the cIS-square 10 the enemy,
but, using the far advanced wedges hS The Inclusion of 18..i.f4 'IIIdB, and
now 19.94 is not in white'sfavor, as the
and cS, he gains space, aiming to tie
~2 will be unable to enter the attack
black down. In particular, black will not
have his usual counterplay along the a- through the f4-square. But it was
possible to immediately play 18.~41
and b-lilos. If 14.cxbS cxbS IS.'IIIxbS
0-0, black has a wealth of play on the Jld8 19."c2 b4 20."04 ~ 21.~cIS
exclS 22.1IfdJ.
queenside.

14...0-0 18••.Ii~xg4
Ofcourse, block cannot aJlow g4-g5.
The king will be in danger here, as
the white g-pawn is getting set to leap
19':dgl!
forward. It was safer to hide the king on
the queenside with the natural 14.. .tt~IS
IS ..i.d2 'IIIc7 16.~ 0-0-0, although
after 17.g3 and 18.~f4, white issJightly
better.

It was also possible to begin with

16.~e2, opening the way for the
g-pawn. If white exchanges with
16.~ ~o4 17.'IIIxe4 Jlc8 18.~
etJf619."e2~20 ..i.c1 a4,blackhas
a solid position.
162 The Caro-Xann! In Black and White
19...f5!
The onl y possible defense. If black
gambles with 19...~xf2 20.•c2! (but
not 20.llxg7+? Wxg7 21.Jlgl+ "'gS!
22 .... xgS ~xd3) ...~dtl 21. ..."h61?
black's choice Is quite difficult. The
following variations are given by
Nikitin: 21 ......f6 22 ...."g7 La7 23.h6
~f6 24,lbg7+ Wh8 2S.~eS lla7
26.~f4 "e8 27 .•g6!!, with mate;
21...~g3 22.~xg3 gdt6 23.~S+ Wh8
24.1fd2 "'gS 2S.llxgS hxgS 26.•xgS
exfS 27.'III'h6+ Wg8 28.~SS IOf6
29.'III'xf6 'lll'd8 3O.'Wh6 'lll'xgS 31."xSS+
Wh7 32."f6 llac8 33.Wc2, with
advantage for whIte.
Even more dangerous for black Is
preceding the attack with ~1."'f41 'lll'd8,
and only now 22.... xh6 ...f623 .... xg71
"'xg7 24.h6 fS (24 ....f6 2S.llxg7+
"xg7 26.hxg7 W"g7 27.lOf4, does not
help) 2S.llxg7+ Wh8 26.lOf4 :f6
27.'Wh2 1Of2! 28.'Whs! 'lll'e8 29.'III'gS
IOc4 30.llh7+1 matins. 19...lOdf6Iooks
OK for black, .but 20.ILleS! IOxeS
21.dxeS 'lll'xeS 22 .... dt61Oe8 23 .... xS7
IOxg7 24.f4! "dS 2S. "xdS c,;dS 26.h6
.*.f6 27.hxg7 "'xg7 28.fS exfS 29.1Od4,
is decisive.
The move 20....f4 suSgests Itself, but
the reply 20...e51 21.lOxeS (21..*.S3 e4)
...lOdxeS 22.dxeS "'xcS, gives black
excellent chances. 20.:g2 al!? 21.b3
eSt is also not danserous for him.
20•• ':17
Here, black, too. cannot play
20... lOxf2 21."e2 IOxhl 22.'III'xe6+
Zlf7 23.llxS7+! WxS7 24'''S6+ ci>flI
25.10.:6+ We8 26.lOs7+ ci>flI27 ..*.xh6,
etc. Also bad is 20...eS 21.lOg6 Zlf7
22.~xe7+ llxe7 23."xrS ~gf6
24 ..*.xh6.
21••e2eS
More precise is 21...lOf8!. building a
secure defense: 22.lOxe6 "'f6 23.lOxf8
"xIS. and if 24."e6?1 .c8.
22.lllg6 .e8!
Bringins the queen to the aid of the
king. Black now liquidates the danser.
But If 22 ...e4?, he would have been in
critical condition after 23.lOxe7+ :xe7
24.1Oh4 Zlf7 2S.~5 :xfS 26."xg4
Zlf7 27 ..txh6.
23.lllh2
The exchange sacrifice is
insufficient: 23.JlxS4 f"g4 24.~xeS
IOxe5 25.lOxe5 - 25 ....*.f61 Black also
gels a good game if white captures on
e5: 23.dxeS .*.xc5 24.e6 :f6 25.:"1
1018.
23...lllxb2 24J:txhl ~h71
Stopping the threat of the capture on
h6. Attack alonS the g-file has been
repulsed. Black !Jas also maintained the
center of the board.
2S.fJ! .i.tlI
A subtle retreat. 25 ...exd4 is bad
because of 26.:"11 d327.•"dllOxcS
28. "c2. while the other bishop
relocation 25 ...... f6. is refuted by
26.:"1 e4 27.fxe4 Ld4 28.eS! IOxc5
29.e6llf6 3O.•dl (or 30.e7).
26 •.IIe1 e4 21.fxe4 'Wxe4+
28.1Irxe4 fxe4 29':xe4 .IIrS!
 71re Cam-Kon,.! I,. Black and White
Bla~k has acti vated his rook and Is
already threatening lilf6, going on the
offensive. White already has 10 be a bit
precise in his actions.
30.l:te6 l:te8 31.'~e2 ~g8
31•.i.dl Wf7 33.l:tee2
After 33.:'he2 lilf6 34.lt:le1 .b.e1
35.:'xe1+ "'f81 while would
experience serious difficultles.
33•••~f6 34.l:tefl Draw <'1.-',.)
Both the rook trade and 34.llef2 lldS
3S.:.h4 ~e1,lead 10 complete equality.
GAME 41
Dvoirls - Yudasln
Leningrad, 1990
1.e4 c6 1.d4 d5 3.~ dxe4
4.~lle4 i.fS S.~g3 .i.g6 6.0!Df3
~7 7.M h6 8.bS i.b7 9.i.d3
i.xd3 10.'lrxd3lt)gRi 1l•.i.d2
'lre7 12.0-0-0 e6 13.~bl
A fairly rare continuation. 13."e2 is
more frequent.
13•.•0-0-0 14.e4 ~b8!,!
163
nte black king also moves 10 the
side. This novelty Is connected with the
idea of b7-bS!?, familiar 10 us. The
standard move is 14 ..."S.
lS•.i.c3 ~a8
Now allis set for the counterthrust
b1-bS.
16.1fel
This move prevents 16... bS, 8S
17.lt:leS! follows. nte n-pawn is under
attack, and if 17 ...lilb6 (if 17...lilxeS
18.dll"S and 19.cxbS) IB.clIbS cxbS
19.1r"b5, when black is In trouble, as
20.'I'c6-I- Is threalened. This variation
was given by Yudasin, whose notes we
shall use from now on.
16•••.i.d6
If 16...c5, 17.lileS lillleS IB.dxeS,
leads 10 a big white advantage.
17.ll)eS l:thl8 18.£4 eS 19.b3
Not dangerous is 19.dS. because
19... exdS 20.cxdS (20.ltlfS d4!) ...Itlb6,
is not at all good for white.
19••• a6
164 The Caro-Kann! Tn Black and White

Maybe black should already have a serious advantage. Also good for him
captured on d4. Is 26.Jlxd7 .... d7. with an active
position.
20.J.b2
26..':xc7
Again. the breakthrough attempt
with 20.dS yields nothing due to
20...exdS 21.cxdS 1.Ob6. But now 2 \.dS
is a threat. for 21...exd4 runs into the
un"l"""""t 22.l.Or5 d4 23.l.Oxg7.

20 ... cxd4 21.1hd4 J.c5

22Jld31t:\xe5 23.J.xe5
23.fxeS is more exact, but even here
after 23.be5 :xd3 24.1II'xd3 :dB
25."f3 (otherwise 25 ...1.Od7) ...1.Oh7.
black jumps to sS .with ~ knight and
has a solid position. Also possible is
2S ...l.Oes 26.:n Ild7 27.1.Oe4 .i.fl! or
27 ....i.d4. with sharp play. ,
23.•.J.d6!
Looking to exchange on eS. where
white will recei v'e a weak pawn. If
23 ... 1II'c6 24.:hdl. white has the
Initiative.
24.J.xd6
If 24.:xd6 :xd6 25.1.Oe4 I.Oxe4
26."xe4 'llfc6? 27."xc6 Jlxc6
2B ..i.xg7. white's advantage is clear.
but if black plays the correct26...:fd8!.
It is white who is in difficulties.
24..':xd6 25.We5 %ld7
Strangely enough. the obvious
2S ...:fdS loses immediately: 26.c51
R6d7 27.•xc7 :xc7 2B.Il..d8+.
26.'ifxc7
The bcstmove. If 26.:hd1? "xeS
27.fxeS :xd3 28.Jlxd3 I.Og4. black has
27.'it>b2?!
This move was based on "general
principles." In similar positions. the
initiative in the endgame can often pass
to your opponent, if your pawns are
weak. White should have thought about
how drawing the game. for elllltnple:
27.Jlhdl JlcS 2B.JldB+ : ..dB 29.: ..d8+
"'a7 30.m I.OxhS 31.I.OxhS (31.b4?
: ..c41 32.I.O..hS g6 33.i.Of6 : ..b4+.
getting lots of paWns) ...:xhS 32.:.. f7
g5 33.f..sS JlxsS 34.:£2. But black can
wait to activate the rook with 27 ..."'bB.
then "'cB and on!y then Jlc5.
27.. JUc8! 28.151
Instead 2B.Jld2 bS 29.cxb5 axbS. was
necessary. After the black knight
appears on dS. it domirlates the
opposing knight, but this is insufficient
to win the game.
28..:b5!
 The Caro·Kanlf! Tn Black and While
Finally, black plays this move, which
for so long has been part of his plan.
29.exbS
It is a mistake to allow the
penetration of the rooks. But even after
29.fxe6 bxc4 30.bxc4 fxe6 31Jlel Jlc6,
black has great chance•.
29..J:te2+ 3O.~bl
Losi~g i. 30.Wa3 axbS 3I.fxe6 fxe6
32.lIcl ~S! 33.lIxc6 h4+ 34.Wa4
Rxa2+ 3S.WbS 1Oc7+.
30.•J:txgl3t.rxe6 rxe6 32.:e1
itIdS! 33J:tel:xc:1+ 34.~xcl
axbS 3S.itIlS
With a hope of a draw in a rook
ending. But black has no intention of
tmding the knights.
;3S•.•itIb4
Even stronger is 3S... ~4f7 36.lId8+
Wb7.elc.
36J:td8+ ~b7 37.itId4 itIxa2+
38.~dl itIc3+ 39.~e1 eS!
40.o!i)e6 e4
165
With the unambIguous threat of
41. ..e3 and 42 ...lIgl*.
41.:d2 :gl+ 42.~f2 llhl
43.itIxg7 llh2+ 44.ct>e3
If 44.Wc 1 lIh3 4S.lIg2 e3 46.lIg1
llh2r 47./t)fS lIb2 and the mate threat
wins the knight: 48./t)xe311e2+.
44...11h3+ 4S.Wd4 e31 46J:tgZ
e2 47.11g1 :f3 48.o!i)e6 lin
49.ttJcs+ ~7 5OJ:tg7+ wd8!
nlc final subtlety. Aflcr SO... Wc6
Sl.~3 lIdl S2.lle7, white could still
defend.
SI.itIb7+ we8 White
Resigned (0-1)
GAME 43
Hellen - Khalifman
New York, 1990
l.e4 e6 2.d4 dS 3.itIe3 dxe4
4.itIxe4 ~IS S.itIg3 ~g6 6.h4
h6 7.itIrJ itId7 8.hS ~h7
9.~d3 ~xd3 10.'llfxd3 e6
11.~d2 'llfe7 lZ.O-O-O 0-0-0
13.'llfe2 itIgf6 14.o!i)eS
The retreat to e2 with the queen in
connection with the knight leap to eS Is
a popular alternative to the plan of
returning the knight to 04.
14...itIb6
This move looks more attractive than
the exchange on eS: 14...ttJxeS IS.dxeS
It)dS or IS ...~7 (see Game 20). The
retreat 14...liJb8 is also hardly good.
After 15.:114 -*.d6 16.:e1 (16.1Oc4 i.
166 The CtJrO-Kann! In Black and White
also good) ... :he8 17.:£41, the
continuation 17 ...cS does not work for
blade. because of the simple 18.dxcS!
The white rook retreats to f3 and
paralyzes the enemy's kingside.
15.c4
After IS.c3 cS 16.dxcS .i.xcs, or
IS.:h4cS 16..i.aScxd417.:hxd4.i.cS
18.:C4 :dS, the chances become even.
For a long time, IS ..i.aS was very
popular, and 1!! ... :d5 Is the best
response. Now on 16.b4, with the threat
of 17.c4, black sacrifices the exchange
with 16...:xaS 11.bxaS.b3+ 18.'~bl
~a4 19.tlf3 .i.b4 20.l:rd3 .uS
21.~2 ~dS with sharp play, for
example, 22.:h3 .i.e7! 23 .•xn tlel+
24.~1 .i.gS 2S.tlxe6+ ~c7 26.tld7+
~bS 27 .• d6+ ~aS 2S.tla3 .i.xcl
29.tlxcl ~c3+. with a decislveallack,
Ligan-Margolit; corr. 1974/75. The
usual continuation is 16..i.*b6 axb6
17.c4 <if 17.f4 :dB, black's posItion Is
stable) ...l:rdB IS.~4. NoV( In the game
Spassky-Pomar (Las Palmas, 1965) the
exchange 18 .•. ~xe4 19.•xe4 .i.d6
2o.lilfJ :heB 21.~bl tle7 22.l:rheI,
gave while the slightly better chances,
but ihe Exchange sacrifice, IB...l:rxd4
19.:xd4 tlxe!!, deserved a look.
Recently, the d-pawn sacrifice (after
c2-(4) has been prominent. But it
appears that it Is not 100 dangerous for
black.
15.. Jlxd4
Insufficient Is IS ••• cS 16.Wbll
(stronger than 16..i.f4 .i.d6 17.dxcS
tI xc!!) ...-*.d6 (16 ... cxd4 17.-*.a!l!;
16.•.11xd4 17.-*.c3 llxdl+ 18.:xdl
lila4 19.-*.aS!) 17..i.aS tle7 IB.dxcS
.i.xcS 19.~! with a clear advantage
to white (Chiburdanidze-Sturua, Tbilisi
1991).
16..i.e3 l:txd1+ 17Jlxd1
While has forged noticeably ahead of
black In development, at the cost of a
pawn. But is this development lead so
dangerous?
17•• Jlg8!
Other continuations are dcflnitely
worse: 17 ... .i.d6? 18.11xd6 lIhd6
19.1ilxf7; 17...•xeS? 18.l:rdS+ ~xd8
19 ..i.xb6+ axb6 20. tlxeS; 17 ....i.b4
18.~3 .i.e7 19..i.f4 "lidS iO.liles tle8
21.lilg6 fxg6 22.'iteS, with a winning
position for whIle In all lines. True, in
the last variation 18...tle7 19.a3 .i.d6
20.cS .i.xg3 21.c:xb6 -*.d6 22.bxa7 Wc7
23.~S :'8 24.lila4 bS is more exact,
and black maintains the equality:
2S.'itd2 ~7 26."IIaS+ Wb7 27.tldl
Wc7 28.tlaS+Wh7, Draw ('ll-'ll) (Sion
 The Caro-Kannt In Black alld Wltile 167

Castro-Magem Badals, Lyon 1991). If

17...lilxa4? 18.~xa7 b6 19."f3 wb7
20.lile4, white has a dangerous
Initiative.

18•.if4
After 18."d2?! ~b4! 19."xb4
"xeS 20.~xb6 axb6 21."xb6 'liff4+,
black'is better. After 18.f4 cS 19."d3
J..e7 20.lilxn :f8 21.IileS, (30), white
regains the pawn and keeps the initiative
(Sax-Andersson, Szlrak 1990). But
black has the strong response 20...lilg4! White has regained one of the pawns,
21."e2 Iilxe3 22."xe3 wb81 and now but bas no compensation for the other.
if 23.IileS ~f6 24.b3 gSI 2S.hxg6 ~xeS
26. "xeS (26.fxeS?1 Ibg6, i. better for
black, Conguwell-Ravi, India 1992)
... 'llfxeS 27.fxeS IIxg6 28.1ile4 IIxg2 Reaches a winning ending by force .
29.lilxcS, is equal. After 23."xe6
"xf4+ 24.Wbl "xg3!1 (24 .....f611 26•••5 Ii)d3+ 27.~bl 'llfa6
2S . .Ile1, is better for white, 28••c3Ii)xb229••xb2 1Ifxa7
Miscaranas-Ravi, India 1992), both The rest Is simple.
sides bave chances.
Note that Instead of 18 ...cS, 18...1ila4 30.'llfeS .b6+ 31.~c2 Ii)fIj
loses to 19.~xa7 cS 20."d3 "as 32.li)c3 .c7 33 ••e3 Ii)g4
21.lild71 and 18... wb8 19.fS! ~d6 34.•e2 li)eS 3S.li)bS Ii)c6!
20.~f4, is also dangerous for black. But 36./i)xc7Ii)d4+ 37.~d2li)xe2
18"'8S deserves attention. In 38.li)eS Ii)f4 39.g3 Ii)h3
Shahal-Lederman (Beer-Sheva 1991),a 40.~e3 ct>d7 41.li)xg7 Ii)gS
draw was agreed upon in. two moves 42.li)hS fS 43.li)f4 ct>d6
after: 19.hxg6 fxg6 20."d31ilbd7. 44./i)dl eS 4S.0 li)xo White
Resigned (0-1)
18 ... li)bd7 19 •• d2 .ib41
20••xb4 /i)xeS 21.tDe2 Ii)xh5
22..ie3 Ild8 23.llxd8+ .xd8
24••«:3 .d625•.ixa7
168 71re Caro-Kallll! III Black allll White
 The Caro-Kann! In Black and White
CHAPTER 68
THE PETROSIAN-SMYSLOV SYSTEM
(1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.ltJc3 dxe4 4.ltJxe4 ltJd7)
The idea of this system is to develop the
knight to £6 after preliminary
preparation and to thereby avoid
worsening the pawn structure_ The
light-squared bishop stays home for a
while and thus anows black time for
other endeavors. The bishop's fate will
be decided at a later date. After the most
popular 5.-*.c4 ttlgf6 6.lOg5 (or 6.-*.d3)
and then h7-h6, the following pawn
structure takes shape:
It is reminiscent of the pawn structure
in the Classical System. The only
difference is that white's h-pawn has
not yet left Us original square. In the
169
opening, of course, the dynamics of the
pieces takes primary importance. But in
the ending, the difference In the position
of the h-pawn Is importsnt. On hS it
might tie black down, or, on die other
hand, become a weakness. With the
white lOgS, black must always watch
out for the possibility of the knight
striking e6. But if he can stop this, he
will get a solid enough position. In the
future, he can free himself with c6-c5.
Let me note that at the current time,
this popular and critical variation takes
the foremost place In my opening
repertoire against l.e4. I have played
dozens of games with it and, overall,
cannot complain about my results.
Therefore, I have decided to devote this
entire chapter to my games. In the
comments, I have included many other
examples. Thus, this chapter covers all
of the modern ideas of the
Petrosian-Smyslov System.
170 ~ Caro-/(o",,! I" Black allll W/lire
 The Caro-J(a",,! r" Black and While 171

GAME 44 20.lihg7 or 20.b4 mind-twisting

Sokolov, A - Karpov complications occur) ,,""gg 21.J.b2
Candidate.f Supetjinal .c6! black beat hack the attack and
retained the material plus: 22.l:ld41O.41
Linares (m/3), 1987 23.llel IOegS 24.•g4 J.a3! 25.J.c3
(see diagram)
1.e4 c6 1.d4 cIS 3.tt:Jdl dxe4
4.1m~4lDd7 S.M
Recently, s ..i.c4IOg(d)f6 6.lOgS, or
the immediate s.lOgS has been
preferred. Perhaps this is one or the
games which showed that S.1Of3 is not
dangerouS for black.

S•••IOgf6 6.1Oxf6+
Kasparov chose this exchange twice
in our Seville mab:h (bcIh games are
shown below; they were quickly
dl8wn). In the four-player tournament
And now I could have won the game
in Amsterdam 1988, I played the
Caro-Kann against him twice. This in one move by capturing the enemy
time, matters turned out WOrse bishop with the spectacular 2S ....i.b2!
(Kasparov was the winner both times), Instead, I traded on e I, the position
but the opening was not to blame for stabilized, and in time pressure I mixed
everything. In one of the games, things up and eventually lost on time.
Kasparov did not repeat S.1Of3 and
6. ••lOxf6 7.tOeS
instead chose S.lOgs (this game will be
discussed later), and in the other. he
retmded io g3 with his knight. Soon, a
very intense situation occurred: s.1Of3
IOgf6 6.lOg3 e6 7.J.d3 .i.e7 8.0-0 cS
9.lI'e2 0-0 to.lldl lI'c7 l1.c4 clld4
12.1OJId4 a6 (12 ...IOcS1113.~S!? .c6
14.J.c2 b6 Is.IOrS! exfS 16.lI'xe7 J.b7
17.n, is better for white, Aseev-Arkell,
~ningrad 1989) 13.b3 Ileg 14.J.b2 b6
IS.1Obs J.b7. Here white could have
played 16.L 1 and retained a small
space advantage, but Kasparov was
attracted by the knight sacrifice,
16.lOxe6!? fxe6 1'1.'Ifxe6+ ot>f8. The main theoretical continuation,
Already four moves later. 18.J.xh7 which, incidentally, I favored in my
lileS! 19.'lth3IOxh7 20.J.xg7+? (after youth. In the 197Os, those who played
172 The Caro-Kann! In Black and White
this position as black suffered quite a bit
from this war-like knight jwnp. The
strategical concept is that on 7 ... g6
white can limit the possibilities of the
.tc8 with 8..tc4 e6. If this bishop gets
out with 7 ....tfS. other troubles await
him. The game Karpov-Hort (Bugojno
1978), which should be presented in
full. illustrates this: 7 ....tfS 8.c3 e6 9.g4
.tg610.h4hS l1.gSlOcIS 12.lOxg6£"g6
13.'III'c2 ~f7 14.J:r.h3lDe7 IS ..tc4IOfS
16.J:r.f3 'lll'd7 17.J:r.xfS! eld'S 18.'II'"fS+
~e7 19.1II'e4 J:r.e8 20 ..tf4 ~8 21.1II'eS!
J:r.g8 22.0-0-0 g6 2l.J:r.e I .tf7 24.1ihS+
~e7 2S.l:lxe6+ black resigned (1-0).
Black-s suffering continued until the
extravagant manuever ... .te6 was
found. In fact, black played it in this
game. But before moving ahead, it is
necessary to recall that iit Seville.
Kasparov twice played 7.c3. Let us
examine thse games.
.. Kasparov-Karpov (Seville 1987.
lOth match game): 7.cl .tg4 8.h3
(Theoretical manuals present old games
in which 8 ..te2 e6 was played. and then
9.h3 .thS 10.lDeS .txe2 II."xe2 .te7
12.~gS 1II'c7 13.0-0-0 lOcI7 (Pilnik -
Petrosian, Amsterdam 1956), or 9.0-0
.te7 10..tf4 0-0 1l.J:r.el lOds 12..tg3
.txf3 13•.*.xf3 .td6 (Boleslavsky -
Kotov, Moscow 1948). with full
equality in both cases.) ....txfJ (Maybe
Kasparov was looking forward tosctive
play after 8....thS 9.g4 .tg6 lO.lDeS!?)
9.111'f3 e6 (9 ...1II'dS is even safer. as I
played in !he 14th game of the match)
10..tc4 .te7 11.0-0 lOds 12..te3 (if
12 ..td2, 12... .tgS is not bad; now the
exchange on e3 would have allowed
white to create pressure on the f-file.)
.. .'iib6 13. 'ill'e2 (Better is 13..tb3 0-0
14.c41Oxe3 IS.cS! 'i'b3 16.axb3lOxfl
17.'IIIf4! lOcI2 18.1II'xd2 a6 with a slight
advantage for white) _..0-0 14.l:ladl
.td6 (Preventing the plan IS •.tcl.
16.1If'e4 and 17 •.td3) IS . .tb3 (If
IS.hl .tf4! 16•.txdS .txcl 17 ..txe6
1II'xb21 and white's initiative fades
away.) ... lOxe316.fxe3cSI17.l:lfJRae8
more pleasant, but he does not. ha"e
enough force for a kingside attack.
Kasparo,,-Karpov (Seville 1987 •
14th match game): 7.c3 .tg4 g.h3 .txf3
9.1II'xf3111'dS (A novelty. Black prevents
the acti"e placing of white's pieces.)
10..te2 e6 11.0-0 .td6 12.1II'd3 .te7
14.J:r.dl 0-0 IS.c4 J:r.adS (Now the threat
of e6~S must be attended to.) 16.'i'b3
(If 16..tgS 1II'e7 is good. but actually
black need not fear the doubling of the
f-pawns.) _..1II'e7 17.g3 .tbS 18•.te3
J:r.d7 19•.l:Id2 .l:IfdS 20.lIadl h6 21.83,
Draw (112- 112). For now the break e6-eS
Is premature, but the obvious white plan
ofb2-b4.~bS will distract white's forces.
and the counterthrust e6-eS will be quite
possible,
Now back to our feature game.
7 ....t.e6
This move justified itself fully in this
game. And yet In the next ··black"
game. I decided to tum away myself
with 1 .. .IiJd7, wanting 10 "beat my
opponent to a surprise in the opening,'·
And In fact, black once again easily
obtained a good game. Here is how it
happened:
Sokolov,A-Karpov (Linares 1987.
Sth match same): 7 ...lOcI7.8 ..te3 (As I
recall, in Karpov-Sosonko (Amsterdam
1980), after 8.~d3 g6! 9.e3 .tg7
10..tf4 1II'aS 11.1II'd2 0-0 12..te2 eS
13.dxeS ~xeS, black freed himself in
the center and equalized. Difficulties
that might await black are well
 The Caro-Kann! In Black and White 173

illustrated in the game Larsen-Rogoff II..J.f4, II..J.f3, or II.Jle I, but

(Lone Pine 1978), where on S.~f4 he tournament practice has shown that
did not fmd a good reaction and after black's position is quite dependable
S....£4 tOxeS 9 ...."eS 'll'b6? 10.~d3! f6
11 ..J.g3 .J.e6 12. "el .J.£1 13.0-0 e6
14.c30"0-0 IS.~c4ReBI6.b4hS 17.h4
after any of these moves.

10...0-0 1l•.J.e3 ~e4

lIgB IS.1ff3 ~e7 19.a4 8S 20.aS "dB
21.86 gxh4 22.axb7· ot>xb7 23':X87+!
was forced to resign in view of
23 ...WX87 24.1Ii'xc6, with unavoidable
mate. Safer is 9 ......£5 10....c4 e6 11.0-0
~d6! with good counterplay.) ... tOxeS
9.dxeS ~fS (It is dangerous to accept
the pawn sacrifice with 9 ... "a5+
10.•d2 "xeS 11.0-0-0, as white has an
initiative and more than enough
compe.nsation, while 10 ... 'lll'xd2+
11.ot>xd2, only helps white develop his
activity.) 10.'ifxdS+ Jlxd8 .11.~xa7
(apparently, II.c3 is better, in order to
After 11..:.c7 or 1I ...tOd7, white
battle for the d-file: 11 ...86 (if 11 ... btl
usually ended up gaining an edge. In
12.a4, threatening a4-a5) 12.~b6 IId7
Gruenfeld-Dlugy (New York 1985),
13.~4 e6 14.ot>e2. But now the game
black got a good game after 11 ...tOeS
simplifies considerably.) ...... xc2
12.~f4 tOd6 1l.dS cxdS 14.cxdS ~fSI
12.... b6 lIaB 13..J.c4 e6 14.£3 Ra4!
15.g4 "'cS 16.'ifd4 'ifb6 l7.~e3 'llfxd4
IS.b3 "'b4+ 16.ot>e2 Jla3 (Because of
18..J.xd4 0106 19.dxe6 ~xe6 20.Jlfdl
the threat of 17...ot>e7 and IS ... Jlha8,
IlfdS, but stronger is 12.'ifb3! tOd6
attacking the a2-pawn, white has to
13.1Iad1 WcB 14.Wc3 lIdB IS.h3 f6
carry his dark.squared bishop over to
16.tOr3 Wd7 17.Jlfel Jle8 IB....n "'£1
defense.) 17.... d4 0-0 IS..J.b2 lIaa8
19.~c1, with advantage to white
19.a3 "'e7 20.llhcl "'g6 21.Jldi JlfbB.
(Gruenfeld-Leln, New York 1985).
The position is completely equal, and
Transferring the knight from f6 to d6 via
soon we signed a peace accord.
e4 has the advantage that white no
Now back to the feature game. longer has the move 12.Wb3 because of
12....J.xeS! 13.dxeS tOd2.

12••c2 ~d6 13.&3

B.c4 transposes, and white can expect
nothing from the modest B.c3.
8...g6 9.0-0 iLg7 10•.:4
Again, the calm IO.cloffersnothing.
After 10 ... 0-0, white has a large
assortment of continuations: II.tOd3,
The immediate 13.lIadl should have
been considered. Now black quickly
and effectively realizes his main
strategic idea.
13...c:5! 14':adl M
114 Ths Caro-Konn! In Black and Wllite
Black has created an attack against
the d4-pawn. The exchange of the
important ~e3 is·inevitable.
lS.dS
If white gambles with IS.dxcS lOxe3
16.fxe3 'lIfc8 17.~3 ~fS 18.b4 ~h6
19.'life I a.5 20.a3 8Xb4 21.8lIb4 lZa2,
black receives a powerful initiative for
the pawn. The advance in the center
leadS to multiple exchanges.
lS...~xeS
The alternative IS ...'lIfc7 16.dxe6
IOxe3 17.fxe3 'lIfxeS, is also OK for
black.
16.dxe611fc717.exf7+
Instead 17.lZd7 .txh2+ 18.oi>hl WeS
19.:dS IOxe3 20.fxe3 'lIfc7 21.lZd7 'lIfeS
22.lZdS, ends up in a repetition of the
position.
17•• J:txf7 18.g3lZ.afB
Black already has a draw with
18 ... ~lIg3 19.hxg3 IOxe3 20.hel
""83+. He cannot really expect more.
19.~g41l:1xe3
The sacrifice on g3 does not favor
black.
20.fxe3lZ.xfi+ Draw (liz_liz)
GAME 45
De Firmlan - Karpov
Biel,1990
1.e4 c62.d4 dS 3.1l:Id2
The reader has probably noticed that
white sc;>metimes brings his knight out
to e3 and sometimes to d2. Of coune,
after 3 ... dxe4 4 ..!OlIe4, thIs does not
matter anymore. So what is the
difference? After the standard move
3.1Oc3, black has another option besides
the capture on e4. This is the
non-standard response 3",86 with
counterplay in the center, for instance,
4.lt~f3 .tg7 S.h3 .!Oh6 6•.td3 f6 7.0-0
0-0 8.:e1 IOf7 9.We2 eS 10..te3 fSI,
with rich play for black (Kots-Lutikov,
USSR 1970).
The subtlety of the move to d2 is that
now the g-pawn move is not as sensible.
After 3 ... g6, the d4-pawn can be safely
supported by lis neighbor from c3.
White forms a strong pawn center after,
for ellample, 3.1Od2 g6 4.c3 ~g7 S.~d3
dxe4.6.lOxe4 .if5 7.1Oc5 b6 8.1llb3
-*.xd3 9.'lIfxd3lOf6 10.1Of3 0-0 11.0-0
'lIfe7 12.J:lellZ.c8 Il.lOes, and white's
advanCage is serious (Geller-Botvinnik.
Moscow 1967).
3•••dxe4 4.ll:Ixe4ll:1d7 S.ll:IgS
 The Caro-Kann! In Black and White
The knight lunge 10 gS is the most
active continuation. It demands quite
attentive play from black. The other
move order is S.~ and only after
s ...lOgf6. 6.lOg.5.
S •• ,1i)dr6
It is well known that one should not
move the same piece twice In the
opening. and S... lOgf6 looks more
logical. But the extravagant move
S...lOdf6 occurs In practice: the lOgS
can noW proceed to either e7 or f6 (after
1Jl£6-clS). While has no real reasons 10
expect to obtain a serious advantage
quickly. Another way of "losing a
tempo" by moving the iOd7 is S...lOb6
6.101f3 g6 7.e3. Here is a successful
example for black (van der
Wiel-Ks!pOv. Amslerdam. 1988): 7.e3
(The developing move 7.1.d3 gives
white the betler chances; passive play
does not lead 10 anything good.) ....i.g7
8.'Ifb3 lOh6 9 ..i.e2 0-0 10.0-0 IOfS! and
black already stands weli. and after
1 Uldl1l'c7 12.g3iOd6! 13.lOes (safer
is 13.c4) 13...<:5 14.dxcS irxcs IS.1OcI3
irfS! 16.lOel .td7! 17 . .td3 .as
18.1fb4 'itxb4 19.cxb4 IlfdS 20.llbl
iDa4 21.Ild2 .iM 22/ogf3 iDc41.
whlte's position became very dreary.
115
6..lt4
The other way is 6..i.d3. It, 100. is
\Dtlikely \0 be dangerous for black.
6... eCi
Against Spassky (Belfort 1988). I
continued 6 ...lOdS. After 7.101f3 86
8.0-01.g7 9.:el h610.1Oc4 1.g4 11.84
IOgf6 12.lOxf6+ 1.xf6 13.lla3 Wf8
14.h3 .txf3 Is.llxfJ Tg7. white stood
8 little better. Even stronger is I1.c3
IOgf612.IOc:S!
7.~
7.1Ogf3 is apparently more precise.
In Huebner-Karpov (Belfort 1988).
there followed 7 ...h6 8.1Oh3 .td69.We2
1Oc:7 1O•.i.d2 'itc7 11.0-0-0 bS 12..tdJ
a613.llhel.tb7. with a tiny advantage
10 white.
7... c:51
An improvement over 7 ... .i.d6.
which. for instance. took place in
Sokolov,A-Sprag8ett (Saint John
1988). Allhough black was able to
resolve all of his problems after 8.0-0 h6
9.1Of3 'itc7 10.lOg3?! 1De7 1 I.llel 0-0.
176 The Caro-Kann! In Black and While
he would have had more difficulty after
I O.i.d3! and then c2-c4.
8.0-0 h6 !).it:lD a610.a4
Equality comes from 10.dxcS "xdl
II.:xdl i.xcs, but more favorable to
white is 1O.i.d3!? cxd4 1l.lOoxd4 i.d6
12."e2 1007 13.100.5!7 (or 13.c4 0-0
14.b3111'c7 IS..i.b2 .i.cS) with chances
for both sides. .•
10••• cxd4 11.lOexd4 .i.d6
12••e2lOe7 13.lOeS
Allows black to achieve a
comfortable game. The quiet 13.b3 "c7
14.:el (14.-*.b2?7 loses to 14...eS)
... 0-0 I S.-*.b2 tDed5, 'Ieads to •
complicated game.
13....c7 14.lOdfJ 0-0 lS.b3
Safer is 15..i.f4 ItJeds 16.-*.g3 b6
17.Ldl .i.b7, or 15.aS111OodS 16.c3
bS, with approximste equality.
IS...b6 16.i.b2 i.b7 17Jladl
lOedS 18':d4 bS!
19.i.xdS?!
It was correct to accept the sacrifice
with 19.axbS axbS 20.i.xbS :.2
21.lOc4 (21.:bl1 -*.xeS 22.lOxe.5
:xb21 23.:xb2 lOc3 24."c4 1II'xeS
2S."xc3 "xbS, with a clear advantage
to black), although after 21. ..eS, black
has sufficient compensation.
19....i.xdS 20./.Dg4 ~e7
Worse is 20 ...tDxg47 21.:xg4 f6
22.c4 bxc4 23.bxc4 .i.xf3 24.'llfxe6+,
and white bas the Initiative.
21.lOreS .b7 22.lOxf6+ .bftJ
23Jtg4~h8
Anccessaryprecaution.lf23 ...bxB47
24.c41 i.c67 (the only move Is 24 ...b.5)
2s.lOxc6 -*.xb2 ~6.1II'xb2, white wins.
24.c4
Black has a slight advantage after
24.tDd3 i.xb2 2S.lOxb2 Lcs.
24...bxc4 2S.lLld7?
Allows Black to achieve a decisive
advantage. Worthy of attention was
2S.bxc4 i.c6 26.aSI7 (but not 26.lOxc6
"xb2, with many problems for white.).
25... .i.xb2 26•• xb2 llg8
27.11h4 ~h7 28.lOeS cxb3
29':elllac8 30.1!fd2 fS 31.g4
gS 32.11h3 llc2 White
Resigned (0-1)
 The Caro-Kann! In Black and While
GAME 46
Sokolov, A - Karpov
Candidates Supeifinal
Linares (mI7). 1987
1.e4 c62.d4 d5 3.1Cd2 dxe4
4.lCxe4lCd7 S.~c4
In the third and firth malch games,
while played S.ll'lf3 but achieved
nothing. But this time, I also managed
to get out of the opening in fine shape.
S...lCgf6 6.lCgS e6 7.lIMlCb6
8.~d3 . .i.e7 (12 ...axb4 13.cxb4 b6 14.1l'ld41)
The choice was between 8 ..i.d3 and
8 ..i.b3. We will talk about the laller
move in comments to Game 48.
8 ...h6
The d4-pawn is poisoned: 8 ...'lfxd4
9.ll'llf3 'lfdS lO.~SI 'lfxg2 11.:n
.i.e7 12.ll'lef3 'lfg4 13.ll'lxf71
(Amason-Helmers, Reykjavik 1982),
so therefore black drives back the active
knight quickly.
9.ICSf3 cS 10.dxcS
177
The most aeti ve treatment. Other
continuations: 10.c3, 10 ..i.e3, or
10•.i.f4, are less promising.
IO...~xcS
More dependable than 10...ll'lbd7.1n
this cnse, the play .harpens abruptly,
and white can fight for the openin8
advantage with 11.b4!? which sets an
amusin8 trap: 1l .•. b6 12.1l'ld4 bxcS?7
13.ll'lc6! 'lfc7 14 .• xe6+!! fxe6
IS ..i.g611! After 12 ... Il'l"cS 13 ..i.bS+
Il'lcd7 14.a3 .i.b7 lS.4iLlgn. while has
the betlergame. Finally. If l1...aS 12.c3
13 ..i.d2 (13.ll'ld4 0-0 14.ll'lgf3 eS
IS./l'lfS e4 16.ll'lxe7+ 'lfxe7 17..i.c4.
leads to complex play. Martin-Meduna.
Bad Wocrishofen 1988.) ...0-0 14.1l'lh3,
and while comple\ea his development
while stili a pawn up, because 14... gS7!
15.0-0 g4 16..i.xh6 gxh3 17.1l'les. i.
dangerous for black, as the white :f1
threatens to join the attack afler 18.f4.
The move 11..i.d2. with queenside
castling. i. seen in Game 48.
1I .•. lCbd7 12./Cgf3 We7
On 12 ... ll'lxeS 12.ll'lxeS 0-0. while
has a wider choice which includes even
the gambit 14..i.d2 'lfdS 15.0-0-0'ill'"a2
16.c3 with extremely sharp play.
13.6-0
AgalnstTimman(Amsterdam 1988).
I replied to 13 . .i.f4 with the
intermediate check l3 ....i.b4+. instead
of the tried 13... .i.d6. After 14. ~fl.i.d6
lS ..i.g3 0-0 16.:d 1 ll'lxeS l7.ll'lxeS
:d8! 18.1l'lc4 .i..g3 19.hxg3, I played
178 The Cam-Kiln,,! I" Black a"d While

19......d7. After Timman exchanged

queens with 20.'II'eS llac8 21.'II'xc7
llxc7, the game was quickly drawn.
Actually, 19 ••. bSI? would have
permitted black to even fight for the
initiative. {Editor's Note: nlllman tried
14.lt:Jd2 in lIre 1993 FIDE
Clu""pions"ip Mate" against Karpov.
For a discussio" of 14.lt:Jd2. please
refer to Ron Hellley's forward and
Karpo.··s notes to Game 47.}

13.••0-0 14..1112
In the "ext game, we shall discuss
14.:el.
14 ....1d6
Or 14... lt:JxeS IS.lt:JxeS ~d4! 16.lt:Jc4
bS!? 17 •.i.aS (Savon-Kharitonov,
Moscow 1991). The game is equal after
11...'III'f4, or 1'... 'III'e'.
IS.li)xd7 .1xd7 16Jlael
Commentators remarked that
16.l:ladl is more precise, but I do not
think that the movement of the rook one
square closer to the left side of the board
would have changed the evaluation of
the position.
Without this knight move (part of the
program) it is difficult to direct the
attack. The retreat 17 ....c1 would have
been a loss of time, and also worsened
white's endgame prospects after the
exchanges on eS. The bishop maneuver
17.h3 would have actually led to a
black advantag~ after 17 ... lt:JdS.
17....1bS!
The thematic combinational shot.
The theme is overloading. This was the
only possible move order, since after
17....i.xeS? 18.1IfxeS1IfxeS 19.:xeSbS,
the bS square is controlled by the rook,
and the endgame is unpleasant for black
because white has the two bishops.

16.. JlfdSI7.lDeS 11!•.1xbS

It is easy to convince oneself of the
fact thst white has no "zwischenzug".

IS....txeS 19••xeS '

Three pawns are attacked at the same
time: b2, c2, and h2.

19 .••• xeS 20.llxeS llxd2

21 •.td3llcS 22Jleel
 The Caro-Kann! In Black and W11ite
White could have attempted to refute
black's exchanging combination with
22.g3 IOdS 23.a3, restricting the
movements of the knight. Now after
23 ...b5 24.:al! b4 25.'i>fl b3 26.Wel,
the exchange is lost. But the knight has
another path (after 22.g3): 22 ... lDrl71
23.':e4 lOcs 24.':c4 Rc6! and black is
doing fine.
22 •• ~bS!?
Less effective for black is 22...lOd5
23.':dl l:Ixdl 24.':xdl lOf4 2S.c3
lOxd3 26JI:xd3 b5 27.a31 White owns
the d-file and the advantage.
23.lL:11 lbdl 24Jtxdl .!Dds
25.&3
2S.c3 a6 is equal as well.
25 ... a5 26.g3 b4 27.axb4
iOxb4 2S.c3 iOxd3 29Jtxd3
l:.bS 30Jldl a4
White's advantage is merely
symbolic. Peace is Inevitable.
3l.';Pn ltb3 32,';pe2 a3
33.bxa3 ltxa3 34.Wd3 ot>f8
35.~<:4 l:.aS 36.Wb3 RbS+
37.<i>d lteS 3S.l:.d7 ¢>eS
39.l:.b7 l:.eS 40.ltbS+ ¢>e7
41Jlb7+ N Draw (lIz_lIz)
GAME 47
IvaDchuk - Karpov
Reykjavik. 1991
1.e4 e6 2.d4 dS 3.M dxe4
4.iOxe4 iOd7 S•.1<:4 iOgf6
6.lOg5 e6 7.We2 iOb6 S..1d3
h6 9.tOsO eS lO.dxeS
179
The main continuation. The attempt
10 defend the
pawn with 10.J.e3 allows
black to exchange this bishop after
10.J.e3 lObds. As an alternative, the
pawn sacrifice with 10.J.f4 should be
considered. Black must accept it, as
10...a6 l1.dxcS J.xcS 12.tOeS. gives
white an extra tempo. After 10... cxd4
11.0-0-0 Wd!I 12.Wbl J.d7 13.lOe5
J.d6 14.lOgf3, or the more careful
10...lObd!I 11.J.eS cxd4 12.0-0-{)
13.lOxd4 "xa2 14.c4 iDb4 IS.J.bl
"as
WaS 16.lOb5 white has sufficient
compensation for the sacrificed pawn.
lO....beS 1l.tOe5
This Is the main Idea of the tOe4-gS
lunge. The knight completes the route
lObl-c3-e4-gS-f3-eS and now is
supported by the other knight. After
12.lOgf3 and short castling. white is
looking forward to a long-term
Initiative In a calm position. The
pressure exerted by the tOes is the key.
Black must defend accurately.
1l... iObd7 12.iOgO We7
The preliminary exchange of the
knights with 12 ...lOxcs 13.lOxcS "c7.
complicates black's problem after
180 The Caro-Kann! In Black and w,hite
14.J.bS+! J.d7 IS.O-O 0-0 16.~xd7
~xd7 17.e3. The possible character of
the struggle is illustrated by the game
Blatny-Adams (Adelaide 19S5):
17 ... JladS IS.J.a4 a6 19..i.e2 ~f6
20. 'lIff3 J.d6 2 J.g3 J.eS (safer is
2l...~S 22.'lIfe4 ~6) 22.Jlel JlfeS
23.a4 lIdS 24.J.b3 Jldds 2S.aS ~7
26.L4 ""as (after the more tenacious
26 ...Jle7 27.J.e21OcS 28..i.e3, white's
position is still better) 27.""b7! Re7
2S ..i.e3 JIbS 29."a7 "e7 30.""c7
.i.xc7 31.Jledl JldS 32.b4 fS 33.J.xd7
Rexd7 34.Jlxd7 JI"d7 3S.Jlxa6, and
white won the ei.dgame. After 12... 0-0,
white has at his disposal an especially
sharp plan with queenside castling,
13..i.d2!? ~"eS 14.~xeS"dS IS.O-O-O
"xa2 16.c3 bS! 17 ..*:xh6!? .i.b7
(17 ... gxh6 is dangerous because of
IS.~g41) IS.~d71 ~xd7 (after
18 .....aI+1 19. .i.bl J.e7 20.J.xg71
white's attack is irresistible) 19."g4
lII'al+ 20.J.bl g6 2J.Jlxd7 .i.a3!
22.bxa3 'lIfxc3+ 23.'i'd1 Jlfd8 24.Jldl
'iIIal! 2S.~e2 "eS+ 26.~dl 'll'al, and
black holds the position
(Chandler-Watson, Brighton 1984).
13.0-0
Now the plan with castling queenside
is impossible, since on 13.J.d2? black
has the reply 13 ... ~xeS 14.~xeS
.i.xf2+! IS.~xf2 "xeS I 16.lII'xe5
~g4+.
Another important continuation is
13.J.£4. In Timman-Karpov
(Amsterdam 1988), chances were even
after 13....i.h4+! 14.~fl .i.d6! IS ..i.g3
0-0 16.Jldl ~xeS 17.~xeS JldS!
IS.1Oc4 J.xg3 19.hxg3 J.d7, although
19... bS!? would have led to a black
advantage. But suddenly, my argument
with Timman continued five years later.
The position after 14.~d2 J.xd2+
IS.~xdl 0-0 16.Jlhdl occurred three
times in our FIDE World Championship
Match (HollandfIndonesia, 1993). In
the 1st match game, after 16...1II'b6
17.1Oc4 "c6 Ig."olOl5 19.93 lOcs,
Timman sacrificed a piece with
20.J.xh6, but in the end after 20...gxh6
21."g4+ Wh8 22.~S lII'a4 23."tII'hs
Wg7 24.~4 JIbS 2S./o'S :£826.~g4
:hS 27.llIeS lII'eS 2S.lII'g4+ ~f8
29."d4 ~3 30.~g6+ fxg6 31.1II'hS+
~e7 32. "xeS+ ~xe8 33.~xd3 b5,
black beat back the attack and retained
8 material edge.
In the 3rd match game, Timman
improved with 17.Wc1. After 17 ...1015
IB.J.g3.111cs 19.J.e4 .i.d7 20.llIxd7
~xd7 21.84 JlacS 22.:a3 lII'b4
23.LdS exdS' 24.1II'hS "e4 2S.lII'dJ
~6 26."xe4 dxe4, white had a clear
initiative, and I experienced difficulty in
finally reaching the draw. But for our
next Caro-Kann battle, I found an
important improvement.
In the 7th match game, thus, I
continued 16... lOcs! It is nuances like
this that mold modem opening theory.
The knight jumps out to cS a lillIe
earlier, and black immediately resolves
all of his problems. The thing is, white
cannot maintain his light-squared
bishop with his ~d2, as after 17..t.c4
bSI is possible. Now if IS..i."bS JIbS!,
lheabsenceofthekingfromcl iserucial
(I9.Wcl 1Ii'b6). So, white changed the
path of his king with 17.~el (not
17.111g6 "as+), but this did not achieve
much. After 17...1015 IS.J.g3 ~xdJ+
19.:"d3 bS! (supporting the ~S)
20.c3 1II'h7 21.Ldl, the game was
drawn, ('12-'12).
13...0-0
 The Cara-Kann! In Black and WIIIte 181

Black should not try too hard to hit lS.lt~xd7 .b:d7

the ~S. If 13.. id67! 14.1t)c4 ~e7
IS.~! he might not have time to If IS...~xd7 16....04 ~6 17....xa8
castle. ~4-b5 is threatened, and If ~b7 18....xa7 :as
19.'IIxa8+ ~"a8,
IS ....6 16....xe6! (this is where the white has a small advantage.
weakness of h7-h6, so hard to notice,
becomes important). Gufeld-Bagirov 16"'t~eS .*.c6
(Tallirui 1981) went 1S ...It)cS 16.~
If 16...:fd8, 17....0 with the threat
1Ib8 17.:dll .t.d7 18.a4 a6 19.1i)d4 of ~xh6ls unpleasant.
"'c7 20.~S, and after the walk to the
queenside, the knIghts return to the
center, thereby Increasing white's
positi~1 pressure.

14.)%el
In comparison with the previous
Sokolov-Karpov game, white Increases
his control over eS.
14.;,b6

Black tries to complete his

develOpment and Is prepared to offer
white the two bIshops, but he could have
avoided this with 14....i.d6IS.It)c4.i.e7
16.~4It)cS 17.lObs"'d818.:dl.i.d7
(Minasian-Vyzmanavin, Debrecen
1992), or 1S..i.f4It)cS 16.:adl a617.c3
~dS 18.~g3 ~xd3 19 .... xd3 bS
(Klovan-Rugele, Manila 1992).
In the recent game Izeta-Karpov
(Dos Bermanas 1993), after IS.1t)c4
~e7, white returned to eS with the
knight (16.~S), but after 16...It)cS
t7.~c4 (17.~f4 bS) ...a6 18.a3 bS
19.~a2 ~b7 20.~e3 It)ce4 21.~d4
:adS 22.c3 ~cS 23.~d3 .i.xd4
24.~xd4 :d6 2S.:acl (the immediate
2S.f3!? ~cS led to complex play)
...:fdS 26.0 It)cs 27 .~S .t.dS 28.b3
"'b6 29.<i>hl ~cd7 30.~bl ~xeS
31."xeS .i.b7, black achieved asimble
advantage and soon prevailed.
An overanxIous decision. The
exchange of the acll ve knight simplifies
black's defensive task. The control of
the central square eS is the basis of a
small but stable white advantage in the
diagrammed position. The knight, to a
certain extent, paralyzes black's
counterplay. The interesting 17.~f4
deserved attention. If the knight is
exchanged, the bishop assumes its
place. After the possible moves
17...:fdS 18.~g3 ~d6 19.:ad1 ~b7
20.c3, white keeps up the pressure.
17....xc6 18.i.f411ad8
18 ...~b4 is also possible; now if
19.c3 ~e7 20.:adl, black plays
20......a4!7
182 The Coro-Konnl 111 Black and WhIte
19.J:1.adl J..d6
This is the effect of the exchange of
the~. While no longer hasany claim
to the eS-mJuare. 19.....34 is fallacious,
as atler 20.hS "ltxa2? 21.b3, black
must say good-by~ to his ,7-pawn as a
result of the threat of :dl-al.
20.J..d2 .c7 21.g3 "~6
Also interesting is 21. .. -*.e7!1
22.-*.c3 :dS 23.-*.c4 :cS.
22.&3 J..e7 23.J..c:3
Given white's queenside pawn
majority, it would make sense to
advance the b- and c-pawns, aiming to
form a passed pawn. Combined with the
two bishops, this is always dangerous.
Therefore, 23.c4 deserved attention,
with the following possibilities: 23 ...aS
24.-*.c3 a4 2S.-*.c2 (if 2s...lM7, white
moves to a good ending with 26. "lte4)
26.:d4, with maximal activity, or
23 ..:ilfa4 24.-*.c 1 :cS 2S."llf0 (with the
idea of tempting the queen with 26.b3)
..."'hS 26.-*.fI, with b2-b3 and -*.cl-b2
to come. Instead, white strives to first
Improve the position of his bishop,
which turns out to be a loss of time.
23....c7 24.J..eS J..d6
It was impossible to continue the
waiting game, as on 24..."llfc6 15.g4 is
possible. Therefore, I am ready to
exchange the active while bishop even
al the cost of doubling my pawns after
2S.-*.xf6 8"f6, not afraid of 26.•g4+
"'hS 27.'ilfhS "'g7 28.:e4?!, which is
easily refuted by 2S...fS 29.:h4 :h8
30.g4 -*.e7 31.:h3 f4, and the major
pieces are stranded on the Idngside.
Anothet variation is 27."d4 -*.e7
2S.'ilfh4 "'g7 29.•g4+ "'h8 3O.'iIfhS
"'g7 31.:"e6 :Xd31
2S.J..c:3 J..e7 26.J..c4
Even at the cost of losing the
advantage of the two bishops, it makes
sense to put the queenside pawns in
motion with 26."lt0 lM7 27.b4 -*.f6
28.-*."f6IOxf629.c4.
26....c6 27.J:1.d3llxdJ
Unwise is 27 ...lOdS because of
28.-*.,,<15 :"dS 29.:"dS ""dS 30.:dl
"ltc6 31."g4, or 30."g4 "gS 31."a4.
28.J..xd3 Ild8 29.lldl IldS
30••0 b5!
Black has ma"imally strengthened
the position of his pieces and now nips
 The Caro-Xonn! In Black and While
whlte'/lhopesofforming 8 passed pawn
in the bud. The rook llade does not alter
the situation.
31':el 'llfd7
Of course, not 31... 'iIb6? 32.-*.xf6
-*.xf6 33.'III'xdS! and white wins.
32.11e5 .i.f8 33.11xd5 ~xd5
34.'ilfe4
On 34.-*.d2, I had In mind a small
exchariging combination with 34...b4!
3S.axb4lLlxb4 36.-*.xb4 -*.xb4 37.'III'e4
-*.cS 38.1Irh7+ Q/f8 39. 'lll'hS+ Q/c7
40.'III'xg7 'lll'd4! 41.'III'xd4-*.xd4, and the
opposite-colored blshop!l ending i.
drawn.
34... £5 35.'llfd4 a6! 36•.i.d2
White cannot utilize the pin. If36.b4,
black defends with 36...'III'c7 37.-*.d2
lLlb6 38.-*.f4 '111'06. If36.-*.e2, 36.....c81
Is equal, and the move 36.-*.aS is parried
by the same move as in the actual game.
36....i.e7!
Black has seized the initiative. Now
white has to scrap quite a bit for
equality.
37.'llfe5.i.f6
Worse is 37... -*.d6 3S.'llfe2.
38.1Ii'b8+ <oPr7 39.'llfa8 'llfd6
40.b3
Or 40.-*.cl -*.gSJ
40... ~c3
If 40 ... 'III'xa3 41.-*.xfS! (more exact
than41.-*.xbS 'lll'a1+42.-*.f1"dl!) (8\)
183
.....a1+42.Q/g2 'lll'dI43.'III'c6! a draw is
the ouk:ome, but Instead black can fight
for the initiative with 40...-*.gSI
41.~xc3 I.Oxc3 42.'llfc8 lOcIS
43.&4 ~e7 44.'llfb7 'i>f6
4S.~n Draw (112"11)
GAME 48
Ivanov, A· Klirpov
Moscow, 1992
(Quick Chess Event)
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.1Oc3 dxe4
4.~xe4 ~d7 5.~g5 ~gr6
6.~c4 e6 7.'llfeZ ~b6 8.~d3
Interestinsly enough, in the past I
played this position as white more than
once, and I prefened the bishop retreat
to b3. For example, In Karpov-Petrosian
(Til burg 1983), after 8 ... aS 9.a3 84
10.-*.a2 h6 Il.lLlSf3 cS 12.c3 -*.d7
13.lLleS clld4 14.cxd4 -*.e7 Is.lLlgf3o-o
16.0-0 ~e8 17.-*.d2 lLlbdS 18.:fcl
'lll'b6 19.-*.04 .*.c6 20.:el lLlc7
21.lLlxc6 bxc6 22.-*.f4, white ",talned
the initiative. Later it was found that
after 8 ...8S, 9.c3! a4 10.-*.02 a3 11.b3
lLlbdS 12..*.d2, is even stronger, and the
flank operation brought black nothing
In Kasparov-Speelman, Linares 1992.
In Short-Speelman (Hastings 1986/87),
after 8 ... h6 9.lLlsfJ as lO.a4 oS 11.-*.£4
.*.d6 12.lLleS (stronger is 12. .*.g3!)
... cxd4 13.0-0-0 0-0 14.lLlgfJ lLlbdS
IS ..*.g3 bS 16.lLlc6 'lll'c7 17.axbS a4
18.-*.xdS lLlxdS 19.1Llfxd4 a3 20.c4! a2
21.Q/c2 eS!, really crazy complications
resulted.
In Kasparov-Karpov (Unares 1992),
I immediately played 9....,5, without the
Inclusion of a7-aS and a2-a4. And now
184

after 10..*.f4.td6 11 ..tg31, while had
great chances. This game is amotaled
by BeJlavsky (see Game 25). Instead of
10....td6, 10...tO~ was~rer.
S•••h6 9.t05f3 cSl0.dxc5 j.xcS
11 •.i.d2
York 1986) 20.WbI b4 21.e4 tOe4!
22 ..*.xe4 ltle3+ 23.bxe3 .*.xe4+
24.Wal bxc3 2S.JlcZ Jlfb8, with a
strong allack for black,
Zhordanov-Mlkov,corr. 1991) ...bS
14.ltlr4 'tIfb6 IS.li:IxdS .!tJxdS 16.tOeS
0-0, and now after 17.JldfJ, with the
idea of attacking with 18.g4, while has
excellent chances.

12.0-0-0 0-0 13.~S .i.d71?

Even In quick chess, valuable
novelties Come upl After 13... ltlbd7
14.f4 b61S.ltlgf3 .*.b7 16.llhfl :'cB11
17.wb1 .*.d6 IB.li:lxd7 "xd7 (betteris
18... tOxd7) 19'841 'IIIa4 20.gS hxgS
2UxgS, while's attack was serious In
Chiburdanidze-l<lBC!iani (TeJavl, 198B).
More secure for black Is 16....*.d6
17.ltlxd7 ltlxd7 18.ltld4 86, with
In the two previous games, 1l.1C.es complex play.
Itlbd7 12.tOgf3 "c7 13.0-0 was
considered. The idea of 1l ..td2 is to 14.~gf3
hide the king on the queenside and
W1dertake 8 kingside pawn storm. The Idea 14.f4!1, supportil18 the
knight with the pawn, deserved a look.
1I.•:ffc7
14••JlfcSlS.g4 .i.e7
Other moves have also been played.
Karariat-Katona (corr. 1987):
11. .• tObd7 12.0-0-0 'IIIe7 13.M a6
14 ..!tJh3 .*.d6 IS . .te3 tOeS 16.g4
(16..teS .*.d7 17..*.xd6 'IIIxd6 IB.1C.es
'IIIe7 19.f4 IU8 20..*.e4 0-0-0, with
equality, Huebner-Sosonko, Tilburg
1982) ....*.d7 17.g5 hxgS IB.hxgS W
19.1beS .*.c6 20 ..!tJxc6 'IIIxc6 21.g6, and
while has the initiative.
Klovans-Lokator (USSR 1987):
11 ... ltlbdS 12.0-0-0 a6 13.1bh3 (WOISC
is 13.tOeS bS 14.f4 'tIfb6 IS.ltlgf3 .tel
16.g3.txd2+ 17.Jlxd20-0 IB.e3 .t.b7 16·151!
19."fl1ll'&5 (lfI9..."xfl 2O.Jlxfl with
a small edge for white, Sax-Benko, New
 1'11. Caro-Kann! In Black and White
This natural move is inaccurate.
Black's queenside initiative turns out to
be more dangerous than white·s. After
16.lOxd7~fxd7(16...lOb..d717.g5I,or
16...'IIxd7 17.~, are good for white)
17.gS bxgS 18.lOxg!! ~,black also
has excellent chances. But the
prophylactic:a116.Wbl, maintaining the
tension, should have been played.
16... hxgS I7,1l~xgS -*.bSI
18.-*.f41
Looks like a logical move: the second
rank Is strengthened, and the bishop
becomes more active as well. And yet
this is a serious mistake. Th.. only
defense was 18.~. Now the tempting
18...lDfdS only draws after 19..ih7-t
WfB 20.~xe6+ be6 21.~g6+ wn
(21...'~e8 22.'IIxb5+ wn 23.'IIe2)
22.~e5+ WfB (22 ... oi>f6 23.~g4+).
And after 18... -*. ..d3 19.:..d3 ~fdS
'20.~gxf7 ~f4 21.'IId2 ~xd3+
22.'IIxd3, white also has good drawing
chances, e.g., 22...~f6 23.'IIg6 ~xe5
24.~6+ Wh8 (24 ...WfB? 2S ..i.b4+)
25.m+.
18...-*.xdJ 19.1:l.xdJ1
1be decisive error. 19.~xd3 'IIc4
20.oi>b1 ~d5 21.'11th5 (21.~cl i£lh4!)
...1If'xc2+ 22.Wal .i.xgS 23.,*,"g5, stitt
offered chances 10 fight on.
I9...li)fdS
Ail of white's pieces arc hanging in
the air.
20J:%Oli)xf4 White Resigned
(~I)
18S
GAME 49
van der Wlel- Karpov
Amsterdam, 1987
I.e4 cIS 2.d4 dS 3.li)d2 dxe4
4.lOxe4 li)d7 s.lOgS lOgf6
6.-*.113
It Is hard to determine once and for
all, whether it Is better 10 place the
bishop on c4 or d3. After 6.~c4, the
bishop must lose time for retreat after
die black knight appears on b6, but the
bishop can take up a quite promising
post at b3. After 6 ..i.d3, white gains
sometime, but then blac:kdocs not have
10 rush In with the mov.. tOI7-b6.
6. ..e6
If 6... h6, 7.~61 gives a dangerous
attack, ... g. 6 ...h6 7 .~6! 1If'aS+ 8 ..i.d2
1fb6 9.m f ....6 10.~g6+ Wd8 11.0-0
,,5 (safer Is 11 ...'11,,7, fianchettoeing the
light-squared bishop) 12.c4 cxd4
13.tt:l..d4e5 14.cSl (not at once 14.~
exd4 15.-*.xb6+ axb6) ... lllxc5
(14 ...'IIa6 15.-*.aS+ 'lllIaS 16.tt:lc6lt is
mate.) 15..*.aS, witming, Tal-OU, USSR
1986.
Also unhappy for black is 6 ... ~
7.ttllf3 h6 8.ttlxnt wxn 9.~5+ oi>g8
10..i.8 6 .i.e6 11.0-0 ttlc:4 12.f4 tt:ld6
13.fS, etc. The moves 6...g6 and 6....,5
have not proven themselves to be good.
But the Immediate 6 ... 'IIe7 is quite
viable. The point of this move is that if
7.tt:llf3 h6, and the knighlsacrifice with
8.tt:le6 is lesseffeclive: 8 .. ,fllc6 9.-*.g6+
Wd8 10.1If'c2 il:ldS1, with good play.
More dangerous for black is 10.0-0'lld6
(1l ... b6?! 12.g3 .i.b7 13..i.f4 with a
clear advantage) 1l.'IIe2 tt:ldS 12.~S
'llxeS 13.dxe5 1If'h4 14.c:41llb6 15.:dl
186 The Caro-Kann! In Black and W1Jite

.i.d7 16 ..i.e3, and white is better 26.JlxcS+ Wf727.L7+,black resigned

(Lauk-Lolcator, Aesti 1992). (1-0).

7.ltllf3 .c7 . But it was recently determined that

Black can take the knight immediately:
8 ... fxe61 9 ..i.g6+ we7 10.0-0 Wc7
II.LI wdB 12.c4 .i.b4 13.Jle2 M
14.~S~g61S.~g6Jle8,acbieying
excellent chances (Wolff-Granda
Zuniga, ·New York 1992).
The queen move to 07 leads to
intriguing, but risky play for black. The
most common moye in this position is
7 ... .i.d6 (see Game SO), although
7... h7 alSo occurs.
8••el
Now, let us consider 7...b6. The The threat is clear: 9.~f71 wxf7
variation S.~xe6 "e7 9.0-0 fxe6 10.~gS+.
10..i.s6+ wd8 1l ..i.f4 "b4 12 .• 3
"xb2, is dangerous for black. He is a 8... h69•.ig6!
piece up, but his king, stranded in the
center, is doomed: 13."e21tX1s 14 ..i.d2
.i.d6 1'."xe6 Wc7 16.Jlfbl (the black
queenislrapped) .....xaI17.Jlxal~
(Now the white queen is also in a net,
but tbe combat ends up clearly in
white's favor.) IS."xd6+ Wxd6
19.~x'" Wc7 20.04 ~7 21..t.f4 .Rf8
22.lilf7+ wd7 23 ..i.bS bS 24.05 ~S
2S.~S+We626.~xc6,andblacksoon
resigned, Geller-Meduna, Sochi 1986.
Grandmaster Huebner fell Into the same
trap a year later, and tbis time the crush
was more convincing.
9... hxgS
Chandler-Huebner (Biel, 1987) went
11 ...00 (instead of 11 ...Wb4) 12..i.g3 The only move.
Wb4 13.LI .i.e7 14."e2 .t.f6 15.04
~e7 16.a3 "b3 17..*.d3 ~f'? lO•.ixf7+
(17 ...tt:lf8 was necessary) 18..i.xfS exfS
NoI10."xe6+wd811.tt:lxgS'II'aS+,
19."e6 "b6 20.cS tt:lxc' 21."d6+ which loses for white. 10.tt:lxgS .i.b4+!
tt:ld7 22.tt:leS .i.xeS 23.Jlxe' Jle8
l1.c3 0-0 12.tt:lxe6, is also not too
24.Jlxe8+ Wxe8 2S.Jlel+ ~eS
 The Caro-/(Qnn! I .. Blackand Wlrite
dangerous for black; the resulting battle
is sharp.
10...lPd8
Not 10 ... ~xf7 11.4!Oxg5+ ~g6
12.Wd3+, mating.
ll.lt}xgS 4!Ob6 11•.be6
Much stronger is 12.g3! .*.d7
(12 ... .*.d6 invites a fork on the cS
square: 13.0-O-*.d714.c4!cS 15.b4,and
black loses material) 13 ..*.xe6 .*.eg
(13 ....*.b4+ 14.c311eS 15.cxb4, wiosfor
white) 14 ..*.f5! .*.£1 15 ..*.f4 We7
16.Wxe7+ IPxe7 17.0-0! .*.gS IS.b3!
with dangerous threats (Van der Wiel).
12.. Jlxhll
After this \Ulexpected capture, black
feels quite confidenl
13.0-0
If 13.4!O£1+ .xf71 14..*.x£1 IIxh1+,
all the tension disappears.
13.. JlhSI4·13
Instead 14.1ll£1+ ~e8 15 ..*.g4+
~xf7 16. .*.xh5+ IOxh5 17.Wxh5+
~gS. favors black.
14....e7 ISJlel
la7
IS...lIxIS
Now black misses an opportunity to
lake the offeosl Ve with 15...-*.xe617
16.4!Oxe6+ IPd7 17.lthfS+ .xf8
IS.We6+ ~S 19..*.f4 (better is 19.c3)
...~5 20..*.d6 We8.
16•.1xIS .1xe617••xe6 .xe6
18Jlxe6 Wd7 19.1Iael?!
After the correct 19.1Ie2 as 20.a41
(threatening b2-bl and c2-c4) ...lOfdS
21.c3, white Is In no danaer.
19... lDbdS! 10•.1xf6 4!Od6
11.I16eS bS!
Preventing 22.a4. After 22.a4 bxa4
23.lIa I a3! 24.bxa3 as 25.a4 <!OdS,
white must fight for equality.
11.c:3 a513.~ a4 14.a3
The position has stabilized. Peace
approaches.
24...1.Dd5 lSJlrs i.e7 16Jlf7
IIg8
The continuation 26... g51! 27 .lIh7,
and then ~g2, is unwise for black.
188 The Ciuo-Kann! In Black and While
27.lle2 '1t>e8 28.llfS Wd7
29.llf7 ~d6 30.<bg2 ~d7
Draw (!12- lh)
GAME5D
Kamsky - Karpov
Dortmund, /993
1.e4 c6 2.d4 dS 3.~d2 dxe4
4.~xe4 ~d7 S.~gS ~gf6
6 •.i.d3 e6 7.~1f3 .i.d6
One of the central positions in the
modem development of the Caro-lCarm
Defense. The rarer continuation 7... 'fIe7
was covered in the previous game.
Currently, the moves 7...h6 and 7 ... ~e7
are also popular.
8.We2
A more active continuation than
8.0-0, which was played against me by
Kasparov in Amsterdam, 1988. After
8 ... h6 9.~4 lOxe4 10.~xe4, black
could have equalized with 10...lOt"6!?
But I chose a different plan: 10... 0-0
II.c3 eS (11. .. 'fIe112.~c2:e813.'fId3
lOfSI4.:el b6IS.tOeS~b716.'fIh3,is
also better for white, Bellin-Thipsay,
England 1987) 12.~c2 :e8 13.:e1
exd4 14.:xe8+ 'fIxe8 IS.'fIxd4 'fIe1
16.~f4 J.xf4 11.'fIxf4, with a clear
positional advantage for white. Another
8ame with Kamsky In the same
variation, from Tilburgl991, continued
differently, with 8.c3 h6 9.lOe4 /LIxe4
10.J.xe4 0·0 11.0-0 cS (a novelty,
earlier 11 ...eS, which favors white, had
been seen) 12.J.e2 (12.dxeS J.xeS
13.J.e2 'fIe7 14."e2lOt"6 IS.tOeS .i.d6
16.J.f4 b6 17.Jlad I J.a6, with equality)
.....e7 13.:el :d8 14.h3/L1f6 IS.'fIe2
exd4 16.lOxd4 J.h2+ 17. oi>h I J.f4
18.lObS 1ib8 19.a4 ~d7 20.~lIf4 'fIlIf4
21.iOd4 J.c61, 'and black solved all
problems In the opening. Soon, the
game was drawn.
B...h6 !I.lDe4
An attempllo avoid the trade of the
knightswith!l.~3gSI? 1O.lOd2?! lOb6
I1.lOb3 'IIIe7 12.lOgl lObdS, led 10
equality in Borkowski-Sapis (Hradec
Kralove, 1987/88), but in this line
10.lOhg!! "e7 11.J.d2 b6 Is
interesting, with complex play.
The capture on e6 in this situation i.
not at all dangerous for black: 9.lOxe6
fxe610.J.g6+oi>e711.0-01OfSI2.J.d3
J.d713.lOes'llle814.f4oi>d81S.e4oi>c7
16.J.d2 :e8 17.eS J.e7 18.fS oi>b8
19.Jlael J.d8, and black has a clear
advantage (Arnason-Ostenstad,
Thorshavn 1987).
9...~xe4 lO.Wxe4
If 10.~xe4 0-0, black later pushes
through e6-cS or e6-eS with good play.
10...~f6
After 10... 'fIc7 II.'IIIg4 oi>fS 12.0-0,
black experienced some difficulties in
_ _ _ _ _ _ _-.!Th~e~CtJ~':!!:"-~Ko~II!!!II!:.!.!l/Il!.!B!!!ltJ!!!c:!!k.!!tJlI!!!d~WIr~...
Gelfand-Speelman (Munich 1992), but
he W,BS able to hold the posltlon_
Beliavs\cy teeommends !he plan wilh
queenslde castling (see his notes to
Game 23). Recently, a couple of
important games concemihg !his !heme
were played.
Khalifman-Epishin (Dos Hermanas
(993): 1!l...•c7 1l ..i.d2 b6 12.•g4
wfB 13.0-0-0 .i.b7 14.lIhel lIdB
IS.Wbl (not ls.J:lxe6fxe616.li:Jh4 tDf6
17.....06 .f7!; lS.c4 cS 16.h3?! lOf6
17.1Wh4.i.xf3 IS.gxf3 .i.f4+ also gives
white nothing.) ... lOf6 16.1Wh4 We7
17.lOes cS 18.f4 (nobetteds 18.lOg4 or
IS ..i.(3) ...cxd4 19.94 (19.:e2 wi!h!he
initiative is correct) ... gS 20.1IIf2
(20.f"g6 h"g6 21.1IIg3 :hgS favors
black), and now after ...:he8 21.h3 as?1
22.J:le2 00 23.:de I tOe3 24 ..i.lIe3
dlle3 25.•"e3 We5 and lhe players
agreed to a draw in an unclear position.
They had Iiule time left. Instead of
21 ....511, 21...lOd5!? gave black a
noticeable adv8Rlage.
Sion Caslro-Karpov (Leon 1993):
12 ... g51 (an important Improvement
over 12 ... Wf8) 13.•h3 lIgS! 14.g4
(after 14 .• h6 .i.f8 IS .•h7 lOf6!
16.'lih3 g4 17.1Wh4 glln IS.•xf6 fxg2,
white mainlains equality with 19.:g1
'Ifh2 20.().().0; 14..i.h7 J:lhS IS ..i.d3 is
also equal) ....i.b7 IS.0-0-0 0-0-0
16.:hel .t.f4 17.Wbl :h8 18..i.c3
(IS ..i.xf4.lIf4 19."g3 .lIg3 20.mg3
cS is equal) ...Wb8 19.dS clIdS 20..i.xh8
lIxh8 21.lOd4 a6 22.lOe6 (if 22••fl,
22 ...lOcs I. strong) ... f"e6 23.:lIe6
lOeS! 24 ..i.fS 1.Oc:4 2S.:xh6 :lIh6
26."xh6 'ilfeS 27.'ilf1'8+ <#;a7 2S.'i1fb4
lOd2+, and black won quickly.
!L---_,_- -::7"--,-'1_8_9
Up until now, the queen almost
automatically retreated to e2, for
example, Sokolov played this against
me once (Bel fort 1988). This game
turned out in white -• fa vor and Is
annolated by Bellavsky (Game 23).
On 11. 'ilfh4, theorl indicates
11 ...00, but afrer 12.•xdS+ WildS
13.c3, white has a small positional
advanlage, and more importantly, black
has liule play.
After 11.. ...a5+ 12 . .i.d2 "hS
13.'iIf"hS lOxhS 14.lOesl 0-0 IS.O-O-O,
black also does not have enough
counterplay (Hector-Hodgson, London
1991): 15...c5 (better Is 15...lOf6) 16.g4
lOf6 17.g51 mgS I B•.i.lIg!l lOd!l (if
18...cxd4 19..i.xf6 gxf6 20.:dg 1+ <#;hS
21.:g3! .i.e5 22.:h3+ and :g1+)
19.1Oc4 .i.e7 20.dxcS, with a noticeable
white advanlage.
Of course, 11 ... 0-0 is bad because of
the standard 12..i.xh61 gxh6 13.1Ifxh6,
after which black will not survive;
14.lOg5 is enough of a !hreaL
11•••,*,e711
This quite paradoxical king move 10
the center of !he board was found by me
back in 1988, while J was preparing for
190 The Caro-Kann! In Black and While

the aforementioned game against

Kasparov. I was afraid of the queen shift
to the kingside. The exchanl!e of queens
seemed to me to be a dull idea. It took
me a long time before I found the correct
decision. And so this important novelty
remained a secret' for five years!
The idea of the king mo"e is that
black unexpectedly harmonizes the
placement of his pieces, --:hich were a
bit out ofsync only a move ago. But now
the threat is g7-gS-g4, winning a piece.
If white wants to maintain the opening
advantage, he must act decisively.
20.g3
It loob like white can get a decisive
12.1-i)eS initiative with 20.f4 (to close the cl-h6
The most ambitious decision. White diagonal and prevent checks there)
sacrifices a pawn, noting that the enemy ...gxf4 21..i.d4. Now 21 ...'IIt'ds loses to
king is stranded in the center. Of course, 22.:eS 'IIIxg2 23.:xcS! bxcS
12.,j,f4 ,j,b4+ 13 ..i.d2 (otherwise 24. "xcS+ <£oe8 2S ..i.xf6. 21. ....c7
13 ...g5) ...,j,xd2+ 14.<£oxd2, hardly suits 22 ..i.eS 1Ife6 23 ..ixf6+ (23 ..ixf41?
him. "a411 24..id6+! <£oe8 2S.:xe6+! fxe6
26 ..ig6l#, is a unique combination)
12 ••• i.xeS 13.dxe5 'ifa5+ ... <£oxf6 24.h4 1Ifa4, is also good for
14.c3 white. But black has a saving
continuation. It is 21 ... 'III'gS! 22.:eS
Also possible is 14 ..i.d2 'lll'xeS+ 'tIrh4!, and now 23.g3 does not reach the
I S..i.e3, and it is quite unsafe for black goal because of23 ...fxg3 24.hxg311fxg3
to gmb the second pawn on b2. But the 25.:xcS bxc5 26.1Ifxc5+ <£oe827 •.ixf6
position of the white pawn on c3 is more 1Iff4+.
convenient for him than on c2.
20 •••'ife7
14 ••• 'WxeS+ IS.i.e3 b6
16.0-0-0115 17.'III'a4 The queen has left the center. and
black guards all the entrances to his
Also very complicated is 17.'lll'h3 cS king·s palace.
18.:hel.
21 •.t.d4
17•••c5 18J1.he1 i.d7 19.'ifa3
.l:thdS Now if 21.f4, black has the strong
response: 21 .. .log4 22 ..id4 gxf4 23.h3
to,l.

21 ••• .t.eS! 22.~b1l:tdS

 71u! Caro-Kann' In Black and Wlrile
Mayhe 22.. ..*.c6!1 23 . .*.eS "d7
24 ..i.c2 ~7, is even heUer.
23.f4! l:tad8 24•.tc2
Goodforblackis24..i.es"c6! 2S.c4
IlSd7 26."c3 ~g4 27.fxgS hxg5
28.l:In Rd4!
24...l:lSd6 2S •.td6+ Wxf6
26.rxgS+ hxgS 27':xd6llxd6
28.c4
The only move, for otherwise the
white queen is out of play.
28...We7 29.'ife3 f6 30.h4
Kamsky offered a draw here, in
mutual time pressure. Butl refused the
offer. because black's chances are
better: white hss already lost the two
bishops' advantage, and he still has not
regained his pawn...
30 ... gxh4 31.gxh4 .d7
32.Wh6
32...e5?1
This, alas, disrupts the logic of the
struggle. In time pressure, I decided to
prolect lhe f6-pawn, missing lhe
191
opportunity to do this much more
effectively: 32...1ld2! 33.l:In "d4, and
white's position is hopeless.
33.hSWg4
Here, too, 33 ...l:Id211 is stronger.
34.Wh7+~d8
A draw results from 34 ... -*.f7
35 ..*.g6 J:ldl+ (3S..... xc4 36.b3 "e6
37.l:Igl).
3S.h6 l:td2 36 •• fS .xfS
37•.txfS .td7?
38.i.g6?
I made a mistake, and Kamsky does
not take advantage of my time pressure
blunder. After 38.'i>c\! already black
must fight for the draw: 38...lld4 (The
rook cannot leave the d-file because of
39.l:Idl, winning a bishop) 39..*.xd7!
l:Ixc4+ (Black cannot recapture on d7,
as after 40.lldllhe pawn slides in on h8
and queens) 40.'i>bl J:lh4 (40...'i>xd1
41.1lhl) 41.J:ld1 Rxh6.
38...l:th2 39.h7 r/;e7 40•.td3
.tees 41':g1 fS 42':g7+ Wf6
43.llxa7 e4 44.i.e2 f4 4S.b313
192 The Carn-Konnl III BId and White

4(i •.t.dl .t.rs 47.0t0>cl .t.xh7

48J1b7 oto>eS 49.11xb6 llxa1
White Reslgn~ (0-1)
If we exclude blackOs going astray in
time pressure. the result of the game can
be considered quite just. ,
So it is this interesting encounter with
an unusual novelty by black that
concludes our book!
 The Caro-Ko",,1 I" Black and While 193

INDEX OF COMPLETE GAMES

'ChapterlW 3.cxdS cxdS 4.exd5 IORi

PANOV ATTACK
(1.e4 c6 2.d4 dS 3.exdS cxdS 4.c4 ChapterlW
IOr6 s.0!Dc3) ADVANCE VARIATION
(1.e4 c61.d4 dS 3.eS .i.fS)
I Sveshnlkov - Spraggelt
S... e6 6.~f3 .i.b4 7.cxdS 8 Short - Seirawan
Palma de Mallorca, 1989 .•.•.•.. 5 4.'0:3 h5
Rotterdam, 1989.............. 29
2 Dolmalov - Speelman
5... e6 6.~f3 .i.b4 7 ..i.d3 91imman - Selrawan
Hastings, 1989(90 ............. 8 4.'0:3 e6
Hilv~rsum (m(2), 1990......... 32
3 Vaganian - van der Wiel
5 ...e6 6.~ .i.e7 10 Blatny - Plachetka
Rotterdam, 1989. • • • . . . • . . • . .. 10 4.h4
Namestovo, 1987 •..•....•.•.. 37
4 Sveshnikov - 011
s...'O:6 6..i.85 dxc4 11 Short· Karpov
Moscow, 1992 ...•..•.••..••. 13 4.~f3
Linares (m/4), 1992 ........... 41
5 Beliavsky - Wells
s...~6 6.~ .i.g4 7.cxdS ~dS Cbapter3W
London, 1985 ................ IS THE N1MZOVICH SYSTEM
(1.e4 c61.d4 dS 3.0!Dc3 dxe4 4.lOxe4
6 Dolmatov - Adams IOr6 S.lOxf6+ 1Ixf6)
5... g6
Hastings, 1989(90 .. . . • . • . • . .. 19 12 Sisniega - Hurtado
6..i.c4
7 Miles - Beliavsky
Mexico, 1992 .••.•......•.... 49
Steiner System 1.e4 c6 2.c4 dS
Biel, 1992 .•.••.•.........••. 22
194 The Caro-/(Qnn! In Black and White

13 O'Donnell - G~oszpeter 13."e2

6.tlli3
SaintJohn,1988 .••......•..•• 52 21 Geller - Saldy
13.~
. 14 Adams - Spraggett New Yorlc, 1990.............. 79
6.c3 -*.rs 7.~f3
Hastings, 1989190 ............ SS Chapter6W
THE PETROSIAN-SMYSLOV
15 Hemandez,G - Landezo SYSTEM
6.c3 .i.fS 7.~2 (1.e4 c6 2.d4 dS 3.~ d"e4 4.~xe4
Seville, 1992. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 58 ~d7)

Chapter4W 22 Psakhis - Rodriguez,Am

THE S... eJd6 SYSTEM S.lOgS~f6
(l.e4 c6 2.d4 dS 3.~ dxe4 4.~e4 Sochi,1988 ................. 85
~fliS.~fIi+exfli)
23 Sokolov,A - Karpov
16 Khalifman - Seirawan s...~gf6 6.J.d3 e6 7.~1f3 .i.d6
6.c3 Belfort, 1988 ................ 87
Wijkaan Zee, 1991 ........... 63
24 Kh.dlfman - Arkell
Chapter5W 7....i.e7
THE CLASSICAL SYSTEM Leningrad, 1989 ••••..••.••••. 91
(1.e4 c6 2.d4 dS 3.tt:lc3 dxe4 4.~e4
~f5) 25 Kasparov - Karpov
6.-*.c4 e6 7.1re2 ~ 8.-*.b3
17 Bronstein - Belia vsky Linares, 1992 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
S.~S USSR Ch.
Erevan, 1975 .•.••••......... 69 PARTn
BLACK VIEWPOINT
18 Beliavsky - Larsen (Annotated by Anatoly Karpov)
5.~g3 -*.g6 6.h4 h6 7.tlli3 ~7
London, 1984 ................ 71 ChapterlB
PANOV ATTACK
B.hS .ilh7 9•.ild3 tQgfIi (1.e4 c6 2.d4 dS 3.exdS adS 4.c4
~S.tt:lc3)
19 Beliavsky. Tal
9 ....i.xd3 1O."xd3 ~gf6 26 Wahls - Karpov
Moscow, 1981 ......•..•••... 73 S... e66.~f3
Baden-Baden, 1992 .......... 101
20 Akopian - Magomedov
1O.....c7 11..i.d2 e6 12.0-0-00-0-0 27 Sokolov,A - Karpov
Minsk, 1990 ................. 76 6.cxdS
Linares {mIll, 1987 .......... 103
 The Caro-Kann! In Black and White 195

28 Sokolov,A - Katpov ChapterJB

Steiner System l.e4 c6 2 .• 4 dS
Linares (rit/ll), 1987 •........ 107
3.exdS cxdS 4.cxdS ~f6 S.~ ~dS
6.M ~c3 7.bxc3
29 Beliavsky - Karpov
Steiner System 6 ..•lOc6 7.d4
Moscow, 1986 ....•......... 110
30 Psakhis - Granda Zuniga
Panov,5 ... lOc6
Manila, 1992 ............••• 113
31 Polgar,S - Gipslis
5 ... g6
Bmo, 1991 •.•..........•.•. 117
Chapter2B
ADVANCE VARIATION
(1.e4 c6 2.d4 dS 3••5 ~rS)
32 Sokolov,A - Katpov
4.lOc3 e6 5.g4 -*.g6 6.~ge2 cS
Linares (m/9), 1987 .......... 123
7.h4 h6 8..Il.3
33 Yudasin - Seirawan
8.hS
Jacksonville, 1990 ...•.•.•.•• 127
34 Anand - Karpov
4.~C3 e6 S.~e2 ~7 6.0·0 &7
Brussels (m{T), 1991 •... . . . . . 129
THE NIMZOVICB SYSTEM
(1.04 c6 2.d4 dS 3.M dxe4 4.~e4
~S.~pf6)
37 Sinlega - Grozspeter
6.-*.e4
New York, 1988 ............. 143
Cbapter4B
THE S...exf6 SYSTEM
(1 .•4 c6 2.d4 dS 3.M dxe4 4.~e4
~ S.~xC6+ exf6)
38 Chandler - Christiansen
6.e3
Germany, 1988 •............. 149
ChapterSB
THE CLASSICAL SYSTEM
(1.04 c6 2.d4 dS 3.M dxe4 4.lDxe4
.i.rs S.~3.i.g6 6.b4 h6 7.M ~d7
S.hS .Ilh7 9•.Ildl .Ilxdl lO.'IIxdl)
39 Sax - Katpov
10... e6 II..i.d2 'IIe7 12.0·0-0 <'Ogf6
Haninge, 1990 ...•.......... 155
13.~4 O.{).{) 14.g3 ItJc5
40 TIvlakov . Miles
14...~e4
Moscow, 1989 •...•....•.... 158
41 Ivanchuk - Seirawan
10...<'Ogf6 II..i.f4 e6
Novi Sad, 1990.............. 160

42 Dvoiris - Yudasin
3S Short - Adams 1I.-*.d2 'IIe7 12.0-0·0 e6 13.'t>bl
7 ... 1I'b6 Leningrad, 1990. . . • . . . . • . . .. 163
England, 1991 .............. 133
43 Heners - Khalifman
36 Anand - Karpov 12...0·0-0 13.'1102
5 ... c5 New York, 1990 ..•......•... 165
Reggio Emilia, 1991/92 ...•... 136
196 17re Caro-Kann! In Black and White

Chapler6B
THE PETROSIAN-SMYSLOV
SYSTEM
(1.e4 di 1.d4 dS 3.~ d",e4 4.~e4
10'17)
44 Sqkolov,A - Karpov
s.lllfJ
Linares (m/3), 1987 .....••••. 171

4S De Firmian - Karpov
s.lllgS llldf6
Diel, 1990 .................. 174

46 Sokolov,A - Karpov
s..i.c4lbgf6 6.111gS e6 7 ....e2111b6
Linares (mn), 1987 •.••.....• 177

8..i.d3 h6 9.lllSfJ cS lO.d",cS .i.xcS

IOL\eS iObd7 1l.iOgf311fc7 13.0~
O~14•.ltd2

47 Ivanchuk - Karpc?Y
14.l:lel
Iteykjavik. 1991. ......•..•.. 179

48 Ivanov.A - Karpov
11..i.d2 "'c7
Moscow. 1992 (Quick Chess) .. 183

49 van der Wiel - Karpov

s.iOgS iOgf6 6 ..i.dJ e6 7.iOf3 "'c7
Amsterdam, 1987 ...•...•.••• 185

SO Kamsky - Karpov
7 ....i.d6
Dortmund, 1993 ........••... 188