CaroKann Defense
Caro-Kann Defence is also one of the famous chess openings and considered one of the semi-open games. The opening was named after the famous chess players who have analysed and scrutinized this opening, Horatio Caro and Marcus Kann. This chess opening starts with:
1) e4 c6
2) d4 d5
CaroKann Defense
Several variations will come out on the next succeeding moves. There are also several variations for this opening such as:
• Capablanca variation (named after José Capablanca) or otherwise known as the classical variation
• Karpov or Smyslov variation
• Bronstein-Larsen variation
• Korchnoi variation
• Exchange variation
• Panov-Botvinnik Attack
• Advance variation.
There are also other Caro-Kann variations that you can also consider such as:
• Gurgenidze Variation
• Tartakower Variation
• Hillbilly Attack
• Two Knights Variation
This opening is a good opening for a novice chess player because the black pieces do not compromise its pawn structure. With the pawn structure still intact, black defences is hard to break for the white pieces. The opening will mostly lead to endgame with black pieces having a good advantage over the white pieces with regards to its pawn structure. This is the opening that is recommended for the opening 1) e4 …
Here are some books that can help you learn the Caro-Kann Defence:
• Main Line Caro-Kann by Macdonald
• Caro-Kann: Smyslov System by Gufeld
• Starting Out: The Caro-Kann by Gallagher
• Caro-Kann Defence by Karpov
• Caro-Kann Defence Panov Attack by Karpov & Podgaets
• Chess Explained: The Caro-Kann by Wells
• Play the Caro-Kann” by Houska
• Grandmaster Secrets: The Caro-Kann by Peter Wells.
Here are also some DVDs that can also help you learn the Caro-Kann Defence:
1) ABC of the Caro Kann by Andrew Martin covers most of the Caro-Kann defence and runs for about four hours and thirteen minutes. The DVD provides you with instructional videos and with animations on a 2D chessboard. System requirements for this DVD are as follows: Pentium-Processor at 300 Mhz or higher, 64 MB RAM, Windows 98 SE, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Media Player 9.0, DVD drive.
2) My Best Games in the Caro-Kann Defence by Alexei Shirov. This instructional video runs for about four hours and fifty-three minutes. System Requirements are as follows: Pentium-Processor at 300 Mhz or higher, 64 MB RAM, Windows XP, Windows Vista, DVD drive, mouse and sound card.
3) Roman Encyclopaedia of 40 Essential Chess Openings discusses several chess openings that include the Caro-Kann Defence. The set is composed of 4 DVDs and runs almost 11 hours. The DVD also covers several other opening such as Dutch Defence, Benko Opening, King Indian’s Defence, Sicilian Defence, Nimzo-Indian defence, Pirc Defence, Ruy Lopez and several other chess openings. This DVD will greatly help you learn a lot of chess openings so it is worth your time and money.