Glenn, there is no arguing with the variation you quote but black isn't forced to play 5...Ngf6.  He may try e6, or even Ndf6 instead (5...Nb6? 6. Bxf7+! and white gets R + 2 good pawns and the initiative by force) these moves have a fair amount of theory in chessbase online.  White does well but there aren't a great amount of high level games here and certainly room for experiment.  Black must be careful and precise as is always the case in the 4....Nd7 lines but he should be able to play this.

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Bela,

After your 5.Qe2, since (as black) I'm trying to transpose to a main line I play 5...e6.  If you follow up with a quick d4 you've misplaced your queen (yes I know it goes to e2 in that line often but never before the KB has been developed.  You may have misplaced it anyway whether you choose to play d4 or not).

 If you try your b3 idea black just develops his king side either castling there or plays Qc7 and castles queenside.  In order to justify your queen placement you need to either go for a double fianchetto or run the kingside pawns at black,or some combination of the two (Maybe fianchetto the KB and play the QB to d2, g5 or f4 depending on circumstances but I don't believe it's good).  I think black is solid and has the time to counter in the center before you get a bind.  If neither of those plans are your cup of tea then you need to take more time to move your queen again.

My point is I don't believe black has to exchange on e4 early enough to relieve your cramp and your other plans seem too slow to cause a good player (Me it might work on!) much of a problem.  I think white has to try an early d4 if he wants an edge.  I think white is equal in the positions you describe but I don't believe he gets any edge.

Your 5.Bc4 seems a better try to me but if you want to play your queenside fianchetto it will be much tougher to organize and if you don't fianchetto how will you get play on the central dark squares without playing d4?

If these positions are your cup of tea with white then by all means play them.  My argument is that you can't realistically expect a theoretical edge with them and you may even sacrifice white's usual slight edge by playing them.  I don't believe the positions lead to forced dry equality, there is plenty of space for both sides to err and considering white isn't getting much (if anything) in the main lines of the 4....Nd7 Caro the attempt to play the 2 Knights may be as good as anything else.

Regards,
Badknight

Hello badknight,

After 4..Nd7, I play 5.Qe2!? (5.Bc4 is good too). Now 5..Ngf6?? 6.Nd6++ wins. Ok, ok, a trap. But that just goes to show the possibilities.

So, 5..Ndf6 6.b3 is cool. The idea is 6..Ne4 7.Qe4 Nf6 8.Qf4 and 9.Bb2, 10.OOO, 11.Bd3, 12.Rde1, etc. with smooth development.

Thoughts?

Bela

In Andrew's line 1. e4 c6 2. Nc3 d5 3. Nf3 de 4. Nxe4 Nf6 5. Nxf6+ gxf6 6. g3 Bg4 7. Bg2, I would rather go for a K-side attack with h5 and h4, where Black has his bishop in a better position than in the main line Caro as it is supporting the h-pawn thrust. I would rather play e6, Qc7, Bd6 (or e7) f5 and get the knight in to e4

I used to play the two knights but gave it up because i was fed up with trying to prove anything against 3... Bg4 however Nigel Davies recommended 4. h3 Bxf3 5. gxf3!? I have tried to work out what is happening in this position but to no avail! Whites position seems to have a lot of potential with the bishops and the centre but at the same time Black looks very solid. Does anybody have any ideas about this position or have a clue what's going on???

Hello all,

It seems to me that the line 1.e4 c6 2.Nc3 d5 3.Nf3 is underrated. Why is this line so unpopular? Can black really gain equality so quickly?

Let's chat!

Thanks,

Bela Geczy