HoemberChess wrote on 12/24/09 at 15:05:54:
How do you study your Caro-Kann books?
My methods of studying vary, but most of the time I enter the opening variations into the computer (I used to include all explanations and game citations but don't have the time for these luxuries), then I play through the illustrative games on the board. In some books, many of the games are already annotated on Mega Database, which saves a lot of time when you are entering information into the computer.
With books, the key is not to memorize everything in the book but to understand everything in the book. Then when the opponent deviates, you will know what to do through your understanding of this opening.
Quote:And how much?
I devote about 30% of my time to openings, and of this time, much of it is spent either reading books or expanding information in books with other sources and my own analysis. I tend to focus on the middlegame when studying, studying several game references and determining how White or Black could improve on their play, which helps in the strategic phases of the game.
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And when should one refresh his memories about the variations?
Since you aren't a very active player, if you have some flexibility and versatility in your repertoire, then memorising the variations during pre-game preparation should be sufficient. If you have a narrow repertoire, then knowing the variations extremely well is crucial, otherwise you will be outprepared in many games. If you have the time to revise these lines at home, I suggest putting this time into other phases of the game.
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( Before games, I am very often worried about forgetting the lines I have played through once. And indeed, I forget them easily, while I'd like to remember every game and variations I played through... )
Don't worry. At your level, it is rare for the game to be decided in the opening phase. It may help if, when playing through games, you ask the question 'Why?' throughout so that you understand the purpose and ideas behind each move played. By drawing your own conclusions on a game, you are more likely to remember it.
Quote:How to keep your level of "being booked-up"?
This is an easy question - study the theory and check new games in B10-B19 each week with TWIC. However, you don't need to be 'booked-up', especially in the Caro-Kann where below 2400, the opening can be played successfully without much knowledge of opening theory, provided one has a good understanding of the strategies and plans. Instead of spending your time learning the theory in more detail (I assume you already know all the lines quite well for Black), put that time into the transition from opening to middlegame and the middlegame by studying grandmaster games (both contemporary and historical).
Quote:What are some critical White tries against the Caro-Kann at this level?[b]
Like I said, the game is unlikely to be decided in the opening, but as in every opening, there are a minority of lines where you just have to know the theory to get a good position. The most dangerous line at your level is probably the Advance Variation because White can meet 3...Bf5 in whatever way suits his style, whereas Black has to be willing to play a wide range of positions. I think 3...c5 is a good solution for cutting down on a lot of theory, but you still require a well-prepared response to 4.c4 and 4.Nf3 Nc6 5.c4.
Quote: *3 Exchange variations //Incredible, how popular it is amongst 2100-players. But in the games, Whites achieved nothing serious.
Against this line, if you haven't already, I suggest taking a look at 5...Qc7!? with the idea of ...e5, which takes a lot of the sting out of White's position. It helps to remember that the pawn structure is the same as the Carlsbad but with colours reversed, which obviously changes the plans and strategies quite drastically.
Quote: *3 Panov Attacks (I prefer 5..e6 6.Nf3 Bb4)
- 2 guys closed the queenside with the early 6.c5, but I played according to the Karpov-Podgaets book, 6..Be7 7.Nf3 0-0, and they very soon lost their way and got worse positions.
- 1 tried to play the mainline, but being an 1700-player, soon started to mix up things.
Well done! When studying this line, keep in mind that transpositions to the Rubinstein Nimzo can occur, so you may need to study theory from a different ECO code, depending on your chosen variation.
Quote: *2 Two Knights Variations //They played according to theory only up to move 4 and 10, respectively...
*1 Advance (I play 3..c5) //White was an 1700-player, so that's all about it..
*1 Fantasy (3..e6 4.Be3 Qb6 5.Nd2 Qxb2)
In the Two Knights, Black's best option is 3...Bg4 4.h3 Bf3 5.Qf3, when you should know how to meet the 6.d4 gambit if you play 5...e6 and White's early g4 ideas if you play 5...Nf6.
Quote:They were all U2200-players and without the shade of serious theoretical knowledge.
So, I have not met any critical try yet, which may make me lazy, similarly to many players around me.
That's a major advantage of the Caro-Kann: Many players either don't understand what they are doing, or memorize 15 moves of theory (especially in the 3.Nc3 de4 4.Ne4 main line) and have no idea what to do once they are out of book. Even at 2200-2400 level, some players don't entirely understand how to play White's position once the game leaves their 'book' knowledge.
Quote:[b]What are the sharpest tries against the 3..c5 Advance Variation? I already have quite a few hours in it (Houska-book), so I don't want to give it up easily in favor of the more expected 3..Bf5 (as in the Bologan-repertoire).
4.c4 and 4.Nf3 Nc6 5.c4. You might want to avoid the latter with 4...Bg4 since that 5.c4 line looks slightly better for White at the moment (I once tried the endgame with 5...cd4 6.Nd4 dc4!? but was slightly worse out of the opening). 4.dc5 Nc6 (I'm guessing you already know the ins and outs of 4...e6 as it was covered in detail by Houska) 5.Bb5 e6 6.Be3 Nge7 7.Nf3 Bd7 8.Bc6 Bc6!? is a line well worth investigating if a recent innovation causes Black serious troubles in the 4...e6 variation.
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Caro Kann (Read 47016 times)
