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Scott
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Re: Best book to learn to play Caro Kann
Reply #9 - 05/16/09 at 21:24:47
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slates wrote on 05/16/09 at 18:54:43:
I no longer have that Khalifman book on Karpov's repertoire, but didn't it recommend 4...Nd7, if I remember correctly?  I don't think I got very much out of that book at the time - I can't remember what it gave against the CK Advance, though?  



I don't have the Khalifman book, but I feel you're probably right about 4... Nd7. That is definitely a pet line of Karpov's.
  
My style is somewhere between that of Petrosian and Tal.
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Re: Best book to learn to play Caro Kann
Reply #8 - 05/16/09 at 20:18:01
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Viceroy wrote on 05/05/09 at 18:16:17:

The French can be hard to escape.


Luckily it is of a high enough level to not need to escape. While it isn't as popular as the Sicilian, or as "correct" as 1...e5, it tends to be in great theoretical condition. It can be a weapon for life.

However, learning new openings is a good thing, and the comments I made about the French also apply to the Caro-Kann.
  
2288 USCF, 2186 FIDE.

FIDE based on just 27 games.
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Re: Best book to learn to play Caro Kann
Reply #7 - 05/16/09 at 18:54:43
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I no longer have that Khalifman book on Karpov's repertoire, but didn't it recommend 4...Nd7, if I remember correctly?  I don't think I got very much out of that book at the time - I can't remember what it gave against the CK Advance, though?  

  
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Re: Best book to learn to play Caro Kann
Reply #6 - 05/16/09 at 18:11:18
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I also like the Well' book.

I think Opening for Black According to Karpov by Khalifman is also excellent. 

Viceroy is right to say Houska's is a sharp approach. Khalifman's repetoire is a more traditional positional approach, which I prefer.
  
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Re: Best book to learn to play Caro Kann
Reply #5 - 05/14/09 at 18:03:14
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The Peter Wells book is my favourite. I have Houska, Gallagher and the Karpov/Podgaets books as well, but the one I use most is Wells.  At your level (1900, which is certainly above mine) you may prefer to go with the Karpov books, but Wells will explain things much better should you want more prose.  I use the Karpov books for a deeper look at things that Wells doesn't have space to cover.

There are previous recent threads here covering Caro Kann books in more detail if you hunt a little for them...
  
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Re: Best book to learn to play Caro Kann
Reply #4 - 05/11/09 at 02:06:03
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I have Gallagher's Starting Out: The Caro-Kann. I thought it was a pretty good introduction the the Defense. Some of the sharper lines might require some more up-to-date material.

One warning: Gallagher does have an admitted bias toward the White side of the Fantasy Variation. He does explain the different systems for Black and give warnings about some traps, but I think there could have been a better choice of example games; for the most part the games in that section don't demonstrate best play by black, so you might want something else on the Fantasy Variation.

If you want something more advanced than a "Starting Out" book, I'd second the recommendation of Houska's book. I'm working through it right now, and I've found it quite useful and helpful. It seems to be an oustanding first book for her. I'm looking forwark to her Scandinavian book...
  
My style is somewhere between that of Petrosian and Tal.
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Re: Best book to learn to play Caro Kann
Reply #3 - 05/06/09 at 09:24:25
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Hello, 

Wells is excellent regarding the mainlines, 
but not sufficient as your only source.  
There are many dangerous early deviations for 
White, which are not mentioned in Wells book. 

Since 1...c6 is a nondeveloping move, there is much 
theory to learn at your level. 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 is 
very solid and ...3.e5 very complicated, so many White player 
will try something offbeat. 

Keilhack's book "Knight to the Left" about 1Nc3 has 
coverage of White sidelines against the Caro-Kann, 
which could be reached from a 1.Nc3 move order, 
for example 1.e4 c6 2.Nc3 d5 3.Qf3 or 3.g3/d3 or 3.f4. 

Since it has also much material about the French two knights 
etc.,   I would highly recommend this book. 

Btw
if you can find an answer against 1.e4 Nc6 2.Nf3 
which you like, 
then  1...Nc6 could be interesting. 

In praxis you could reach good/interesting versions 
of the French in some lines, for example: 

1.e4 Nc6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5/f6 
1.e4 Nc6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 e6 
1.e4 Nc6 2.d4 e6 (I am sceptical about this) 

Regards
  
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Re: Best book to learn to play Caro Kann
Reply #2 - 05/05/09 at 18:16:17
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I normally play the French but did play the Caro-Kann for a while. I used Houska's book (see gewgaw's link above) and liked her repertoire choices. I had thought the CK was dull and boring, but found that not to be the case.

Houska suggests 3...c5 against the CK advance -which is what I faced in 90% of my CK games - and this is very similar to the Fr advance, making it quite easy to learn. In fact, as nearly all my CK games turned into the French, I decided to just keep playing 1...e6 2...d5  Roll Eyes

The French can be hard to escape. When I tried playing the Qa5 Scandinavian, my positions often seemed like a French Fort Knox. When I dabbled in the Alekhine, everyone played 2.Nc3 and after 2...d5 3.e5 Nfd7, I was in a Classical French.

So, my advice would be to stick to the French Cool  If you are looking for some new lines, try the new Mcdonald book which has great coverage of the McCutcheon.
  
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Re: Best book to learn to play Caro Kann
Reply #1 - 05/05/09 at 17:25:17
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http://www.amazon.de/gp/product/1857444345/ref=s9_sims_gw_s4_p14_t3?pf_rd_m=A3JW...

Both books are excellent.
  
The older, the better - over 2200 and still rising.
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Best book to learn to play Caro Kann
05/05/09 at 17:21:56
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So far I have been playing the French. But I found that now everybody is waiting for my french so I have a hard time in every game. I am trying to learn the caro to add to my repertory. I am 1900 player. What book do you suggest to learn this defence?
  
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