I managed to finally get a copy of this book and devoured it over the last few days. I must say, this is a remarkable book. I am amazed that a book like this could advocate largely critical lines, yet have such a good mix of explanatory prose, 24 annotated illustrative games ( yes 24 )and still fit in 250 pages. Amazing! 

It seems like a hybrid of a regular "Play the..." repertoire book, a Grandmaster Repertoire and a Chess Explained all combined into one. And yet it is only 250 pages, and you don't feel cheated. 

I also have Scandorff's previous book: "Playing the Queen's Gambit" and he seems to have the unique talent of  striking exactly the right balance of being thorough, yet accessible and succinct. I look forward to future books from Schandorff. 

Er...did I mention it is only 250 pages?

I got my hardcover copy immediately after it was published. But since I am not a Caro player with black pieces I did not work on any line. I just took a quick look at Panov attack - when I played 1.e4 with White this was my choice against Caro Kann - and I see a few good reasons why I switched to 1.d4 
The first thing in this book which took my attentions is this: "If you play the Caro-Kann when you are young, then what would you play when you are old? – Bent Larsen". Hope Jacob & Co will not object for citing it  .
I am not so sure what is the average age/experience of the guys playing Caro here, but for now I am feeling young and would prefer to keep it for future use 

I received the book and it makes a very good impression on me. It's well structured and has nice explanations. I'm generally very happy with the book.

But, there is one line I tried to look up that seems not to be covered in the book. It's the setup 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. h4 h5 5. Bg5!? (Please note that this has little to do with 5. c4 e6 6. Nc3 Ne7 7. Bg5 which is better known and covered on p.98 ff.) Admittedly, this is quite a sideline but a couple of grandmasters have employed it in 2007-2010. Play usually continues with 5... Qb6 6. Bd3 Bxd3 7. Qxd3. 

Here, the intended trap is 7... Qxb2 (?) 8. e6! White then has a nice initiative and an 100% score in the ChessBase database. Black temporarily wins a rook but White has the attack. Maybe maybe Black can hold after 8... fxe6 9. Nf3 Nd7 10. O-O Qxa1 11. Qb3 O-O-O N 12. Nbd2 Qxf1+ 13. Kxf1 but I'm still sceptical about this line.

So Black probably better continues 7.... e6 8. Nd2 and then 8th moves alternatives are, say
* 8... Qa6 9. c4 Bb4 or
* 8... c5 9. c4 Qxb2

It's still all very unclear to me. Furthermore, this is definitely a line that I don't want to have to work out over the board. What can you recommend?

As Lars is doing the CBM articles, we assumed he had everything covered there. I have not dug out Kuzmin's article yet, but I did look a bit on 16.Nb3 myself. I don't think there is a reason to be worried with Black - there is obviously enough compensation; but you are playing for a draw in most lines.

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "?"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "*"]
[PlyCount "66"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bf5 5. Nc5 e5 6. Nxb7 Qb6 7. Nc5 exd4 8.
Nb3 Bb4+ 9. Bd2 Nf6 10. Bxb4 Qxb4+ 11. Qd2 Qxd2+ 12. Kxd2 Ne4+ 13. Ke1 c5 14.
f3 Nd6 15. Nxc5 O-O 16. Nb3 Nc6 17. Bd3 Rab8 18. Ne2 (18. Kd2 Ne5 19. Ne2 {
transposes}) 18... Ne5 19. Rd1 (19. Kd2 Ndc4+ (19... a5 $5 20. Bxf5 Nxf5 21.
Rab1 Rfd8 22. f4 Nc4+ 23. Kd3 Re8 $1 $11) 20. Bxc4 Nxc4+ 21. Kc1 d3 22. Ned4
Bg6 23. Nc6 Rb7 24. cxd3 Bxd3 25. Rd1 Bg6 $11) (19. Bxf5 Nxf5 20. Nbxd4 Nxd4
21. Nxd4 Rxb2 22. Kd2 Rb4 $1 23. Nf5 g6 24. Ne3 Nc4+ 25. Nxc4 Rxc4 26. Rhc1
Rd8+ 27. Ke2 Rdc8 28. Kd2 Rd8+ $11) 19... a5 (19... Rfc8 20. Nexd4 Nxd3+ 21.
cxd3 a5 22. g4 Be6 23. Nxe6 fxe6 24. Rd2 a4 25. Nd4 Rc1+ 26. Rd1 Rxd1+ 27. Kxd1
Rxb2 28. Re1 Rxa2 29. Rxe6 Nb7 30. Rc6 Na5 31. Rc2 Ra3 32. Kd2 $16) 20. Bxf5 (
20. Kf2 Bxd3 21. cxd3 a4 22. Nbxd4 Rxb2 23. a3 Re8 $11) 20... Nxf5 21. Kf2 (21.
Nexd4 Ne3 22. Rb1 a4 23. Na5 Rfc8 24. Ke2 Nxc2 25. Rhd1 h6 $11) 21... a4 22.
Nbxd4 Nxd4 23. Rxd4 Rxb2 24. a3 (24. f4 Ng4+ 25. Kf3 Rxc2 26. Rxa4 f5) 24...
Rxc2 25. Rc1 Ra2 26. Rc3 Re8 27. Re3 Kf8 28. h4 Rc2 29. Rde4 f6 30. Kg3 Ra8 31.
Rc3 Rxc3 32. Nxc3 Rc8 33. Nxa4 Nc4 $11 *

There was a Yearbook article on 5. Nc5 in 2003.

I received my hardcopy yesterday and i have to say i'm very happy with my book! I think it is absolutely great!

Ametanoitos wrote on 06/10/10 at 11:18:48:


There's nothing theoretically wrong with 5...Qc7, and while it's objectively equal it tends to provide good enough winning chances (nothing spectacular, but black's not just playing to draw), so I think it's a good choice. 

The Nf6/Nc6/g6 approach is fine and equal, too, ultimately it's a question of taste. It's not like black has just one way to deal with the Exchange.

BPaulsen wrote on 06/09/10 at 23:43:48:


BPaulsen can you be more specific on that? I have stated 2-3 times here that i like the ...g6 variation of the exchange with Nf6-Nc6 just like it was recommended in the Dzindzi's DVD