@Stefan Buecker

Against 3...d4, I suggest 4.Ng3 Qa5 5.Qe2 g6 6.f4 Bg7 7.Na3!? as being an improvement over Pahtz-Dizdarevic, Solin 2006. This was recommended by Fogarasi, who however did not give any variations due to space constraints. I agree that 4.b4, while interesting, shouldn't give White any advantage. 

4.c3 is interesting; after 4...c5 5.Nf4 I'd probably play 5...e6 (I'm not convinced by 5...Bf5 due to e6/Qb3 ideas) 6.Nf3 Nc6, after which Black shouldn't be any worse although the position is quite interesting.

@BPaulsen

I'd say that both Bucker's recommended 3...d4 (which has been tried in some games) and your recommendation of 2...g6 lead to equality. I assume by simpler you mean that while 2...g6 requires knowledge of a few rare lines of the Pirc or Modern, 3...d4 doesn't require knowledge of a different opening system.

NIC didn't cover the position (they don't mention 2...g6, which isn't too surprising given its rarity and the brevity of the article), I checked the position after 4.c4 on my database and noticed that only 4...d6 had been played before. 

In any case, there have been several new developments in this line since the article was written (only about 3 months ago) and in my opinion the variation certainly deserves an update in a future Yearbook. 

Stefan Buecker wrote on 02/10/10 at 07:01:35:


4. Nbc3 would most likely head back into Pirc/Modern lines considered okay for black due to the early Ne2 assuming white's going to play Be3/Qd2/0-0-0, etc. Playing as in a Closed Sicilian with g3/Bg2 should result in equality.

4. h4 is interesting, where 4...d5 is worth thought aside from 4...h5. It's not clear white actually has anything after 5. exd5 cxd5 6. h5 Nc6 7. c3 Nf6 8. h6 Bf8, or 5. e5 h5.

That aside, your 1. e4 c6 2. Ne2 d5 3. e5 d4 looks simple and good with chances for both sides. It may very well be the more principled response.

A very nice novelty!  You are spot on, after 4...d5!N, White has no advantage. This novelty just about renders the front cover(!) survey in Yearbook 93 completely redundant. I stand by my view that the Modern after 5...e5 is a bit better for White in spite of the Ne2, but that is irrelevant due to your improvement. 

I seriously recommend you send this to New In Chess before someone else tries to take the credit for your idea. 

PS: The reason I'm excited about this is because I've been searching for a clear equaliser against this line for the last week.

@Stefan Buecker

You're right that 4.Nbc3 or 4.h4 h5 5.Nbc3 is better, although it still doesn't give White any advantage since Nge2 doesn't comprise part of any of White's theoretically challenging setups against the Pirc or Modern.

BPaulsen wrote on 02/10/10 at 01:01:07:


While 2...g6 has scored extremely well for Black in practice, I'm not convinced that 2...g6 is such an easy equaliser: 3.d4 Bg7 (3...d5 4.e5 Bg7 5.Ng3! f6 6.f4 c5 7.c3! is favourable for White) 4.c4 d6 5.Nc3 Nf6 (Black can play as in a Modern with 5...Nd7 or 5...e5 but I think White should keep a small edge with Be3/f3 and possibly d5) 6.f3 0-0 (6...a6 can also be played, but to my knowledge the Byrne has always been considered += ) 7.Be3 and we are in a standard Samisch KID where Black is committed to ...c6, which does not form part of his optimal setup, e.g. 7...e5 8.Qd2 and White is a little better here, as evidenced by the unfashionability of 6...e5 against the Samisch in GM games, or 7...a6 8.c5 which brings us to a += variation of the Byrne. 

Obviously 2...g6 could be a problem for someone without the Samisch KID in their repertoire, since I agree with you that 3.d4 Bg7 4.Nc3 d6 is quite innocuous.

@MNb: Good suggestion, especially since White has some small chances for an edge in the main line wth 4...Nc6 5.c3 Nf6 6.Bf4 Bg4 7.Qb3. It's true that some of Black's sidelines are rather easy equalisers, but that's the price one pays for playing an offbeat line.

I seriously pray that 2. Ne2 catches on, just so I can get out of the opening with zero troubles after 2...g6.

Any ideas on a good solid offbeat line against the caro - kann?

I had a friend suggest the two kinghts or possibly playing Nge2 in the main line? Any thoughts on these options?