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CheckMate
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Re: Two Knights CK
Reply #11 - 04/19/25 at 11:35:55
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That treatment will only apply to Nf6 Caro players, not every Caro player likes the Nf6 lines. Moreover white players often meet Nf6 with Qe2 instead of Nxf6 but I don't know if that's an improvement.

Any way Black's play in the 3... Bg4 line is so convenient that I don't understand why any one would play anything else. Certainly the standard Nf6 Nxf6 e(g) x f6 lines give White more prospects for an initiative than the feeble 3... Bg4 4. h3 Bxf3 5. Qxf3. The two knights Caro Kann is less than nothing for White. I used to play it decades ago but I have since long thrown it into the trash can.

  
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Vass
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Re: Two Knights CK
Reply #10 - 07/27/11 at 08:21:00
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I like this setup for black:  1. e4 c6 2. Nc3 d5 3. Nf3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nf6 5. Nxf6 (objectively the best) 5... gxf6, so the first player has to study these variations (5... gxf6 and 5... exf6), too.. And all because white can't do without d2-d4 in the near future if they want more than equality.
I'll have to draw attention to the fact that white have played Ng1-f3 already and thus they cannot achieve the best setup against Nf6 and gxf6 which is 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nf6 5. Nxf6 gxf6 6. c3!
In conclusion, imho any try to sidestep the Caro main lines (and I think those are: 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 and recently 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5) can lead you to = sooner or later.  Roll Eyes
  
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walkingterrapin
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Re: Two Knights CK
Reply #9 - 07/26/11 at 21:23:27
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I am currently playing a postal type game that so far has followed pretty close to that game.  It seems that I am gaining some advantage from the fact that he captured on e4 early.   

I appreciate all the feedback and was wondering what percentage of the time does the Two Knights come up in the games of CK players here that are master strength or lower?
  
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Re: Two Knights CK
Reply #8 - 07/26/11 at 16:05:22
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ECO gives it a column, citing games involving the likes of Fischer, Tal, Smyslov, Bronstein and Taimanov.  Its main line is 5. h3 Bh5 6. Ng3 Bxf3 7. Qxf3 Nf6 8. Bc4 e6 9. 0-0 Be7 10. c3 0-0 11. d4 Nbd7 12. Re1 a5 13. a4 Nb6 14. Bb3 +=, which is Balashov-Khalifman, Lviv 1990 by transposition.
  
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walkingterrapin
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Re: Two Knights CK
Reply #7 - 07/26/11 at 14:53:33
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I am talking from the white perspective, but it is important to understand the sidelines for black as well.  In the past I have played the KIA against the CK and French, but I am trying to branch out some and use my white a little more effectively.

So far I have seen this line a couple of times.

1. e4 c6
2. Nf3 d5
3. Nc3 de
4. Ne4 Bg4

Any thoughts or is this just a deviation from the 3.....Bg4 line?
  
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TN
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Re: Two Knights CK
Reply #6 - 07/26/11 at 09:59:38
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chk wrote on 07/26/11 at 09:00:33:
re the 4. d4 line: I thought that 4. d4 Nf6 puts immediate pressure on Pe4 and if White continues with 5. e5 Nfd7 results in an easy French for Black.


The game Jones-Long suggests that White's position is easier to play in this variation. Unfortunately I can't embellish on the content of the ChessPublishing archives.
  
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chk
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Re: Two Knights CK
Reply #5 - 07/26/11 at 09:00:33
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re the 4. d4 line: I thought that 4. d4 Nf6 puts immediate pressure on Pe4 and if White continues with 5. e5 Nfd7 results in an easy French for Black.
  
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TN
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Re: Two Knights CK
Reply #4 - 07/26/11 at 08:50:32
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In that case 3...Bg4 4.d4 is an interesting line, when 4...e6 5.h3 Bf3 6.Qf3 de4 7.Ne4 is a gambit, albeit not a wild one. Other than that you might want to look at 4.h3 Bf3 5.Qf3 Nf6 6.d3 e6 7.a3.
  
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chk
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Re: Two Knights CK
Reply #3 - 07/26/11 at 08:24:29
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I was under the impression the OP was looking for a system for White?!?!  Shocked
  
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TN
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Re: Two Knights CK
Reply #2 - 07/26/11 at 06:20:29
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I think you will like the sneaky 3...a6!?, which is essentially a waiting move that allows Black to vary his play depending on White's reaction. Smerdon-Iordachescu, Khanty-Mansiysk 2010, is a model example for Black. 

4.h3 is a bit tricky to meet, but Black can reach a slightly improved version of Goeller's suggested 3...d4 with 4...d4 5.Ne2 c5 and ...a6 is quite useful both in stopping Bb5 (in response to Nc6) and preparing ...b5 once the light squared bishop goes to c4. 

Incidentally, by learning this system you can also add 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 a6 to your Black repertoire since White's main move there is 4.Nf3.
  
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urusov
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Re: Two Knights CK
Reply #1 - 07/26/11 at 00:25:57
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Most everyone, of course, plays 1.e4 c6 2.Nf3 d5 3.Nc3 Bg4 so you definitely want to try something different if you are looking for "off-beat."

Probably the most interesting option is 1.e4 c6 2.Nf3 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6!? which is covered in Dangerous Weapons: The Caro Kann.   
http://www.amazon.com/Dangerous-Weapons-Caro-Kann-Opponents-Everyman/dp/18574463...
Play typically goes 4.e5 Ne4! (the point) 5.Ne2 (probably best) 5...Qb6 (also good is Flohr's simpler 5...Bf5!? -- see here for instance: http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1045017) 6.d4 e6!? (their recommendation) which is rare, so definitely off-beat.

I played a game against 3...d4!? 4.Ne2 c5 5.Ng3 (5.c3!? may be better) 5...Nc6 6.Bc4 Nf6! where Black had good chances.
http://www.kenilworthchessclub.org/games/java/2009/goeller-usate.htm  But theory frowns upon 3...d4.
  
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walkingterrapin
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Two Knights CK
07/25/11 at 14:58:30
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Looking  for some information/lines on the Two Knights variation against the CK.  I have had a lot of trouble with the CK and want something that is a little off beat, but not a wild gambit.  If you have any suggestions please feel free to leave them.
  
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