MNb wrote on 09/10/18 at 14:11:32:


GM Kornev actually mentions this position ...

Stigma wrote on 09/10/18 at 09:06:08:

Sure it does. At least 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.Bd3 Nc6 5.c3 prevents Black from playing ...Bf5 while 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.cxd5 exd5 4.Nc3 c6 and now 5.Bf4 is eminently playable.
Statistics are interesting here. White has a meagre 45%, even if both players have ELO 2200+. However ChessBase rates the performance higher than the average rating of the White players. This suggests that its'a decent choice against stronger opponents.
Someone familiar with the Caro-Kann Exchange might even try something like 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.cxd5 exd5 4.Nc3 c6 5.Nf3 Bd6 6.g3 Bf5 7.Bg2 Nf6 8.O-O O-O 9.Nh4.

I take !? to mean "a move worth considering"...whilst I have no idea why GM Kornev chose to use this after 3...c6 I took it to mean rather than black simply playing 3...Nf6 transposing  into the main lines of the exchange variation ....c6 may be a better option; but there isn't a lot of theory and practical examples to support the recommendation. (Have to say, for what it's worth  3....c6 looks pretty good to me).

As quoted by Alexei Kornev in his recent book Play 1 d4 d5 2 c4 e6! published by Chess Stars.

"3 cxd5 is played in the spirit of the exchange variation of the Queen's Gambit but without the inclusion of the moves 3 Nc3 Nf6. This clarifies  the central pawn structure to early and therefore favours black as he has no need to worry about his "bad"  light squared bishop which can now easily be developed at f5 or g4 giving black at least an equal position".

He then offers 3....exd5 4 Nc3 c6!? with 5 possible options for white 5 Bf4, 5 Qc2, 5 Nf3, 5 h3 and 5 g3 (5 e3 generally transposes into one of the 5 move options). all of which seem to give black good play.

Because I am not a regular 1.d4 player I was wondering what the downside is of 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.cxd5 instead of 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.cxd5. I saw that last night at my local club, but it is almost never played. So there must be a reason for it, I guess.