Caro Kahn Fantasy variation

I have tried most of whites other attempts against the caro kahn (I prefer the panov at the moment) but would like to have a go at adding this system to my repatoire and see how well it works out for me.

Does any forum reader play it, and might be willing to give me a few tips on what to look out for in the early stages of the game?

I used to meet the Caro-Kann with the Panov Attack, but now prefer the Short Attack instead. For a far more authoritative assessment than I can provide here, try Karpov & Podgaerts (2006) on the matter.

As to the Panov itself, it quickly drags Black to places he probably hadn't planned to visit when playing 1...c6. White's gameplan is simple: natural development followed by opportunities against Black's K-side. White has the choice to play IQP positions, exploiting open lines and files (c & e). Black meanwhile usually retains a N anchored on d5, and chooses between positions with his B on e7 or b4.

Most amateur C-K players are uneasy facing the Panov because of the fluid piece-play available to both sides

Yeah, I know plenty of tricks with the panov, but it was really the fantasy variation which I was hoping to gain a greater understanding of.

It starts something like this....

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.f3

Right. I misread/misunderstood what you wanted. Never played this variation; so can't help

Originally posted by Tyrannosauruschex
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.f3

I won a blitz game earlier playing this variation - it seemed ok for white but my opponent kept the game fairly closed which made it easier for me. I suspect there are black lines that are somewhat more testing.

Here are a few good games on the Fantasy, I personally don't have
any opinions, but there is good information to be had on it in the form
of some great master games.

http://www.redhotpawn.com/chess/grandmaster-games/index.php?openingid=462

is the RHP site for some Master games on the Fantasy.


-GIN

I used to play the Caro-Kahn occassionally back when I played in the Glasgow Chess League. Stretching my memory a bit.

As far as I recall, if Black plays passively then White looks to castle queenside and plays like the English Attack against the Nadjorf or the Yugoslav against the Dragon (i.e. throw the k-side pawns up the board!).

The line that causes White the most hassle is 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.f3 dxe4 4.fxe4 e5, when things get very complicated both positionally and tactically. It is a little bit suspect positionally for White, but a position with tactics is not what most people want when they play the Caro-Kahn!

As for exact lines... it has been something like 15 years since I played against the Fantasy variation, so I can't recall any of them.
I did have a book on the Caro-Kahn, but the dog ate it and I can't remember the title. It would probably be well out of date as well.

I remember really enjoying Timman's annotations to a Morozevich- Bologan game where moro employed the fantasy variation. I think the game was played in 2003 or 2004. I think black can get a solid, but slightly cramped position by taking on e4, just like in many other caro variations.

EDIT

found the game:

I think Nigel Davies' Gambiteer I recommends this variation. In my opinion, the book is pretty much crap, but the Fantasy is probably the best variation he recommends in that book, and if you're just looking for an intro, some theory, and some nice games, then you could probably find this book cheap on Amazon Marketplace.

EDIT - Just checked Amazon. In the States, you can buy this book new for 9 bucks, I dunno about over the pond though. 😀

Originally posted by !~TONY~!
I think Nigel Davies' Gambiteer I recommends this variation. In my opinion, the book is pretty much crap, but the Fantasy is probably the best variation he recommends in that book, and if you're just looking for an intro, some theory, and some nice games, then you could probably find this book cheap on Amazon Marketplace.

EDIT - Just checked Amazo ...[text shortened]... . In the States, you can buy this book new for 9 bucks, I dunno about over the pond though. 😀

In gambiteer I, Davies recommends the Wing Gambit, and questions the popularity of the Smith-Morra Gambit, which he says gives up a pawn for not much more than "a bunch of cheap tricks". At least in my experience, the Smith-Morra is far more sound that the wing gambit (1.e4 c5 2.b4); you will still find strong players who occasionally play the Smith-Morra, like GM-Elect Alex Lenderman (USCF 2600), but never any who play the Wing Gambit. After reading that, I regarded most of his claims with skepticism.

Luckily, most of us who buy those books are not going to end up as 2600+ grand masters, so the cheap shots are ok to try even if they are unsound at the highest levels.
I, personally, dont rate the wing gambit all that much but it can be a real bitch to deal with against somebody who knows his stuff - I quite often lose blitz games where people play it against me.


I just won quite a nice game in blitx with it, I quite like the idea of getting the space advantage and holding it - with the main lines of the panov I often find that it is me as white who is struggling to maintain my position while black gets lots of natrual developing moves that are also good to spring into a plan.

Originally posted by Nowakowski
[b]Here are a few good games on the Fantasy, I personally don't have
any opinions, but there is good information to be had on it in the form
of some great master games.

http://www.redhotpawn.com/chess/grandmaster-games/index.php?openingid=462

is the RHP site for some Master games on the Fantasy.


-GIN

[pgn][Event "59th Russian Championship"] ...[text shortened]...