Caro-Kann Defense: Classical Variation
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bf5
Classical Variation
1.2.3.4.
What Is The Classical Variation?
4...Bf5 develops the light squared bishop outside the pawn chain before ...e6 shuts it in. That is the whole point of the Caro-Kann: you get the solid French structure without the bad bishop. White chases it with 5.Ng3 Bg6 6.h4 h6 7.Nf3 Nd7 8.h5 Bh7 9.Bd3 Bxd3 10.Qxd3, and the pawn on h5 denies your pieces the g6 square.
The trade on d3 is no concession: White spent four moves to win a bishop that had already done its job, and your structure has no weaknesses. Play ...e6, ...Ngf6, ...Qc7 and castle queenside, keeping ...c5 in reserve. ...Nd7 comes first so Ne5 never arrives with tempo. Either White converts the extra space into an attack, or you neutralise it and the sound structure decides the endgame.
The Named Lines Of The Classical Variation
| Line | Moves |
|---|---|
| Main Line | 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bf5 5.Ng3 Bg6 6.h4 |
| Maróczy Attack | 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bf5 5.Ng3 Bg6 6.f4 |
| Flohr Variation | 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bf5 5.Ng3 Bg6 6.Nh3 |
| Spassky Variation | 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bf5 5.Ng3 Bg6 6.h4 h6 7.Nf3 Nd7 8.h5 |
| Lobron System | 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bf5 5.Ng3 Bg6 6.h4 h6 7.Nf3 Nd7 8.h5 Bh7 9.Bd3 Bxd3 10.Qxd3 e6 11.Bd2 Ngf6 12.O-O-O Be7 |
| Seirawan Variation | 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bf5 5.Ng3 Bg6 6.h4 h6 7.Nf3 Nd7 8.h5 Bh7 9.Bd3 Bxd3 10.Qxd3 Ngf6 11.Bd2 e6 12.O-O-O Bd6 |