In chess the Caro-Kann opening is one of Black’s most reliable answers to 1.e4. It is a regular favorite of elite players, who know that computer-aided preparation now threatens the sharpest lines of the Sicilian or Ruy Lopez (at the very least with a forced draw).

The Caro-Kann is less susceptible to such forcing lines – Black sets out to equalize in the opening, and win the game later. Grandmaster Lars Schandorff reveals a bulletproof chess opening repertoire and lucidly explains how Black should play the middle and endgame.

Lars Schandorff is a chess grandmaster from Denmark who is renowned for his opening preparation. His first book for Quality Chess, Playing the Queen’s Gambit, received superb reviews.

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Contents

 Key to symbols used & Bibliography 6
 Introduction 7 
 
The Classical Variation
1 Introduction 9
2 Early Deviations 13
3 6.Bc4 21
4 6.h4 31
5 11.Bd2 37
6 11.Bf4 53
7 12.Bd2 59
8 The Main Line 14.c4 65 

The Advance Variation
9 Introduction and Minor Lines 85
10 c4-Lines 95
11 Positional Lines 103
12 Short Variation 113
13 Shirov Variation 137 
 
Panov Variation
14 Introduction and Early Deviations 149
15 The Endgame Line 157
16 The Sharp 6.Bg5 171 
 
Minor Systems
17 Pseudo-Panov 181
18 Exchange Variation 197
19 Fantasy Variation 207
20 Two Knights Variation 215
21 2.d3 225
22 Rare Lines 235
 
Index of Illustrative Games 246
Index of Variations 251