"The Most Underrated Chess Opening for Black Against 1.e4" by Remote Chess Academy

 

I recently looked at the 15-minute video "The Most Underrated Chess Opening for Black Against 1.e4" by the Remote Chess Academy (GM Igor Smirnov). The subtitle is "Opening Crash Course: Caro-Kann Defense", which is what I have played my entire tournament chess career (see "Why I Play the Caro-Kann"). Here is my take on it, from an experienced if not expert player.

Smirnov does a good job of describing the basic ideas and trade-offs behind the first two opening moves, including key points such as defensively blocking the a2-g8 diagonal (for a White Bc4, for example) and how the c6 pawn takes away the Nb8's natural square. After 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5, White reaches a "crossroads" since the e-pawn is attacked, so must make a committal decision - advance it, trade it, or protect it.

• The first one presented is the Advance Variation, probably the main line these days. White gains space with the pawn push 3. e5. Unsurprisingly for a short video, he recommends 3...c5 for Black, given the different complexities of all the White variations after 3...Bf5, calling it the best option below master level. The goal with 3...c5 is to obtain a better version of the French Advance, with the light-square bishop outside the pawn chain. Smirnov does a good job of covering the ideas behind standard minor piece and queen placements, although the most critical White lines with taking on c5 - effectively accepting Black's gambit - are not treated.
• The next one is the Exchange Variation, which is always popular at the club level. Smirnov points out that White has solved Black's problem with the c6 square, which is now open for the knight. Natural development for both sides is good, with Black refraining from playing ...e6 before the bishop goes to g4.
• The third segment is on the old "main line" with 3. Nc3, where White defends the e4 pawn. Black is effectively obliged to take on e4, since nothing else makes sense. After 4. Nxe4, Smirnov shows the 4...Nf6 variation with the "super-solid" 5...exf6 after a knight exchange by White. This - the Tartakower variation (which Smirnov doesn't mention by name) - has relatively simple rules for further piece development and Smirnov also shows some typical middlegame ideas. Again, the most critical modern lines aren't shown, but the play presented is reasonable. He also addresses the unsound but difficult-to-face "Alien Gambit" with White playing 5. Ng5 instead of taking on f6.

Although a number of sidelines are not shown (the Two Knights with 2. Nc3, the Fantasy Variation with 3. f3, the King's Indian Attack, etc.), for the core ideas and most popularly-encountered variations, this video - perhaps somewhat surprisingly - actually does live up to being a "crash course" for the Caro-Kann, with enough ideas and examples to get someone started reasonably well at the club level.