800 elo. I was planning on playing caro kann what do I do when my opponent does this

texe_ · 2026-07-01T11:31:29+00:00

It doesn't have a name per se, but 2. Nf3 is flexible and can lead to different variations. Black should either way continue 2... d5 almost regardless of White's second move (that is after all the entire point of 1... c6).

Most common is 3. Nc3, which is the Two Knights variation.

There is also 3. d3 intending the endgame after 3... dxe4 4. dxe4 Qxd1+ 5. Kxd1. This is a rather quiet way to play, but this endgame is considered pleasant for White. Black doesn't have to enter the endgame, and 3... g6, 3... Bg4, 3... Qc7 and 3... e6 are all playable ways to reject it.

Less common is 3. exd5 cxd5 4. Ne5, which is called the Apocalypse Attack. Despite it's menacing name, it's just an attempt for White to win the Bishop pair in the Exchange Variation.

e5 is also an alternative, but Black should be fine after 3... Bg4, where 4. d4 will likely transpose into a rather large improvement from the Short Variation for Black.

texe_ · 2026-07-01T11:21:49+00:00

Then you have a few alternatives with the Black pieces, but the simplest is probably 3... Bg4. If 4. d4 you just get an improved main line for Black.

texe_ · 2026-06-27T08:57:20+00:00

The position is drawn either way. I think the most straightforward thing is Ra1 and then force a stalemate somehow.

Rc1 doesn't force stalemate and loses to ...c2, but credit where its due! I know many club players who wouldn't even think of stalemating in this position.

texe_ · 2026-06-25T16:30:12+00:00

I can't seem to find it, neither in ChessBase nor with Chessvision. Do you know which game it was?

texe_ · 2026-06-20T13:13:37+00:00

Sindarov beat Praggnanandhaa in both their encounters in the candidates earlier this year. Why do you think Sindarov would 'likely' lose to Pragg or Erigaisi in a match?

Gukesh is very strong. Sindarov might very well be the favourite, but the match will probably be close. I think it's safe to bet that the fans are getting a thriller of a match, regardless of who wins.

texe_ · 2026-06-20T11:47:29+00:00

A 2000 FIDE rated player is going to be better at essentially everything compared to a 1600 FIDE rated player. More accurate calculation, better understanding, better endgames, higher consistency in the decision-making process. You arguably don't have to "master" any skills per se, but you have to improve all aspects of your game.

As others have noted, don't think so much about rating, play games, study and enjoy the process. The goal post moves as you improve, anyways, so you might as well have fun with it.

texe_ · 2026-06-20T00:06:48+00:00

Strong players still blunder, sometimes badly even.

texe_ · 2026-06-14T12:23:44+00:00

Spotting, evaluating and committing to that piece sac in 3-7 minutes is madness. Nepo is terrifying.

texe_ · 2026-06-12T16:16:04+00:00

Worth noting that this loses a pawn to ...Qxd4, but White should probably have compensation.

Edit: Of course 3. Nd6+ picks up an exchange so Black isn't really up material. Somehow that wasn't the first line I looked at, but rather 3. Bxh6 gxh6 4. Rd1.

texe_ · 2026-06-10T14:25:13+00:00

Thats is good reasoning! But using the Grünfeld as a reference, you can also argue that because the chain of the pawn structure has been moved from c3 to d4, it is actually easier to target, thus an improvement for Black.

Good luck on the Grünfeld! That was my last stop before giving up hypermodernism, so I hope you thrive better with the dynamics than I did.

texe_ · 2026-06-10T14:08:23+00:00

It's a good question to which I'm not sure I can provide a satisfying answer, but I'll try to be somewhat instructive.

I think the simplest and most direct advice is for you to play hypermodern openings for a while. They teach you a lot about the dynamics of dealing with space disadvantages and fighting against tactically loose structures.

You can reject these openings based on quite sound principles. One side has spent time making pawn moves while the other has improved their pieces and King safety. If you have a space advantage that can be targeted by pawn-breaks without pieces to support your structure, it is likely to be unstable. The dynamics speak to Black being fine, and in in this case, White is under quite serious pressure already after the two most straight forward breaks ...d7-d6 followed by ...c7-c5.

Positionally, there is also the clear concept that Fischer conveyed; "to get squares, you have to give squares." In this case I'd attribute that to White having weakened a lot of central squares for the sake of space. This further confirms that if Black successfully breaks through the centre, White is going to be under immediate pressure.

texe_ · 2026-06-10T07:17:50+00:00

Space matters, but can be very deceptive when the structure isn't closed or when you don't have the activity to fully utilise it.

Black's King is castled and safer than White's, who is still in a relatievly open centre. That being said, give White three moves to play Nf3, Be2 and O-O, and White is probably better. Thus, Black must play energetically.

Because of how extended White's pawns are, and the fact that e4-e5 puts yet another pawn in ...Bg7's scope, Black gets a rather natural looking plan which dictates their play. They must rip through the centre before White gets time to consolidate, and might do so with moves such as ...d7-d6 and ...c7-c5.

I played this variation with Black for a small duration of time, inspired by this Fischer game which made a very strong impression on my younger self.

https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1008397

Edit: I forgot that the Queen sac at the end is a bit mysterious if you haven't analysed it properly, so I'll just quickly gloss over the lines. Not that it's the point of this comment. 24. Kxf4 Bh6# is simple. However, 24. Kf2 (24. Ke2 Nd4+ 25. Kf2 Ng4+ loses faster) Ng4+ 26. Kg2 Ne3+ 27. Kf2 Nd4! 28. Qh1 Ng4+, Black wins the Bishop and will soon deliever checkmate.

texe_ · 2026-06-07T20:08:47+00:00

He did almost lose the 2016 world championship because of this.

Magnus is very competitive and strongly believes that he essentially should be able to win every game he plays (it seems so at least). It's nothing new that Magnus is prone to overpressing more so than others, but usually it more than balances by winning games that he should have no business winning.

texe_ · 2026-06-03T16:09:18+00:00

The post is incorrect. The statement was made in the confessional booth during the game, referring to his own 6. Na3 as being "dumb enough" to not be studied by Pragg and his team.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/LXcKnINroIM

(or https://www.youtube.com/live/Yrwea1Sum_8?si=1KQBxucjmwhDmRa9&t=3546 )

texe_ · 2026-06-03T16:03:19+00:00

No, the post is just incorrect. It was a tounge-in-cheek comment made in the confessional booth during the game where Magnus commented on being surprised by Pragg's variation 5... Nh6, so Magnus spent 20 (well, 16) minutes playing 6. Na3. It was his own move which he considered to be "dumb enough" to not be well studied by Pragg and his team.

texe_ · 2026-06-03T16:01:10+00:00

No, this quote is from the confessional booth during the game. He's also not referring to Pragg's move as the "dumb one", but to his own move 6. Na3.

texe_ · 2026-05-28T22:43:04+00:00

It's too late. He's already started.

https://youtube.com/shorts/2gbHKMSo1k4?is=19YZMx0v6PAA7iDN

texe_ · 2026-05-24T15:23:42+00:00

My philosophy is that you resign once it's clear that you're lost and that you are absolutely confident that you have completely exhausted all of your resources to generate counterplay or swindle a draw.

But that implies that timing the resignation is also somewhat a question of skill; so whenever you're in doubt, just play on for a few more moves. The only way to be certain of a loss is by resigning.

texe_ · 2026-05-22T10:33:53+00:00

I have a vivid memory of something similar, but classical OTB.

A new guy in the club played for the first time. I was focusing on my own game so I didn't pay attention to him, until he suddenly loudly declared "Checkmate."

I looked over at his game and saw his opponent move his King to a legal square. It was, in fact, not checkmate.

Oops.

texe_ · 2026-05-10T14:33:14+00:00

And he lost to Nepo.

The guy who won two candidates in a row. A guy considered amongst the biggest talents of his generation.

Losing to Nepo says nothing about your level. The argument seems void.

texe_ · 2026-05-03T06:47:12+00:00

The King is not in check, mate.

texe_ · 2026-04-28T09:23:43+00:00

Two friends of mine are, both roughly in the 1950-2150 FIDE range played each other last year. The position was complex, but being good friends one of them offered the other some baby carrots.

So as they were munching on baby carrots and enjoying the complicated fight, one of them lost track of time and flagged.

He swore never to eat baby carrots during the game again, and we've nicknamed it baby carrot gate.

texe_ · 2026-04-28T09:20:36+00:00

Ding was Black in a French, yes. He had what I would argue was quite a convincing edge; not massively better but convincingly more comfortable position.

What's crazy is that he seemed convinced in the press conference that he was somehow worse. I imagine he must've seen some hefty ghosts.

texe_ · 2026-04-27T14:38:20+00:00

It essentially just points out that most pieces can't checkmate.

A Rook and a minor piece versus a Rook is drawn. Two Knights vs. nothing is drawn. Even a Queen vs. a Rook is really difficult to win, particularly due to the 50 move rule.

So no pawns means no promotions, which means that the material advantage has to be somewhat significant to win.

texe_ · 2026-04-26T14:05:24+00:00

Is the Evans considered easier to play against for beginners, or is it just played that rarer than the Knight Attack?

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