MARK RUBERY CHESS

The Caro Kann Defence (1 e4 c6) is today a most respectable opening employed by some of the greatest players in the game, although it was initially given a boost when both Nimzovich and Capablanca included it in their opening repertoires. Botvinnik, Petrosian and particularly Karpov used it as their main weapon against 1 e4.

Horatio Caro (1862-1920) was the pioneer of this defence as evidenced by his many games although the chess historian Edward Winter points out the following: In the magazine La Stratégie, 23 December 1905 a cable game was given between Davidson and Caro. In reply to 1 e4 Caro played 1...c6, but the game was headed ‘Défense Kann’. What exactly can be demonstrated about Marcus Kann’s (1820-1886) contribution to the Caro-Kann Defence?

The defence enjoyed a lukewarm reception when it was first introduced on the international chess circuit as the following publications of the time attest:

September 1888 Chess Monthly 1...c6 had the following annotation: ‘This move was introduced by the late Herr Kann, of Pest, and adopted in practice by Herr Caro, of Berlin. It gives a safe but dull game.’

1889 International Chess Magazine Steinitz wrote of 1...c6: ‘The late Herr Kann of Vienna introduced this bizarre move into practice among masters.’

‘There is nothing to be said against neither the validity nor anything for the brilliancy of this defence.’ From the prestigious column in the Field

Here are some games that show the Caro Kann in a more flattering guise than was initially anticipated.

Bellin,Robert (2425) - Seirawan,Yasser (2485) [B12]

Hastings (2), 1979

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.Ne2 e6 5.Ng3 Bg6 6.h4 h5! (An irritating move for White to meet as opposed to the more ‘fun line’ that occurs after 6… h6 7 h5 Bh7 8 Bd3 Bxd3 9 cxd3 with interesting play) 7.Be2 c5 8.f4 Nc6 9.dxc5 Bxc5 10.Bd3 Qb6 11.Rf1 Be7 12.Rh1 Nh6 13.Bxg6 fxg6 14.c3 Ng4 15.Qe2 0–0 16.Nd2 Bc5 17.Rf1 Ncxe5 18.Nb3 Bf2+ 19.Rxf2 Qxf2+ 20.Qxf2 Nd3+ 21.Ke2 Ndxf2 22.Bd2 e5 23.fxe5 Rae8 24.Bg5 0–1

Of the modern day grandmasters Viswinathan Anand is its greatest exponent…

Shirov,A (2709) - Anand,V (2817) [B12] 24th Leon Masters Leon ESP (3) 2011

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.g4?! Bd7! (4…Bg6 5 h4 h5 6 e6!? is unclear) 5.c4 e6 6.Nc3 c5 7.cxd5 exd5 8.dxc5?! (Now Black’s initiative quick increases)… Bxc5 9.Bg2 Ne7 10.h3 Qb6 11.Qe2 0–0 12.Nf3 d4! 13.Ne4 Bb5 14.Qd2 Nbc6 15.a3 Ng6 16.b4 Be7 17.Bb2 Rfd8 (And with his position in ruins Shirov resigns)

0–1

‘Playing exclusively the Caro Kann will probably get you into trouble at some point. I’m not saying it’s a refutable opening – I think these days if you play anything well enough you can survive – but the Caro will present you with very, very serious challenges, and you will constantly have to keep ahead of recent developments. (Peter Svidler)