Product Description
The Caro-Kann has always been one of the most widely played openings among club and tournament players. This handy battle manual deals with the critical main line positions after 1 e4 c6 d4 d5 3 Nc3 dxe4 4 Nxe4.
Highly regarded author Grandmaster Neil McDonald offers a comprehensive survey of the state of current theory for both White and Black players, explaining the basic elements, strategies and tactics for both sides.
This guide covers one of the most fashionable chess openings in current practice. It is ideal for club and tournament players and it provides everything you need to know to start playing the main line Caro-Kann straightaway.
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I was disappointed with this book. I expected much more from it and was let down. Not completely, but nevertheless, i felt as though so much was missing. Certain lines weren’t present.
If one is looking for a quick overview of the system it’s fine. But in terms of advanced players looking for something intresting… look elsewhere.
Amazon User Rating: 3 / 5
If you are looking for a book that explains what the strategic and tactical ideas are in the Caro-Kann main line (1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 [or 3.Nd2] dxe4 4.Nxe4), then this will be a book that will fulfill your expectations. It is not though a book to which you can go to find every variation you will face.
Since I am playing mainly correspondence chess, and the use of chess books is allowed in this mode, I am usually disappointed when I go to this book trying to find a specific line and find that the line is missing. The Caro-Kann is a very complex opening, with several fine points, making the need for thoroughness in analyzing all possible lines even more pronounced that in other cases, where ideas are almost enough.
I have also noticed that even though the back cover of the book claims that the author offers an analysis from both white’s and black’s viewpoints, there is a marked emphasis on how to play when handling the white pieces. This is fine with me because I do not play the Caro-Kann with black, but if you are a player that uses this defense then you may be disappointed.
The book is organized in three main sections: the Smyslov System (4…Nd7), the Classical System (4…Bf5) and systems with 4…Nf6. I would have liked to see more depth in the analysis in the last group, since I am finding an increasing number of players going for this line.
To sum up, if you are a player that plays the white side of the Caro-Kann and is looking to understand the ideas in this opening, then this is definitely your book. If instead you play the Caro-Kann with black and/or are looking for a complete reference for this opening, you will be somewhat disappointed.
Amazon User Rating: 3 / 5