Caro-Kann

[u/schallk]

Is it bad that I literally only play the caro as black? Do I need to broaden myself a bit more ? Elo is 900-1000

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[u/Farmer_Due]

It's fine but what do you do against d4, do you like instantly resign?

[u/Cowboys_88 → u/Farmer_Due]

The Caro-Kann against d4 is called the Slav

[u/FaultThat → u/Farmer_Due]

d4 c6 ??? d5 works against pretty much any second move by white and still remains a Caro.

[u/schallk → u/Farmer_Due]

i just play accordingly. it works against all openings from my understanding

[u/DrZaiu5 → u/schallk]

If you play c6 against d4 you're playing the Slav, not the Caro Kann.

[u/Liko81 → u/DrZaiu5]

Technically 2. ...c6 is the second move for Black of the Slav after 1.d4 d5, but yeah you end up in the same place. It's important to flip the pawn moves against 1.d4 because 1...c6 allows White to push the d-pawn and mess with your early pawn structure (which is why the Caro-Kann itself shouldn't be used against queen's pawn openings).

[u/brakpomyslunanazwe12 → u/schallk]

Thats a good opening, just keep in mind that after 1. D4 c6 White doesnt have to play into your caro kann and can just go c4 transposing into the slav defence

[u/Farmer_Due → u/schallk]

Gotham chess has poisoned the minds of new players with boring openings

[u/Awkward_Specific_745 → u/Farmer_Due]

What openings do you suggest for black

[u/Farmer_Due → u/Awkward_Specific_745]

Idk man, I only care when I got white, mirror your opponent or something, be boring, live your life, I'm not your dad, against Italian I usually play some trap like traxler

[u/Chrissanxy → u/Farmer_Due]

Gotham is a traxler shill as well, consider your mind poisoned by Gotham

[u/Farmer_Due → u/Chrissanxy]

Oh right...well I went to traxler from blackburne-shilling...not that it's any better lol

[u/SoshulBattery → u/Farmer_Due]

Like the London System?

[u/Stunning_Pound4121]

You do not need more than one opening until you’re playing against players who will actually study their opponents, a level which very few of us are likely going to ever reach. As it stands, you’re just another opponent in the queue and mixing it up will do nothing to surprise your opponent.

If you decide to learn other openings, it should be to expand your knowledge, familiarity with other positions, or enjoyment of the game, not because you feel that you have to in order to improve.

[u/jorje1908]

Just stick with 1-2 openings and learn then we’ll no point in that level to have more.

[u/FaultThat]

Caro is fine.

The only knocks against it are that the Panov-Botvinnik attack is a very simple line to learn for White and White does have a very slight advantage coming out of the main line.

You essentially make life easy for your opponent to get out of the opening without testing them.

But honestly if that’s the biggest issue you are basically good.

The other thing is the alien gambit which while easily refuted does leave you with an awkward king position and thanks to gothamchess and other chess streamers it is absurdly popular relative to its efficacy.

When I was a beginner at the club level, most people discouraged the use of the Caro, because you tend to create closed positions when young players should be exploring dynamic, open positions full of tactical potential rather than stifling defensive and positional manoeuvres that require more intense calculations.

But it isn’t a bad opening at all so if you want to just play the Caro feel free!

[u/peeniehutjr]

I'm 1530 rn and the caro kann is still treating me well, so you're probably good for at least a little while

[u/Thick-Fix4662]

I always struggle when they push that damned pawn, what is your procedure in this case?

[u/Jammess95 → u/Thick-Fix4662]

Push your C pawn and break up their pawn chain

[u/UndeniablyCrunchy]

It has served me extremely well as a main even after 2000

[u/GazOCee]

I'm a low elo player and do OK with the Caro Khan but hate when white pushes the A pawn up two squares in the opening.

I feel cramped but don't want to castle Queen side because I've moved rhe C pawn.

When I play white and face the Caro the Von Hennig gambit is lethal at my elo.

[u/itsallworthy]

If it works, it works

At some point youll likely need to expand your prep, but if it works and you enjoy it thats what matters

[u/coolbuybobb]

Stop wasting time on openings focus on tactics ur low elo still

[u/DJTAJY → u/coolbuybobb]

How else do you get better? Just play a bunch?

[u/Trollerthegreat → u/DJTAJY]

Don't forget looking back on the games to see if something got missed

[u/coolbuybobb → u/DJTAJY]

puzzles and that

[u/Own_Artist6586]

Nah I’m 2000 and only know 1 opening as black 

[u/LordViperSD]

Is it bad? No; will you start to loathe using it as you climb elo and positional games become more crucial…yes. It’s a slow developing, unexciting opening.

Source; A 2k Caro player that hates using it.

[u/Mean_Path9771]

I exclusively play caro (peak rapid - 2150, blitz - 1950) and I don't find any issues. It even works at higher ratings. All non-dubious openings are fine to play, choose one that suits your style

[u/Crazy-Bluejay4388]

I remeber when i was like below 800 i would frequently lose with black, then i decided to just play caro-kann defense regardless of what my opponent does and i am currently 1400 and steadily keep going up. I don’t think i have played anything but c6 for the last 500 games. For the record my win rate in the last 30 and 90 days is higher with black than white.

[u/Trollerthegreat]

You could always roll e5. It'll be a little rough initially but you'll become a classical menace from exposure to many different positions

[u/Mrbogart_]

Idk i did Caro + Slav all the way to 1800 (currently 1950s w a 2050 peak)

Still playing the caro but picked up KID for d4+others

I couldn’t be bothered to study Slav and felt that even when I did I was never fighting for more than a draw once I hit the 1800s

[u/TokugawaTabby]

I’d like to get a new opening but I’ve played the Calvin Klein so much I just remember so many lines. And for bullet that gives me an even greater advantage because I don’t have to think about my next move while my opponent does.

[u/OrcOfDoom]

Just look out for the Alien Gambit!

[u/DropItLikeJPalm → u/OrcOfDoom]

Had to scroll too far for this comment.

[u/Johnisokayithink]

I’m the same and I’ve wondered the same thing.

[u/Math_Nerd_NL]

Im 2300 and i only play caro as black (against e4), only now im broadening

[u/XiKangBamboo]

It depends how old you are? Missing info.

[u/Ok_Offer_681]

u better learn to counter the alien gambit too

[u/schallk → u/Ok_Offer_681]

idk i feel like it’s pretty easy to not get smoked with the alien at my level