Beat the Caro-Kann: Two Knights - Two Knights: Classical 3...Bg4

Main line

The chapter's main line, with the comments from the course.

1. 1. e4 c6 2. Nc3 d5 3. Nf3

   Developing the knight while keeping our pawn structure flexible.

2. 3... Bg4

   Black pins our knight right away. We get the bishop pair after the trade, leaving Black with a solid but passive setup.

3. 4. h3

   Time to decide, Black. Give us the bishops with Bxf3, or retreat and face serious pressure.

4. 4... Bxf3

   Black trades off sensibly. We get the two bishops in return for accepting doubled pawns.

5. 5. Qxf3

   We've grabbed the bishop pair after just five moves. Stay patient in these closed positions and avoid rushing with e5.

6. 5... e6

   Black keeps the kingside knight flexible, staying ready for either e7 or f6 depending on how we respond.

7. 6. Be2

   Modern approach that cuts down on the theory we need to memorize. Handles both of Black's knight setups equally well.

8. 6... Nf6

   Black's trying to bait us into e5, which actually helps them since c5 would wreck our center.

9. 7. O-O

   Let's castle and finish kingside development. Black has several reasonable replies from here.

10. 7... Be7

    Most natural move, Black prepares to castle kingside safely.

11. 8. Rd1

    Pretty bold setup, we're planning a clean d4 next move. Sure, it allows Black's d4 break later, which leaves our rook a bit awkward, but this is still our main approach. Want to avoid that risk? Just play 8.d4 right away, and after 8...dxe4 9.Qe3 we recapture later, costs a tempo but it works fine.

12. 8... O-O

    Standard castling, but it hands us the perfect chance to play d4.

13. 9. d4 dxe4 10. Nxe4 Nxe4 11. Qxe4

    Our target setup in the Two Knights, bishop pair, more space, clean structure. Don't rush c4 yet; play the simple c3 first to lock down d4. Save c4 for when it actually accomplishes something concrete.

Other chapters

• Two Knights: 3...dxe4 Main
• Two Knights: 3...dxe4 Alternatives
• Two Knights: 3...Nf6 & Sidelines