EXTREME CARO-KANN/BEZGODOV

Description

The Caro-Kann Defence has become one of the most important and popular replies to 1.e4. Its ‘solid’ and ‘drawish’ reputation no longer applies in modern chess. In fact, White could do with some new ideas to fight for an advantage in this chess opening.

Grandmaster Alexey Bezgodov advocates a very early deviation, the annoying and little-explored 3.f3!?.

This strange-looking move was already played by former greats Geza Maroczy and World Champion Vassily Smyslov, but the idea has come to fruition in the hands of modern world-class players like Vassily Ivanchuk, Alexander Morozevich and Judit Polgar.