Don Chess

Learn the Caro-Kann Tal Variation

Named after the “Magician from Riga”: with h4–h5 you chase Black’s bishop across the board. Attack against the most solid defence.

You play with White. How you learn it with Don Chess: watch first, then play it with an arrow, then from memory – with spaced repetition until it sticks. Free, no sign-up.

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The main line

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.h4 h5 5.c4 e6 6.Nc3 Ne7 7.Nge2 dxc4 8.Ng3 Bg6 9.Bxc4 Nd5

B12 · Caro-Kann Defense: Advance Variation, Tal Variation

The position after the main line

The moves explained

Why is each move played? The explanations come from the opening trainer – there you play the moves yourself afterwards.

  1. 1.e4 Occupies the centre with a pawn on e4.
  2. 1…c6 Prepares the pawn move to d5.
  3. 2.d4 Occupies the centre with a pawn on d4.
  4. 2…d5 Attacks the pawn on e4 – the fight for the centre begins.
  5. 3.e5 Occupies the centre with a pawn on e5.
  6. 3…Bf5 Develops the bishop to f5 – pieces out first, then attack.
  7. 4.h4 Gains space with the pawn on h4.
  8. 4…h5 Gains space with the pawn on h5.
  9. 5.c4 Attacks the pawn on d5 – the fight for the centre begins.
  10. 5…e6 Supports the pawn on d5 – the centre stands firm.
  11. 6.Nc3 Develops the knight to c3 – pieces out first, then attack.
  12. 6…Ne7 Develops the knight to e7 – pieces out first, then attack.
  13. 7.Nge2 Develops the knight to e2 – pieces out first, then attack.
  14. 7…dxc4 Takes the pawn on c4.
  15. 8.Ng3 Brings the knight to a better square (g3).
  16. 8…Bg6 The bishop was attacked and goes to safety on g6.
  17. 9.Bxc4 Takes the pawn on c4.
  18. 9…Nd5 The knight jumps to the strong square d5 – no pawn can chase it away there.

Idea and plans

The idea

1…c6 prepares …d5 without locking in the c8 bishop. Solid, with a healthy pawn structure.

Plan for White

In the Advance (3.e5) use the kingside space; in the main lines develop quickly and press on e6/f7.

Plan for Black

Develop the bishop to f5 or g4, then …e6, …c5, and aim for a safe endgame.

Tip

Get the bishop out before …e6 – otherwise it is shut in, as in the French.

The 6 lines in the course

Grey: the moves shared with the main line. Bold: the move where the line leaves it.

Train the Caro-Kann Tal Variation now →

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