Caro-Kann Panov-Botvinnik
1.c4 c6 2.e4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.d4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e6
This is the main move in ChessBase's 2025 Mega database, but it scores three percentage points lower than the 48% of second-most popular 5...Nc6.
6.Nf3 Be7
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| How should White proceed? |
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7.Bg5!?
This has been played by grandmasters, but the main line in Mega25 runs 7.cxd5 Nxd5 8.Bd3 Nc6 9.0-0 0-0 10.Re1, with a slight edge for White, according to Dragon1, although Stockfish17 calls the game equal.
7...0-0 8.Rc1!?
The main moves are 8.c5!? and especially 8.Bd3!?
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| How should Black respond? |
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8...Qb6!?
Apparently a novelty, in a position in which there are eight known moves, headed by 8...Nc6.
9.Qc2
The engines suggest 9.c5!? Qxb2 10.Bd3, claiming a slight edge.
9...Nc6
The engines prefer 9...dxc4 10.Bxc4, and now 10...Nc6.
10.c5!? Qc7 11.Bb5!? Bd7 12.Bxc6!?
The point of this manoeuvre is to slow Black getting in ...e5, the classic answer to White's queenside push.
12...Bxc6 13.b4 a6 14.0-0
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| Now both sides have castled, how would you assess the position? |
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Barring blunders, the game is likely to revolve around whether Black can generate central counterplay to distract White from supporting and advancing the white queenside pawn-majority. The engines give White a slight plus.
14...Bb5?
Black spends a tempo obliging the white king's rook to move to a better location, and meanwhile provides White with a tempo for advancing the a2 pawn.
15.Rfe1 Rfe8 16.a4 Bd7
Probably no better is 16...Bc4.
17.Ne5 Nh5
Offering to give up the bishop-pair in the hope of getting Black's kingside pawns rolling.
18.Bxe7 Rxe7 19.Qe2 Nf6 20.b5 axb5 21.axb5 Be8!? 22.Ra1 Qb8 23.Qb2 Rxa1 24.Rxa1 Nd7 25.Nd3 f6
At last threatening to play ...e5, although d5 has to be protected first.
26.Qa3 Bf7??
Black is positionally lost anyway, according to the engines, but this allows an immediate finish.
27.c6 1-0
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