The Caro-Kann Defence, 1 e4 c6, has always appealed to me. It has the advantage of staking a claim in the centre by means of … d5, without the disadvantages of the Centre Counter (1 e4 d5) which brings out Black’s queen prematurely, or the French Defence (1 e4 e6 2 d4 d5), which locks in the black queen’s bishop. A new book by Jovanka Houska, Opening Repertoire: The Caro-Kann (Everyman), details Black’s strategies against the dangerous Advance Variation, while in the main line she recommends the early development of Black’s queen’s bishop, as in the following game.
 
Tal-Keene; Simultaneous Exhibition 1964; Caro-Kann Defence
 
1 e4 c6 2 d4 d5 3 Nc3 dxe4 4 Nxe4 Bf5 5 Ng3 Bg6 6 N1e2 e6 7 h4 h6 8 Nf4 Bh7 9 Bc4 Nf6 10 0-0 (diagram 1) 10 … Nd5 In her book, Houska prefers 10 … Bd6. White can then sacrifice with 11 Nxe6 fxe6 12 Bxe6 but after 12 … Qc7 13 Re1 Nbd7! she shows White’s compensation for the piece is not sufficient. 11 Qg4 At the time it was thought 11 Bxd5 cxd5 12 Qh5 would give White the advantage but after 12 … g6 13 Qe5 Rg8 then … Bg7, Black’s bishop pair leave him with good chances. Or 11 Bxd5 cxd5 12 Qg4 Nc6 13 c3 Qe7 is fine for Black. 11 … Nxf4 12 Bxf4 Nd7 13 Be5 Nxe5 14 dxe5 Qc7 15 Rad1 With typical disdain for material Tal challenges Black to grab a hot pawn. (diagram 2) 15 … Bxc2 This seems almost desperate, but in fact I was no longer very worried; White’s c-pawn was a useful unit and its loss causes problems. My main fear was that Tal would find a way to sac on e6 and explode my position before I could get castled. 16 Rd2 h5 17 Qh3 An error. Tal remains focused on e6 but Black seizes the initiative. True 17 Nxh5 Qe5 is acceptable for Black but 17 Qg5 leaves White ahead in spite of Black’s extra pawn. 17 … Bh7 18 Rfd1 Bb4 19 Rd7 Qxd7 20 Rxd7 Kxd7 21 Nxh5 Kc7 (diagram 3) 22 Nxg7 Opening the floodgates for Black’s rooks. 22 … Rag8 23 Nh5 Bf5 24 Qf3 The last chance is 24 Qb3 Bc5 25 Be2. 24 … Rg4 25 Nf4 Bd2 26 Qa3 Bxf4 27 Qd6+ Kc8 28 Ba6 Be4 29 Qc5 Bxg2 30 Qxa7 Bh2+ White resigns.