The Caro-Kann is one of the most popular responses to 1 e4 amongst players of all levels. Black stakes a claim to the central squares and seeks free development for all his pieces. While solid, it is

by no means a drawing weapon - the resulting positions generally contain at least a degree of imbalance and the critical lines lead to sharp positions with chances for both sides. Many new

approaches for White and Black have been developed in recent years, and a good understanding of these ideas is vital for anyone looking to handle either side of the Caro with success.

Peter Wells guides you through each branch of the Caro-Kann, giving insights into the character of each line and a chess professional's view of the nature of the resulting play. We are also presented with a fully up-to-date assessment of the current theoretical standing of the key variations. Wells indicates major problems where they exist, and assesses which are the key battlegrounds for the future. However, this book does not provide just a lofty perspective; the Caro-Kann was Wells's regular opening when he was rising through the ranks of junior and amateur chess, so he is also able to provide many valuable and often amusing accounts of how the Caro-Kann fares against inaccurate, overambitious or routine play by White.

Peter Wells is a grandmaster from England who regularly competes in international tournaments and team events. He was runner-up in the British Championship in 1991, 1999 and 2004. Wells is a widely acclaimed writer, noted for his work on both opening play and middlegame strategy. He has a wealth of experience as a trainer, including acting as a second for Luke McShane, and assisting Michael Adams at the San Luis World Championship in 2005. His previous book for Gambit was Chess Explained: The Queen's Indian.

Content
004 Symbols

005 Introduction

009 1 Main Line with 4...Bf5

036 2 Main Line with 4...Nd7

055 3 Main Line with 4...Nf6

066 4 Advance Variation: Sharp Lines and Black's Early Alternatives

092 5 Advance Variation: Short System and Other Modern Treatments

118 6 Panov-Botvinnik Attack and 2 c4

156 7 Miscellaneous Systems for White

173 Index of Variations