Main Line Continuation

Caro-Kann Defense

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bf5 5.Ng3 Bg6 6.h4 h6 7.Nf3 Nd7 8.h5 Bh7 9.Bd3 Bxd3 10.Qxd3

White chases the bishop and gains space on the kingside with h4-h5.

The idea

This is the classical main line: 5.Ng3 Bg6 6.h4 h6 7.Nf3 Nd7 8.h5 Bh7 9.Bd3 Bxd3 10.Qxd3. White has chased the bishop to h7, gained space with the pawn on h5, and then traded it off with Bd3.

The light-squared bishops are gone, so neither side has a bad bishop to worry about, and the play depends on the pawn structure and on where the kings go.

Plans for White

White has more space and an easy plan: develop with Bf4 or Bd2, put the queen on e2 or keep it on d3, and often castle queenside. With kings on opposite sides, White can push on the kingside and attack.

The pawn on h5 cramps Black's kingside, especially if Black castles there.

Plans for Black

Complete development with ...e6, ...Ngf6 and ...Be7 or ...Bd6. Many players castle queenside, out of the way of White's kingside space, though castling kingside is also played.

The key break is ...c5, attacking White's center. Black's structure is very sound, so Black is happy to reach an endgame.

Watch out for

For Black, the danger is playing ...c5 too early, while the king is still in the center or the pieces are undeveloped. With opposite-side castling, a slow break can give White time to open lines first.

For White, the danger is the endgame. The pawn on h5 can become a weakness, and Black's healthy pawn structure means a slow middlegame tends to favor Black.