Minimal Black repertoire: one defense vs 1.e4, one vs 1.d4

Why these two defenses

For White at 1300–1700 the London System is a comfortable choice. For Black one setup is not enough: 1.e4 and 1.d4 lead to different structures, so you need two defenses.

A pair that suits this level:

• Caro-Kann against 1.e4
• Slav Defense against 1.d4

Both start the same way: Black plays …c6 and follows with …d5. The pawn structures are alike and the plans repeat, so there is little to learn. Black’s position is solid, with none of the sharp lines of the Najdorf Sicilian, where Black quickly comes under attack without knowing the theory. There is counterplay too: the light-squared bishop gets outside the pawn chain, and Black hits White’s center with …c5.

The Caro-Kann against 1.e4

The starting position:

White has to decide what to do with the e4 pawn: defend it, push it or trade it.

1) Classical Variation (3.Nc3)

White defends the pawn with the knight, Black takes on e4 and after 4.Nxe4 plays 4…Bf5. The bishop reaches a good square before the pawn goes to e6. If Black played …e6 first, the bishop would be shut in behind its own pawn.

Once development is finished, Black plays …c5 and attacks the d4 pawn.

2) Advance Variation (3.e5)

White closes the center. Black’s move order stays the same: the bishop goes to f5 first, and …e6 comes after it.

3) Exchange Variation (3.exd5 cxd5)

The quietest continuation. The structure after the trade is not symmetrical: White has no e-pawn and Black has no c-pawn.

White has a small opening initiative here, but it is hard to make anything of it. Ordinary development is enough for Black to equalize.

4) Two Knights Variation (2.Nc3 and 3.Nf3, in either order)

White can do without 2.d4: after 2.Nc3 d5 3.Nf3 White presses on the center with pieces and does not build the pawn pair on e4 and d4. The simplest reply is 3…Bg4: pin the f3 knight and finish development.

Who played the Caro-Kann

Among the world champions, Botvinnik, Petrosian and Karpov played the Caro-Kann regularly. Their games are in the library, and the lists are at the end of this article.

The Slav against 1.d4

The starting position:

The c6 pawn defends d5, and the c8 bishop’s diagonal stays open. In the Queen’s Gambit Declined the same pawn is defended by …e6, and the bishop ends up behind it. The active light-squared bishop is the Slav’s main advantage.

1) Exchange Variation (3.cxd5 cxd5)

White releases the tension in the center at once:

With this much symmetry games often end in a draw, which suits Black.

2) Main line (3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 dxc4)

Black takes the c4 pawn. With 5.a4 White stops Black from defending it with …b5, and wins it back two moves later:

This line has a lot of theory. At 1300–1700 learning it will not pay off, so pick a simpler variation.

3) Slow Slav (3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3)

This is the line to play at 1300–1700: there is little theory, and Black’s position is sound.

Black’s setup in the Slav

Against most of White’s replies Black’s pieces go to the same squares:

Against 1.c4 and 1.Nf3

Sometimes White opens with 1.c4 (the English Opening) or 1.Nf3 (the Réti). In both cases the same …c6 and …d5 can take the game into the Slav:

If White never plays d4, put pawns on d5 and e6 and a knight on f6, finish development and go for trades: the position is level.

Against 1.f4, 1.b3, 1.b4 and other rarities

There is one rule: play for the center. Answer any rare first move with …d5, …Nf6 and …e6, and bring your pieces out. You don’t need to refute such an opening at the board:

Six moves or so later there is an ordinary position on the board, and the rare opening has given White nothing.

Model games

A model Caro-Kann game is Tal–Botvinnik, World Championship match 1960, game 9: the Classical Variation with 4…Bf5. Tal sacrifices a knight on e6, Botvinnik beats off the attack and wins the endgame.

The three lists below are filtered by opening, ECO codes B10–B19. They hold the Caro-Kann games of Karpov, Petrosian and Botvinnik, with either color.

The Slav lists are filtered by opening as well, ECO codes D10–D19: the Slav games of Smyslov, Kramnik and Aronian, with either color.

Any game in the library can be opened in the analyzer. Review your own games in these openings in free analysis, or load them into the PGN analyzer, and compare how the same plans worked out for you.

When to move on

The time to change the repertoire comes after about 1700. By that rating the weak sides of both defenses start to get in the way: in the Caro-Kann, and in the Advance Variation most of all, Black’s position is passive, and the Exchange Slav leads to a draw too often.

Where to go next:

• If you want more tactics against 1.e4, take up the Sicilian Defense (the Najdorf or the Sveshnikov).
• If you want deeper strategy against 1.d4, take up the Nimzo-Indian or the King’s Indian.

Related

• How to grow from 1300 to 1700: the overall training plan.
• Minimal opening repertoire: why a small repertoire is enough at this level.
• The London System: the White repertoire to go with this one.
• PGN analyzer: for reviewing your own games from a file.
• Free Stockfish analysis: for checking your own games with the engine.