The Dynamic Caro-Kann: A Modern Repertoire for Black – Part 2 by GM Abdulla Gadimbayli
Over the past few decades, the Advance Variation has become one of White's most flexible weapons against the Caro-Kann. After 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5, White usually gets to choose the character of the fight: a slow build-up with 4.Nf3, an aggressive 4.h4, a sharp 4.Nc3 with g4, or an early 4.g4.
The underlying idea of this course is simple and demanding: take that choice away. With 3...c5, Black strikes at the center at once and moves the game onto his own terms.
A Repertoire Built on Immediate Counterplay
In The Dynamic Caro-Kann: A Modern Repertoire for Black – Part 2, GM Abdulla Gadimbayli completes his Caro-Kann repertoire with a full treatment of the Advance Variation. The approach is consistent from the first move. Wherever possible, Black puts direct pressure on White's center instead of accepting a passive structure.
After the main line 4.dxc5, the author avoids the popular 4...e6. He considers it limiting, because it pushes the game toward positional channels. He chooses the much rarer 4...Nc6!?, attacking the e5-pawn at once.
Against the most dangerous reply, 5.f4, a second deviation follows: 5...Nh6!?. The knight heads for f5, or for g4 if White plays Be3. Black keeps his options open and waits for White to commit.
The Author's Reasoning
GM Gadimbayli explains his choice clearly. 3...c5 does not let White pick from the wide menu of Advance systems. Each of White's alternatives gets a focused, dedicated answer.
The move order is well thought out. In the 5.Nf3 lines, Black happily plays ...e6, because White's queen can no longer reach h5 or g4 to target the kingside. The final chapter, on 6.Nf3 after 5.f4 Nh6, leads to complex fighting positions where Black's surprise value is a real practical asset.
Map of Variations
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5
- 4.Nc3 and other rare moves → Chapter 1
- 4.Nf3 and 4.c4 → Chapter 2
- 4.c3 → Chapter 3
4.dxc5 Nc6!?
- 5.Bf4 and other rare moves → Chapter 4
- 5.Bb5 → Chapter 5
5.Nf3 e6
- 6.a3 and other rare moves → Chapter 6
- 6.Be3 → Chapter 7
- 6.Bd3 → Chapter 8
5.f4 Nh6!?
- 6.c3 and other sidelines → Chapter 9
- 6.Nf3 → Chapter 10
Course Features
- 10 Chapters
- 20 test positions
- Memory Booster
- To Go Version of every chapter
- Video instruction
- Multilingual PGN availability (English, German, French, Spanish)
Completing the Repertoire
This course is the second half of GM Gadimbayli's Caro-Kann project. In The Dynamic Caro-Kann: A Modern Repertoire for Black – Part 1, he covers every White option except 3.e5. Together, the two parts form a complete and consistent repertoire after 1.e4 c6.
Start Studying
If you want to meet the Advance Variation with a clear plan and immediate counterplay, The Dynamic Caro-Kann: A Modern Repertoire for Black – Part 2 gives you a coherent, surprise-rich system. Add it to your repertoire and make White face your ideas from move three.