13 Caro-Kann Defense Traps

[@Thematic2177]

Hi Stjepan, everyone here

[@percyreiling]

Hi here, Stjepan everyone

[@fergs1561]

Hey y’all, Scott here

[@Schizophrenic_Energy]

Step one here everyone. There's a trap now. Wow!

[@OmarDMarin]

Lol my favorite part of the video! It’s amazing how I look forward to that when the video starts haha

[@rv706]

* hyere

[@Gabs.MM999]

Sidenote, I absolutely love your thumbnails. So minimalist yet so nice

[@omarmujahid1816]

i was gonna say that

[@edwarddaniell4946]

23:45 I was so confused because i thought QH5 stops the pawns promotion then I realised pawn takes Knight and my body went cold. Brutal. Beautiful.

[@repetiveredundancy]

I had the same question -- thank you for your insight. Of course, pawn takes Knight!

[@welcomegrub352]

I did the exact same thing! Haha

[@CapnSaltine]

For me, the best way to learn is how you teach chess calculation move by move and the Caro-Kann is my preferred black opening. Yours is absolutely my favorite chess channel.

[@HangingPawns]

Thanks a lot! Good luck in all your Caro-Kann endeavours.

[@HangingPawns]

I plan to cover traps in other openings too. Which would you like to see? Please comment below:D PS. For easier navigation, you can find the PGN with all the variations imported on www.patreon.com/hangingpawns Just search for the Caro-Kann or type openings into the search bar and all that are available should be listed there.

[@ЗьміцерГрамадскі]

King’s gambit

[@marccowan3585]

I’d like to see some in the Alekhine. Particularly 4 pawns variation, because it’s only playable since black has lots of tricky play.

[@cavestorytk]

Maybe french next?

[@Fliiy]

Slav!

[@System.Error.]

Catalan

[@vedangarekar1390]

With the amount of games of the Carro you play. I think this video was quite needed. I'm glad you came out with this and now I'll try to have a mental checklist of sorts of these traps. I know the Queens Gambit is pretty diverse but it would be great if you can do one for QG as well.

[@michaelalmeida8790]

I'm familiar with all of these traps and a few more. Playing bots is how I've been learning the Caro-Kann and the higher you go the more tricks they have. I see more tricks than you would probably see because I'm still messing up move orders and responses. Your play list is the best I have seen on youtube. It's no nonsense, no rambling, and straight to the moves, the orders, responses and how you cycle the moves orders at the end one more time is just perfect for me. I'm watching your videos and a few times now I've thought, yeah, I figured that one out already, but then I see you do it differently and much better than my approach. I guess that explains why I rarely beat the 1850 bots. You have answered so many of my questions and have saved me so much time from trying to figure out these move orders and responses from trial and error. God bless

[@Trephining]

Good stuff Stjepan, you remain as one of my favorite superheroes.

[@kylen6430]

These videos are a great addition to your opening series’

[@cedriccappelle2036]

22:00 Oh I think I had this exact same one as a puzzle once. Very nice one!

[@mikestubbs1708]

Gulp! There's so much to look out for & to be aware of in these games!! Terrific coverage I must say! Well done sir!

[@masenkd4921]

I actually fell for the Bf5 trap of the Two Knights during my first classical Caro-Kann game ever... it hurts! ;) Thank you for sharing those thematic ideas!

[@dennisharrell2236]

One of your better videos. Indispensable for anybody who plays the Caro Kann.

[@willdubois]

Been watching since the beginning brother! Love these videos, and the Caro-Kann is my favorite defense, so I was so excited to see this uploaded. 🙂

[@ExoticMagma]

been loving the frequent uploads :D great video as always

[@stoutlager6325]

This is timely. I just started playing the caro again after a couple years of all sicilian.

[@craigmack_4]

My favorite opening...I luv this channel

[@tonykora1715]

thank you coach 4this precious lesson!!!!!!!!

[@ludomine7746]

Loved the video. Very happy that more if this type are coming

[@sasazastavnikovic]

Hi Stjepan, in the two Knights game, h6 variation (32:21) after 8..g6 white doesn’t need to move the Queen. He can play the following line: 9.Bc4-e6, 10.Qe2-Qe7 (if black doesn’t find Q move he is in trouble)

[@lawrence8052]

Great video! I would add the g4 lines in the advanced with the pawn sac on e6. And in the main line with Bf5 Ng3 Bg6, I think Nh3 is quite a strong move, and there are some nasty traps there too with Nf4.

[@prussia9255]

13:49 He has said this himself. It makes sense when you think about it, computers were much weaker at the time so he didn't think that the computer would sac a piece when the compensation wasn't clear and he was actually correct. Apparently the variation had been entered into Deep Blue's opening book though (this was confirmed by the team that made Deep Blue), and that's why it knew the right move.

[@prussia9255]

see 4:30 in this video kzbin.info/www/bejne/bKe8e6yFfLB2fqc

[@SEAKPhotog]

How about a London opening traps video? Thank you for your always amazingly thorough and educational videos!

[@HangingPawns]

Done kzbin.info/www/bejne/mnXIe4CcedCqirs

[@SEAKPhotog]

@Hanging Pawns Ha, should have known to look first. Thanks!

[@Fliiy]

I like how 5 seconds in you are smiling your ass off about this video :) Best Caro energy around

[@fminc]

great Video Stephen.

[@davidbork7214]

Really interesting! Ill have to watch out for these variations.

[@richardward2519]

There are loads of traps in the Caro Kann, and unfortunately black is usually on the receiving end. One for black that you didn't mention is in the Tartakower: if white plays Bc4 (1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nf6 5.Nxf6+ exf6 6.Bc4) black can play Qe7+ and if white blocks the check with Ne2 or Be3 they lose their bishop to Qb4+. Pretty simple but plenty of people miss it in online games. One for white that I like is if black plays Bf5 in the apocalypse attack (1.e4 c6 2.Nf3 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.Ne5 Bf5) white can play Qf3 attacking the bishop, to which black will usually respond e6, which loses to Bb5+. A dodgy line that I've played a few times is 1.e4 c6 2.Nc3 d5 3.Nf3 Bg4 4.exd5 cxd5 5.Bb5+ Nc6 6.Ne5 Bxd1 7.Nxc6. Black now has to find Qb6, and plenty of people don't. Even if they do, it's a queen for a rook and a piece, so still sort of playable although obviously better for black.

[@rhysgriffiths9675]

I get so many people with that Qe7+ in the Tartakower. And if they don't fall for it, you can liquidate into a very playable endgame. I've looked into playing the Apocalypse Attack before too, but I don't think it's that challenging for black.

[@Sway55]

unfortunately no player above 1900 falls for these traps :( but thank you for the nice compilation! very useful for lower ratings

[@richardfredlund8846]

11:13 if Qxh6 Bf8 Qh3 then g4

[@Lomv400]

Thank you mate

[@felixpoldermans8373]

And then Qg3. The Bishop isn't covering g3 after Bf8. If Bd6, then Qh4, no?

[@garyhendersonlooklisten]

@@felixpoldermans8373 I think the rook takes Queen on g3 if you make that move

[@24Cristiandiaz]

32:33 After g6 there is Bc4 hanging the queen and theatening mate in 1. Then if e6, Qe7 and if black isn´t careful for eg: play Bg7 there is Nxf7, Kxf7 followed by Qxe6 and Qf7#. Had that several time in blitz games!

[@AlanTwoRings]

I was going to say the same! It's surprising how many people will take the Queen after 9. Bc4 and hang mate in 1. Btw you meant 9... e6 10. Qe2 (not Qe7).

[@24Cristiandiaz]

@@AlanTwoRings Yes Qe2! I was shocked he didnt mention it.

[@percyreiling]

You shouldn’t feel bad for falling for these traps. Falling for them is the best way to learn them and improving!

[@christiankoch9549]

Great Video thank you. Didn’t know any of the traps and would have fallen for a couple. Luckily I don’t play the Karpov Variation ^^

[@dimitrifyodorovickaramazov]

Thank you for the video. I have a question about Queen for Queen trap. After gxh1, what about Qh5?

[@donschlafrythmus2357]

Awesome stuff

[@martinvlesage7332]

Very interesting video thanks a lot! I would like to see the same for the French defense.

[@OcteractSG]

My favorite trap in the Breyer Variation is 3. Nf3 dxe4 4. Ng5 exd3 5. Bxd3. If black plays anything other than Qa5+ or Nd7, then they’re in big trouble. The most savage line is 5… h6 6. Nxf7 Kxf7. At this point, it’s mate in 6 in the center of the board. On the other hand, 5… Nf6 will lose a queen in similar fashion to the ICBM Variation of the Tennison Gambit. 5. e6 will run into Nxh7, and black’s king side will be forcefully opened up.

[@FMstyle19a]

Hvala za ovu odlicnu temu, imam pitanje al nije vezano za zamke nego za CK Karpov varijantu, koju knjigu preporucas za to?

[@gossedejong9248]

thank you!!

[@harleykf1]

I fell for the 2nd last trap today in a blitz game. It's very easy to assume that sidelines in the Caro-Kann are either boring or dubious, but that clearly isn't always the case.

[@ahmad.abdul.razzaq]

23:30 isn't Qh5 preventing upgrading??!

[@Lord7979]

Nice video Stejpan :)

[@AlejandroGonzálezEstévez]

Hi i love the caro - Kann defense and i like to play better, did you know any book or something to play my best chess?

[@crazycanuckerrant]

at 23;57 what stops the white Queen to go to the a file before black promotes? And take the pawn/queen?

[@josiahroyer1062]

Interesting content, but I don't play the Caro as black and I play the Panov against the Caro kann as white so these don't really apply to me sadly. Still a great video concept!

[@TheFog131]

Something I don't understand at 23:40 there is no placement of the white queen on H5?

[@Arndinius]

love you vidoes. we need opening theoriy about the english 1.c4

[@MarcHeuer]

In the Fantasy Variation Stockfish thinks that 3. ...Qb6 is the best move. I recently read a book on the CK where the authors highly recommend this move as well. Actually I have no clue how to counter the Fantasy in the best way. Maybe there are several options which are equally good?

[@olivers.7821]

Caro-kann feels so complex. I almost don't want to play an e4 opening just because I might play into it and I have to decide between so many options with so many responses.

[@tomas-wi8dy]

Hi! can you cover the french defense traps?

[@josephascencio-parvy7805]

For the trap at 19:49, if they block the Qa5 check with Qd2 you go gxf2 instead of the thematic Qxe5. You lose on Qxe5. Qxe5 works if they block with c3.

[@muc709]

At 22:32 if white plays Qd2, Qxe5+ is a blunder!! Computer shows the position going from -9 to +5. Instead black should take on f2. I was looking at the lichess database and all 3 games in this position made this mistake and white ended up winning.

[@pgtrots]

At my level some caro players still fall for the Tal variation bishop trap. I like how you consider it so obvious it's not worth including 🤣

[@JustanamebroDK]

Nobody really plays the Karpov other than at top level anymore. Would've been nice to see tartakower traps

[@DrakoLykoi]

This game happened at a rated OTB event Saturday before last between two 1800 players: 1. e4 c6 2. Nc3 d5 3. Nf3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nf6 5. Nxf6+ exf6 6. g3 Bg4 7. h3?? Qe7+! 8. Resigns

[@tomekpolak5744]

Hi! In 22:44 don't white have Qh5, preventing black from promoting?

[@anderenaam3091]

You should take the knight

[@rizka7945]

Surely at 17:31 black plays Nxf8 instead of Kxf8. White is a little bit better, but I wouldn't count it as a trap. Rather an inaccuracy.

[@mustafaadil6080]

The guy who never disappoint with his great quality content❤️

[@bobby_is_happy]

Yo pls can you do the same format but with the italian game ?

[@richardfredlund8846]

44:33 f6 !!! ... i don't know who would find that

[@mariuszpudzianowski8400]

Just check it with engine it's actually one of the worst moves, h6 is the best

[@cz19856]

the tal variation move is the most basic trap, I am surprised it wasn't covered

[@OmarAhmed-es8qr]

44:17 everytime I find a position that seems clearly advantageous for one side but the computer disagrees, I try to play it against a computer. This has been really useful, gives me a better understanding of how to evaluate a position and manage discomforts such as the f8 bishop and the misplaced king. All things considered, you may not have the calculating powers of an engine obviously, but if you're wondering how black can ever survive that, play with white against the computer and see how it does it, trying again to pick up ideas, not complex lines.

[@OmarAhmed-es8qr]

I would actually suggest you make a video playing White in this position at 44:17, in a long time format.

[@crazycanuckerrant]

isn't that a pirc for black?

[@danielgalvezvidal4899]

What if the Queen simply eat the h6 Pawn? 11:13

[@nobodybuddy2604]

38:34 Why gxf3?

[@martindiana5384]

11:16 Can't white just Qxh6?

[@MarcHeuer]

I think then Bf8 and Queen is trapped.

[@random_vid_tt]

should put them (pgn) on patreon to download :(

[@HangingPawns]

I have. Try searching "caro-kann" or "traps"

[@kubam2231]

@@HangingPawns i saw it, but i belive there was only one. My bad. will check again!! Thanks

[@organicfarmingandmanymoreb5993]

❤🎯👍👍

[@dpayO2]

None from the advanced variation. Perhaps that should have its own video.

[@zoe7696]

44:30 my first instinct was f6 lmao, i didn't calculate anything though

[@YellowSpaceMarine]

@25:25: Be carefull not to get trapped in your own traps

[@Schizophrenic_Energy]

8:46 Mom coughs.

[@regilaninan6450]

pirc defence

[@smootherdogealsoknownas5669]

Basically from this video I learned I shouldn't play the Karpov :L

[@samarpan9382]

Moral of the story... don't play karpov😂

[@TheBrawlmastah]

Bist du Step

[@kurtrawicz1455]

Maybe. Just. A little. Work. With. A pronounciation. Skills? You know, I am from Russia myself, but this RRRRRRs are too abundant. Half of them shouldn't even be pronounced, but at least do not touch your alveolas, try to make them more soft.

[@barsactividades2592]

i dont think the second its a trap, just a mistake by the black player

[@SerLaama]

The plethora of opening traps Black can fall into is just one of the many reasons it's complete horseshit when people describe it as a great, easy-to-play beginner opening. You give White time and space - of course you will rely on theory to survive, and at times it will be very unintuitive.

[@cavestorytk]

What would you recommend instead?

[@zoe7696]

you can't whine and complain when openings are tactical, but also whine and complain when openings are positional. if there are no tactics and no positional play nothing is happening. suggesting an opening for beginners to learn where nothing happens is worse than them having a tactical shoot out and learning different tactics and ideas.