Why you keep losing to the Tal Caro-Kann and how to fix that

I kept losing to the Tal Caro-Kann. And then I sat down and studied for hours. Now I don't! The Tal Variation of the Caro-Kann is the trickiest and probably the most aggressive way for white to fight the Caro-Kann.
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The full Tal Caro-Kann study in PGN format with all the variations shown is available on / hangingpawns
White plays h4, aiming to cause positional weaknesses on the kingside for black by provoking either h5 or h6 as a response. In either case, black ends up having a tough position to navigate. I have covered the best ways for black to fight the Tal, and given recommendations on what to do in each major variation.
00:00 Introduction
5:39 Chess Titans
08:20 Main lines with 5.c5
13:54 Main lines with 5.Bd3
23:41 Black plays h6 instead of h5
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#chess

[@HangingPawns]

The full Tal Caro-Kann study in PGN format with all the variations shown is available on www.patreon.com/hangingpawns

[@jakob.conrad]

I really appreciate how your videos like this explain all sorts of sidelines, candidate moves, and ideas behind each decision. This truly is a chess theory video- not just a video teaching a handful of opening lines. I’m a d4/c4 and Sicilian player, so I’ll never seriously have the Caro on the board, but I still enjoy and learn from these videos because of how you present and contextualize everything you show.

[@HangingPawns]

Thanks Jakob:D Very happy to hear such great feedback from someone who doesn't play the variation!

[@chaimrochlitz8523]

Been a subscriber from very early on. Very happy to see you got sponsors, long overdue and well deserved!

[@josephascencio-parvy7805]

After 3.h4, I have always played the interesting a6 inviting g4 by white and retreating to d7 with my bishop. It scores very well in databases. You will later strike at the center with c5 or strike at the g pawn with h5. Funky sideline. My only OTB game with it was a draw against a 1900 where I became better out of the opening. It is worth investigating.

[@HangingPawns]

I don't like ending up with a bishop on d7. For axample 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. h4 a6 5. g4 Bd7 6. Nc3 e6 is a French where the h4 g4 weakness seems to be less of an evil than our bishop.

[@josephascencio-parvy7805]

I agree it is a bit dicy but it often throws White offguard and it avoids mainlines where White is often very booked up. Against Nc3, you should actually play dynamically with c5 instead of e6. It gives Black some interesting play where the bishop on d7 still eyes g4.@@HangingPawns

[@gabrielknight9996]

​@@HangingPawnsIn fact g4 is in the spirit of these french lines, as White wants f4-f5 at some point anyway

[@user-ud1ky8ce9s]

How you going to react if white doesn't play g4 immediately ? Black still can't play e6 and probably have to go h5 or h6 eventually.

[@vdre6741]

@d1ky8ce9s Andrew Martin on his book about Caro-Kann propose 4. Bd7 in this variation 1. e4 c6 2 d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. g4 Bd7 but most of club players will plays 4. Be4 5. f3 Bg6 6. h4 h6 7. h5 Bh7

[@maximum_75]

OMG thank you!!! I have been waiting ages for someone to make video on yt about the Tal. I lose as black often and it seemed there was no video on the variation anywhere

[@HangingPawns]

No problem! hope you like the vid!

[@_2Benji_]

I love your channel - it has become an important part of my chess journey:) Looking forward to more Caro Kann content:)

[@pawnquacker]

Super helpful! Thanks for the insights.

[@ChessTitansApp]

We're glad you enjoyed the game!!! 😀

[@jonjones820]

Great video! I will be studying this in depth.

[@user-ru3yb7kr1b]

Love ur channel keep it up

[@elkr79]

In many lines against Tal variation black should consider Nh6 idea, which comes with eventual plan to relocate knight to g4 square or to f5 square, if there is a good opportunity to exchange light square bishop for white knight.

[@DarkEagle01]

Great video more videos like this

[@danielcrase]

If you wanna beat this variation, just play the Carls-Botvinik (3. …c5)

[@sogeoffsoclean]

eagerly awaiting the 6 hour theory videos on chess titans pay-to-win pieces

[@seeess925]

How to play Tal carocan as white. I'm noob. When I go black my opening is carocan. But trying to learn as white when opponent plays carocan.. Learning to use the Tal.

[@bobapplebob9695]

Great video, really enjoyed the analysis and found it quite instructive. You actually didn't cover the line I play, with Qa5+ before e6, which generally gives preferable positions to the other move order in my opinion, with the major drawback being the fact that it gives white the option to go b4, which sacrifices a pawn but gives white the b-file and a lead in development. I haven't had any opponents go into it OTB yet, but the few online games I've had have gone quite well, especially for what I consider to be the worst-case scenario out of my prep (except for the Short variation).

[@Elfutbol59]

Thanks for the video! I've always played the h6 line with bd7, but I might give the h5-qa4+ line a shot after watching this. I would like to play the piece sac line but i have to play a team tournament soon and i don't want to get punched in the face by my teammates😂

[@potionsmeller313]

Thanks for covering one of my favorite openings to play as white 😃, have you played any games where white plays 5. Bg5? How do you feel about that line?

[@hilarykahn3771]

do u think it’s better to stick to one response against e4? I’m about 200 elo less than you, and I currently play classical sicilian and caro.

[@arrowofkira5658]

Amazing preparation. I definately wasn't this familiar with all the variations so I'm gonna book up on this, thank you! Also i give chess titans a try, it looks cute and goofy.

[@HangingPawns]

Good luck against the Tal!

[@ishowmomentum4021]

Like the new interface!

[@HangingPawns]

Cheers, thanks!

[@humaidm3913]

Will you also make another caro kann video on the accelerated panov attack?

[@HangingPawns]

I will.

[@vdre6741]

It seems like this video was made for me 🤣 I faced it 3/5 time OTB and It always scary even if there is still some place to defend.

[@cz19856]

Group therapy with the Caro kanners

[@Grandcapi]

You should write a book!

[@HangingPawns]

Someday perhaps:D

[@junkookina1154]

You will become a GM one day if you set your midn to it. I believe in you(not being sarcastic)

[@felixhinz3804]

checked my ststistics, only 2% of my Caro games the opponend plays the Tal

[@jefftaylor1186]

If you play the Botvinnik Defense with 3…c5, you’ll never face the Tal variation.

[@HangingPawns]

Other downsides to that.

[@KeepChessSimple]

If you don't play chess you won't ever face difficult openings :p

[@jefftaylor1186]

@@HangingPawns True but I think it’s just a preference thing when it’s as early as move 3. I like it because it gets down to the fight for c5 right away.

[@Belaya_Noch]

Who comes here to play it as white ?

[@mustafaharford6393]

h6 is completly wrong

[@KevinMogera]

Caro is oppppp

[@AverageBishop-]

You still didn‘t say what color your cat is!

[@brianbanks703]

OMG and now not just endless ads by server but he wants to do it too, and they both think avarice acceptable. Used to be a good original channel now no different and will not recommend