Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...c6/2. d3

Breyer variation Caro-Kann defence 2. d3 · Breyer variation The unambitious Breyer variation of the Caro-Kann. 2. d3 prepares to recapture the pawn on e4 and may lead to an early endgame, or, if White wants to keep queens on the board, a King's Indian Attack-style position (see diagram). The usual 2...d5 is almost always the move. White plans to allow Black to take into them, and then recapture on e4 with the d-pawn. If 3. Nf3, then after 3...dxe4 4. dxe4 the queens see each other and are traded. To avoid the early endgame, the main reply is 3. Nd2: this unpins White's d-pawn from the queen and so prepares for 3...dxe4 4. dxe4. The mainline is to leave the tension with 3...e5. An alternative after 3. Nf3 dxe4 is to gambit the pawn with the sharp trap line 4. Ng5!?. 2...e5 is a move order difference. White usually still achieves a King's Indian Attack-style position; Black keeps the option of either ...d5 (transposing) or ...d6. History The line is named for Hungarian chess master Gyula Breyer (1893―1921) who played it in a 1920 game against Efim Bogoljubov (1889―1952). Originally this was played with Be2 rather than a King's Indian-style piece deployment. The Breyer v Bogoljubov game continued 2...d5 3. Nd2 Nf6 (3...e5 is the main line today) 4. Ngf3 Bg4 5. Be2.Breyer v Bogoljubov, 1920 - Chessgames.com The approach with g3 and Bg2 was first played by Siegfried Wolf (1867―1951) against William Winter (1897―1955) in 1930.Wolf v Winter, 1930 - 365Chess.com Theory table 1 1. e4 c6 2. d3 d5 3. Nd2 e5 4. Ngf3 Bd6 5. g3 Nf6 6. Bg2 O-O 7. O-O After 2...d5 3. Nd2 e5 4. Ngf3 Bd6 5. g3 Nf6 6. Bg2 O-O 7. O-O White achieves a familiar King's Indian Attack set-up. right Breyer variation 2...d5 3. Nd2 dxe4 4. dxe4 e5 5. Ngf3 Nd7 6. Bd3 Ngf6 7. Nc4 Bc5 8. O-O O-O + KIA transposition 2. ... ... 3. ... e5 4. Ngf3 Bd6 5. g3 Nf6 6. Bg2 O-O 7. O-O Endgame offer 2. ... ... 3. Nf3 dxe4 4. dxe4 Qxd1+ 5. Kxd1 Nf6 (4. Ng5 illustrative trap) 2. ... ... 3. ... ... 4. Ng5!? exd3 5. Bxd3 Nf6?? 6. Nxf7! +++ References See also External links Caro-Kann Breyer Variation (King's Indian Attack vs Caro-Kann) - Hanging Pawns (Youtube)