Article 329 of rec.games.chess.analysis:
Newsgroups: rec.games.chess.analysis
Path: info!dregis
From: dregis@exeter.ac.uk (David Regis=)
Subject: Re: Why 3.Nd2 in the Caro_Kann?
Message-ID: <DCs5qC.5sK@exeter.ac.uk>
Organization: University of Exeter, UK.
References: <3vql9p$rj3@pheidippides.axion.bt.co.uk>
Date: Fri, 4 Aug 1995 09:44:35 GMT

In article <3vql9p$rj3@pheidippides.axion.bt.co.uk> Jerry Hynes <jerry@lnhdent.agw.bt.co.uk> writes:
>Why do some players move 3.Nd2 in the Caro-Kann instead of 3.Nc3 as the 
>knight recaptures on e4 in most variations whichever square it goes to 
>initially. Does Black have some additional ideas if the knight is on c3?
>

Usually 1. e4 players are after an open game, but after 1.e4 c6 2.d4
d5 3.Nc3 Black can go 3...g6 and tries to force/tempt e5 and get a
white-square blockade (Gurgenidze system).  This is a bit like the
French but the prospects for a King's-side blockade are better and the
Bc8 hopes to get out to g4. 

After 3. Nd2 g6 White can play 4.c2-c3 with a better set-up than in
the Nc3 Gurgenidze (5. Bd3 is on, for example, whereas with the N on
c3 instead of the P 5...dxe4 and 6...Qxd4 is available). 

And if 3...dxe4, 4. Nxe4, and we're back on course.


DrDave