Opening principles: early Qa4-Qa5

Originally posted by mateulose
I agree with that, most ppl do not realize that the knight on d7 is the best spot for the Caro Kann, as this thread indicates. A lot of novices seem to think puting knights on your second rank is terrible no matter what the costs. A lot of veterans, somehow, seem to think the same way, and somehow, get a high rating despite this simple thinking. (Maybe due ...[text shortened]... ional sense) A knight is many times better played on d7 or e7, rather then the regular c6 or f6.

Originally posted by mateulose
I agree with that, most ppl do not realize that the knight on d7 is the best spot for the Caro Kann, as this thread indicates. A lot of novices seem to think puting knights on your second rank is terrible no matter what the costs. A lot of veterans, somehow, seem to think the same way, and somehow, get a high rating despite this simple thinking. (Maybe due ...[text shortened]... ional sense) A knight is many times better played on d7 or e7, rather then the regular c6 or f6.

Originally posted by Osse
Fercrissakes, people here are talking about a specific position.
Can you really not understand that you have to look at the position on the board in front of you, and that determines where the N is best placed? How hard is this to grasp, really?

I've played a couple of benoni games with an early Qa5, and even though it looks pretty strong and blocking there it allways has to run when white plays something like Bd2 🙁

Just looking at the specific position, not knowing much about the Caro, I'dsay as soon as white put the queen out there I would have played a6 toavoid doubling the bishop and possibly kicking the queen out of that position,which can be quite annoying with an uncastled king. Second, I don't know why Mateulose opened up the position by exchanging on d file. It doesn't make any sense when you're not developed and haven't gotten your king to safety. It opened up wonderful lines for white's bishop and rook. So in my humble opiniion Mateulose showed bad judgment in the specific position he was faced with. Otherwise, he would have lastedlonger. Not that this is unusual, especially when you're playing lots of games at once. Sometimes I click on the obvious move and regret it later.

Originally posted by buddy2
Just looking at the specific position, not knowing much about the Caro, I'dsay as soon as white put the queen out there I would have played a6 toavoid doubling the bishop and possibly kicking the queen out of that position,which can be quite annoying with an uncastled king. Second, I don't know why Mateulose opened up the position by exchanging on d file. ...[text shortened]... u're playing lots of games at once. Sometimes I click on the obvious move and regret it later.

Originally posted by mateulose
Eventually c5 has to be played to free up your bishop. I could of played Bd7 and then castle, and then play c5, but what's the point? After c5 the bishop is going to c5 pretty much anyways, so I would of done an extra bishop move for nothing in the opening. I figured it was better to do this process in 2 moves rather then 3. BTW, early c5's are common in the Caro advanced variation, in fact they usually come sooner then when I did it.

Right, Flexmore. The exchange opens lines when black isn't prepared for it.

Incidentally, there's a lot to be learned from the game. Just cause Mateulose lost, doesn't make it worthless.