Expert: Len Molden - 6/24/2008

Question
Any new moves to the stem game HAHN/ALEKHINE 1941? How about an early e5 for black? 1 e4 c6 2 d4 d5 3 e5 Bf5 4 g4 Be4 5 f3 Bg6 6 h4 h5 7 e6!? Qd6! 8 exf7 Bxf7 9 g5 Qg3 10 Ke2 e5 ( instead of Nd7 as playedin the game )

Answer
Hi Steven,

The move 9.Ne2 has become the main line instead of g5.  Here's a master-level game that demonstrates how to play this position:

Elista (Russia), Chess Olympiad, 1998

Corbin P. - Bagheri A.   

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. g4 Be4 5. f3 Bg6 6. h4 h5 7. e6 Qd6 8. exf7 Bxf7 9. Ne2 Nd7 10. g5 e5 11. Nbc3 O-O-O 12. f4 exd4 13. Qxd4 c5 14. Qa4 a6 15. Bh3 ¢b8 16. f5 Nb6 17. Qf4 d4 18. Ne4 Qxf4 19. Bxf4 Ka7 20. O-O-O Re8 21. N2g3 Nd5 22. Nd6 Nxf4 23. Nxf7 Rh7 24. g6 Rh6 25. Nxh6 Nxh6 26. Bf1 Re3 27. Rg1 Be7 28. Bd3 Bxh4 29. Nh1 b5 30. Rgf1 Bg5 31. Kb1 Kb6 32. b3 Kc6 33. Rde1 Nd5 34. Rxe3 Nxe3 35. Rg1 Bh4 36. Ng3 Bxg3 37. Rxg3 Nhg4 38. Rf3 Nf6 39. c4 bxc4 40. Bxc4 a5 41. Be2 Kd5 42. Bd3 Ke5 43. Kb2 Ned5 44. Ka3 Nf4 45. Ka4 Nxd3 46. Rxd3 Kxf5 47. Kxa5 Ke4 48. Rd1 d3 49. Kb5 Kd4 50. a4 Nd5 51. Rh1 d2 52. a5 Nb4 53. a6 Nxa6 54. Kxa6 Kc3 55. Kb5 h4 56. Kxc5 Kc2 57. Kd4 h3 58. Ke3 1:0

One observation I make, is that a check of my latest database shows White scoring 55% with this line, while with the system of Nf3/Be2/c3 popularized by GM Nigel Short in the early 90's, White wins 64% of the games.  My advice therefore, is that there are better options available of playing against the Caro-Kann.  

Regards,

Len Molden