Dembo Yelena. Caro Kann Advance with 4.Be3

TWIC THEORY, 2005. — 35 p.1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5
Black has several other moves at his disposal here, but they are very rare and theoretically unchallenging. White should be able to retain a plus with sensible play.3...c5 is the only real alternative; while it is not the subject of this discussion, I can suggest 4.Nf3 as an interesting way of playing, intending to follow up with a quick c2-c4, e.g.: 4...Nc6 5.c4!? As an example of this idea I can mention the game Rublevsky-Asrian, Aeroflot Open 2004
(Rublevsky actually played 4.c4 and transposed later).4.Be3This system has become popular in the last few years, and the key idea is flexibility. It has many similarities with the Short system (4.Nf3), but also a few key differences, that will be explained later.4.Nc3 e6 5.g4 Bg6 6.Nge2 This aggressive system was all the rage a few years ago, but has now been discarded from top-level practice, as it entails considerable risk. The main drawback is that White is unable to either discourage...c5 or protect his centre adequately; this is the dark side of
having the knight on c3. Black has found a couple of strong antidotes, the most popular of which is 6...c5 7.h4 (7.Be3 cxd4 8.Nxd4 is yet another possibility, but Black has been doing well here recently.) 7...h5! 8.Nf4 Bh7 9.Nxh5 Nc6!4.Nf3 e6 5.Be2 This is called the "Short" system, named after the English GM who popularised it in the 90s. White usually aims for calm development, hoping to make use of his space advantage later. In comparison with the French, Black has got his light-squared bishop outside of the pawn chain here, but at the cost of losing a tempo when he eventually plays the natural break...c5. In fact White often prepares to meet an early...c5 with Be3 and c2-c4, breaking open the centre and hoping to make use of his better development; in these lines the Bf5 often turns out to be a target.Thus Black has often resorted to more solid systems, first completing his development. For example: 5...Nd7 6.0–0 Bg6 intending...Nh6-f5...Be7...0–0. While White's space advantage remains unchallenged in this way, his piece setup does not help him to make substantial gains, while Black's position is very solid; he can contemplate going for...c5 or...f6 later.4.h4 h5 (4...h6) 5.c4 is another popular system, but hardly dangerous. Black will often capture on c4 at some point and develop comfortably with...Nd7-b6...Ne7-f5 (after...Bg6 for example)...Be7 and...Qd7; his control of d5 promises good play. Moreover, White even meets specific
difficulties in actually forcing Black to take on c4 in the line 5...e6 6.Nc3 Be7! Black has always scored well in this line (but also in others).