Catastrophes & Tactics in the Chess Opening - Volume 9: Caro-Kann & French

Book excerpt: WINNING FAST IS FUN! This book is a collection of games played by the best players in the world in which either White or Black wins in 15 moves or less either a result of brilliant chess tactics, an accumulation of mistakes or blunders. Through the study of the games in this volume, you will improve your opening play, opening repertoire, strategies and tactical ability. The chess opening variations in this volume are all the variations of the Caro-Kann & French Defenses, such as: 1) French Defense - Minor Variations 2) French Defense - Advance Variation 3) French Defense - Tarrasch Variation: 3.Nd2 4) French Defense - Various 3.Nc3 Variations 5) French Defense - Winawer Variation: 3.Nc3 Bb4 6) Caro-Kann Defense - Main Lines: 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 7) Caro-Kann Defense - Panov Attack 8) Caro-Kann Defense - Advance Variation 9) Caro-Kann Defense - Minor Lines Short games in chess have always fascinated me; what is it that is causing a player to go so wrong that he or she loses within 15 moves (or 25 moves as in my Chess Miniatures Series)?The games in this book illustrate the making of and punishment of a lot of typical mistakes: Loose pawns & pieces Not calculating far enough Over-burdened pieces Overlooked intermediary moves Misevaluations Not sensing danger And much more of that kind But the names also include a surprising amount of tactics (see the front cover - White to move), sometimes even missed tactical opportunities. I have chosen only from games of players that were rated 2350 and above (or would have rated as such, but it was before the rating system was put in place), because I felt that if mistakes like these can be played by such strong players, then there are lessons to be learned for the majority of the rest us. Further, I sorted away the worst games, such as when one side a piece is threatened and the other side forgets to move a threatened piece, even that happens among strong players. Through the study of the games in this book should help you avoid a lot of mistakes in your own games, help you to take advantage of the mistakes of your opponents and ultimately sharpen your tactics and tactical awareness by answering the prompts to the diagrammed positions. Enjoy!