The critical position of this opening system.
1. e2e4  1... c7c6  2. d2d4  2... d7d5  3. b1c3  3... d5e4  4. c3e4 This was once the undisputed main line of the Caro-Kann Defense. Nowadays the advance variation (4.e5) is also very popular. 4... g8f6 The fashionable move, supplanting 4...Bf5 and 4...Nd7. 5. e4f6  5... e7f6 [%c_effect f6;square;f6;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] There was a time when capturing with the g-pawn was considered the best move, but today's computers have a clear preference for taking with the e-pawn. Despite having doubled pawns and granting White a dangerous pawn majority on the queenside, it seems that Black's free piece development is a good compensation. 6. c2c3  6... f8d6  7. f1d3  7... e8g8  8. d1c2  8... f8e8 