The Caro-Kan

The Caro-Kan is a deceptive defence. White starts with a classical, traditional move, attempting to dominate from a central position. Black responds with a move that looks like he's already given up - a single-square pawn move that doesn't challenge the centre, encouraging White to expand. It looks passive, innocuous.

But slowly he begins to undermine the imposing centre. With no obvious targets - and the Caro-Kan is more resilient than you expect - White can only attempt to slowly shore up his position while waiting for the counter-punch. The centre comes under pressure and may crack. Black is playing the long game, waiting for the mistake. Patience is key - no sudden aggression but little probes. Suddenly White's position is parlous - and there is no reversal from here; all the energy is on one side.

Do not underestimate the Caro-Kan.

A final story; true although I'm not sure if the names are right.

The grandmaster Lasker came up against a new opponent in a tournament - an unknown. He opened with his usual bold e4 and pressed his clock confidently. His opponent, looking up from his newspaper casually, seemed unconcerned. He folded his newspaper, leant back in his chair and used the newspaper to slide the c-pawn to c6 - then went back to his reading. Lasker was outraged, with the lack of respect shown to him (won't put his newspaper down and play properly!) and to the opening. What is this foolishness? It's not even a proper move. He summoned all his rage and energy and focussed it into destroying this upstart, into obliterating him completely. And he lost, to Tarrasch, who would go on to massively influence chess thinking. No openings are named after Lasker; Tarrasch has a major defence to the Queen's Gambit - and even names like the semi-Tarrasch, developed later from the principles he taught.