Csdrhrt

Using autohotkey, remap your capslock key as your third control key; the script will go something like this--

; capslock into control key

SetCapsLockState, AlwaysOff

Capslock::

Send {Control Down}

Sleep 500

Send {Control Up}

Return

Since you are supposed to hit the control key on the opposite side of the keyboard of the key that you want to hit, just slide your other hand back to hit it. It may be easier to rotate your hand instead though.

Here is a page (xahlee.org) that talks about various ways to avoid the pinky problem.

I tried the method he outlines for pressing the control key using your palm, and had varying levels of success. Unfortunately, years of habit is very hard to break, and I keep falling back to using my pinky (on Caps Lock key, at least).

OS X has a built-in way to remap ⇪ to ⌃:

A bit extreme, but you could make a custom keyboard layout where the actions usually provided by modifier key states are accessed with dead keys under the thumbs:

_{On OS X the actions under control or command can't be remapped using this technique, but the actions that output single characters (under shift and option) can.}

Before doing shortcuts like this, I lift my left hand off the home row (A S D F) to a new position.

I tend to turn my hand to the left slightly (~5-10°) and move my fingers down a row.

The final position is then Ctrl Z X C, with V to the right of my index finger.

Using Ctrl as a pivot point, if I open my hand the T key can be reached without much strain.

I think the strain you mention may be caused by trying to reach for Ctrl without moving your hand.

You could try a different keyboard. A smaller one may fit your hand better. In fact, you may want to look into an ergonomic keyboard that feels good to you for general use, not just Chrome.

You can also download Microsoft's Keyboard mapper and design your very own layout.

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/goglobal/bb964665

It's relatively trivial to swap the buttons and load it up as a new keybaord mapping. While it take a bit more effort than the above solutions, it has the added advantage of being more compatible at a lower level. This is the same tool people used to make the DVORAK - QWERTY + CTRL layout.

https://stackoverflow.com/questions/808422/mac-style-dvorak-qwerty-command-keyboard-mapping-for-windows

The pinky strain depends on your compatibility with the keyboard. I recently bought an expensive Microsoft ergonomic wireless keyboard (because my old dell one was too noisy) and while it's great for typing, it's a pinky-killer.

The problem with this one is that the Ctrl button is too close to the Z button. I have to bend my pointer and my pinky until they almost touch.

I had no problem with the dell doing this, but with the new microsoft keyboard I'd better learn how to use another finger for the Z.

After just a couple of days I'm feeling pain in the articulations. I do 3D and I probably hit Ctrl, Shift, alt, Z, X, C, V combinations about 20 times a minute. Funny I never had a problem with my dell keyboard (over 3 years of use). I guess "one-size-fits-all" doesn't go with keyboards.

Bottom line - try to find a quality keyboard based on reviews. Once bought, try to adapt to it if it doesn't feel natural. Try switching fingers (hard, I know) and ultimately, if you can't get used to it, buy another one. No point in sacrificing your health over a few $$$. A bottle of painkillers may cost as much as a proper keyboard :)

If you're using Windows, turn on StickyKeys (Tap Shift 5x).
It lets you use Shift, Ctrl and Alt without holding the keys down.

This way for example when copying, you just press and release Ctrl followed by c.

I found it much more comfortable for my pinky when I did not have to hold these keys down.

You may want foot switch with a macro function.
I am using this. You can macro any key up & down strokes into switch on & off.
One of Cons is the switch depth is far deep, some fast shortcuts like Ctrl+c, v are not done as you want.

I'm using combination of palm pressing and key remapping mentioned in posted answers.
I've swapped LCtrl with Tab using xmodmap and I press the remapped Tab with pinky and remapped LCtrl with palm.

I think it works well in that sense you don't usually press and hold Tab so you don't end up with your hand in different postion during Ctrl+ chords. However you loose pinky during e.g. Ctrl+a compared to pressing LCtrl with palm, but this issue is no different from standard usage w/o palm.

I strongly agree that standard placement of Ctrl is no-go for pinky (especially RCtrl which is often farther than LCtrl) given that how many keyboard shortcuts involve Ctrl.