Caro-Kann Defense

Caro-Kann Defense is a chess opening with the ECO code B10. It goes 1. e4 c6. White opens with 1. e4 (the king's pawn) and Black answers 1... c6. After 2 moves it is White to move. The lesson on the board explains every move of the line and lets you play it yourself; it is free.

The moves

1. e4 – White plays the pawn to e4
1... c6 – Black plays the pawn to c6

In chessGM's opening book this position continues with 2. d4, 2. Nc3.

About the Caro-Kann Defense

Black answers 1.e4 with 1...c6 and then ...d5. It is like the French, but the light-squared bishop can come out first.

Black often plays ...Bf5 or ...Bg4 before closing the position with ...e6.
The pawn structure is very solid, so Black rarely gets mated early.
Black later frees the position with ...c5 or ...e5 and aims for a good endgame.

chessGM has a full course for this line: open the Caro-Kann Defense course lesson.

Related openings

It extends: King's Pawn Game (1. e4)
Continues with: Caro-Kann Defense – adds 2. Nc3
Continues with: Caro-Kann Defense: Accelerated Panov Attack – adds 2. c4
Continues with: Caro-Kann Defense: Apocalypse Attack – adds 2. Nf3 d5 3. exd5 cxd5
Continues with: Caro-Kann Defense: Breyer Variation – adds 2. d3
Continues with: Caro-Kann Defense: Endgame Offer – adds 2. Nf3 d5 3. d3
Continues with: Caro-Kann Defense: Euwe Attack – adds 2. b3
Continues with: Caro-Kann Defense: Hillbilly Attack – adds 2. Bc4
Continues with: Caro-Kann Defense: Labahn Attack – adds 2. b4
Related line: Caro-Kann Defense (1. e4 c6 2. Nc3)
Related line: Caro-Kann Defense (1. e4 c6 2. Nc3 d5)
Related line: Caro-Kann Defense: Accelerated Panov Attack (1. e4 c6 2. c4)
Related line: Caro-Kann Defense: Accelerated Panov Attack (1. e4 c6 2. c4 d5)
Related line: Caro-Kann Defense: Accelerated Panov Attack, Modern Variation (1. e4 c6 2. c4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. cxd5 Nf6)
Related line: Caro-Kann Defense: Accelerated Panov Attack, Open Variation (1. e4 c6 2. c4 e5)

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