Caro-Kann Defense

Caro-Kann Defense is a chess opening with the ECO code B10. It goes 1. e4 c6 2. Nc3 d5. White opens with 1. e4 (the king's pawn) and Black answers 1... c6. After 4 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
• 2. Nc3 – White plays the knight to c3
• 2... d5 – Black plays the pawn to d5

In chessGM's opening book this position continues with 3. Nf3.

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: Caro-Kann Defense (1. e4 c6 2. Nc3)
• Continues with: Caro-Kann Defense: Goldman Variation – adds 3. Qf3
• Continues with: Caro-Kann Defense: Scorpion-Horus Gambit – adds 3. d3 dxe4 4. Bg5
• Continues with: Caro-Kann Defense: St. Patrick's Attack – adds 3. h3
• Continues with: Caro-Kann Defense: Two Knights Attack – adds 3. Nf3
• Related line: Caro-Kann Defense: Accelerated Panov Attack (1. e4 c6 2. c4)
• Related line: Caro-Kann Defense (1. e4 c6)
• 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)
• Related line: Caro-Kann Defense: Accelerated Panov Attack, Pseudo-Scandinavian (1. e4 c6 2. c4 d5 3. exd5 Qxd5)

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