Caro-Kann Defense

Caro-Kann Defense is a chess opening with the ECO code B12. It goes 1. e4 c6 2. d4. White opens with 1. e4 (the king's pawn) and Black answers 1... c6. After 3 moves it is Black 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. d4 – White plays the pawn to d4

In chessGM's opening book this position continues with 2... d5.

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)
• Continues with: Caro-Kann Defense – adds 2... d5
• Continues with: Caro-Kann Defense: De Bruycker Defense – adds 2... Na6
• Continues with: Caro-Kann Defense: Masi Variation – adds 2... Nf6
• Continues with: Caro-Kann Defense: Massachusetts Defense – adds 2... f5
• Related line: Caro-Kann Defense: Two Knights Attack, Mindeno Variation, Retreat Line (1. e4 c6 2. Nc3 d5 3. Nf3 Bg4 4. h3 Bh5)
• Related line: Caro-Kann Defense (1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5)
• Related line: Caro-Kann Defense: Two Knights Attack, Mindeno Variation, Exchange Line (1. e4 c6 2. Nc3 d5 3. Nf3 Bg4 4. h3 Bxf3)
• Related line: Caro-Kann Defense: Advance Variation (1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5)
• Related line: Caro-Kann Defense: Two Knights Attack, Mindeno Variation (1. e4 c6 2. Nc3 d5 3. Nf3 Bg4)
• Related line: Caro-Kann Defense: Advance Variation, Bayonet Attack (1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. g4)

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