Caro-Kann Defense: Two Knights Attack, Mindeno Variation, Exchange Line

Caro-Kann Defense: Two Knights Attack, Mindeno Variation, Exchange Line is a chess opening with the ECO code B11, part of the Caro-Kann Defense family. It goes 1. e4 c6 2. Nc3 d5 3. Nf3 Bg4 4. h3 Bxf3. White opens with 1. e4 (the king's pawn) and Black answers 1... c6. After 8 moves it is White to move. After the last move Black is 3 points ahead in material. 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
• 3. Nf3 – White plays the knight to f3
• 3... Bg4 – Black plays the bishop to g4
• 4. h3 – White plays the pawn to h3
• 4... Bxf3 – Black takes on f3 with the bishop

In chessGM's opening book this position continues with 5. Qxf3.

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: Two Knights Attack, Mindeno Variation, Exchange Line course lesson.

Related openings

• It extends: Caro-Kann Defense: Two Knights Attack, Mindeno Variation (1. e4 c6 2. Nc3 d5 3. Nf3 Bg4)
• 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: Two Knights Attack (1. e4 c6 2. Nc3 d5 3. Nf3)
• Related line: Caro-Kann Defense (1. e4 c6 2. d4)
• Related line: Caro-Kann Defense: Toikkanen Gambit (1. e4 c6 2. c4 d5 3. e5)
• Related line: Caro-Kann Defense (1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5)
• Related line: Caro-Kann Defense: St. Patrick's Attack (1. e4 c6 2. Nc3 d5 3. h3)

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