English Opening: Caro-Kann Defensive System

English Opening: Caro-Kann Defensive System is a chess opening with the ECO code A11, part of the English Opening family. It goes 1. c4 c6. White opens with 1. c4 (the English move) 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. c4 – White plays the pawn to c4
• 1... c6 – Black plays the pawn to c6

In chessGM's opening book this position continues with 2. Nf3.

About the English Opening

White starts with 1.c4, controlling d5 from the side. It is flexible and often leads to slow, strategic games.

• White often fianchettoes with g3 and Bg2 to aim the bishop down the long diagonal.
• Against 1...e5 it is like a Sicilian with colours reversed and an extra tempo for White.
• White fights on the queenside with b4-b5 and the open c-file.

chessGM has a full course for this line: open the English Opening: Caro-Kann Defensive System course lesson.

Related openings

• It extends: English Opening (1. c4)
• Continues with: Réti Opening: Anglo-Slav Variation, Gurevich System – adds 2. Nf3 d5 3. e3
• Continues with: Réti Opening: Anglo-Slav Variation, with g3 – adds 2. Nf3 d5 3. g3 Nf6
• Continues with: Réti Opening: Anglo-Slav Variation, with g3 – adds 2. Nf3 d5 3. g3 Nf6
• Related line: English Opening: Zilbermints Gambit (1. c4 g5 2. d4 e5)
• Related line: English Opening: Agincourt Defense (1. c4 e6)
• Related line: English Opening: Wade Gambit (1. c4 f5 2. g4)
• Related line: English Opening: Agincourt Defense (1. c4 e6 2. Nf3)
• Related line: English Opening: Porcupine Variation (1. c4 f5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. e4 fxe4 4. g4)
• Related line: English Opening: Agincourt Defense (1. c4 e6 2. Nf3 d5)

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