Semi-Open · a defense for Black
Caro-Kann Defense: Massachusetts Defense
4/4
1.e4c62.d4f5
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Caro-Kann Defense: Massachusetts Defense7.6k games · White to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
49%3.7k64%
29%2.2k55%
13%1.0k60%
2.6%19657%
2.5%19260%
1%7649%
0.9%6857%
0.4%2945%
0.3%2162%
0.2%1839%
Famous games in this line1 master games
Emms, John M (2305) – Dunnington, Angus J (2280)- Family
- Caro-Kann Defense
- Category
- Semi-Open
- First move
- 1.e4
- ECO
- B12
- Line
- 1. e4 c6 2. d4 f5
Solid
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Nearby lines in the family
From the archives
Horatio Caro and Marcus Kann gave the defence its play in the 1880s; the joint name first appears in print in 1890. It became the fortress of positional world champions — Botvinnik took it into world-championship matches, and Petrosian and Karpov made careers of it. Its promise: the French's solidity WITHOUT burying the light-squared bishop, paid for with a tempo.
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