B18 · Semi-Open · a defense for Black
Caro-Kann Defense: Classical Variation
8/8
1.e4c62.d4d53.Nd2dxe44.Nxe4Bf5
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Caro-Kann Defense: Classical Variation5.2M games · White to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
83%4.3M54%
5.2%270k49%
3.3%171k54%
2.8%146k47%
2.3%118k46%
1.6%83k50%
0.9%46k47%
0.5%28k49%
0.5%24k50%
0.1%7.5k24%
Famous games in this line17k master games
Anand, Viswanathan (2775) – Carlsen, Magnus (2870)Caruana, Fabiano (2835) – So, Wesley (2770)Kasparov, Garry (2847) – Anand, Viswanathan (2753)Nepomniachtchi, I.. (2792) – Ding Liren (2799)Anand, Viswanathan (2799) – Topalov, Veselin (2780)Anand, Viswanathan (2798) – Topalov, Veselin (2777)Ivanchuk, Vassily (2779) – Anand, Viswanathan (2791)Kasparov, Garry (2825) – Topalov, Veselin (2740)Heroes of this opening Caruana, Fabiano · Kasparov, Garry · Nepomniachtchi, I..
- Family
- Caro-Kann Defense
- Category
- Semi-Open
- First move
- 1.e4
- ECO
- B18
- Line
- 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bf5
Solid
★ Read the guide: Caro-Kann DefenseExplore all 110 Caro-Kann Defense lines →Keep exploring
Go deeper — named lines from here
Caro-Kann Defense: Classical Variation, Main LineB18 5.Ng3 Bg6 6.h4 · 3 deeper linesCaro-Kann Defense: Classical Variation, Maróczy AttackB18 5.Ng3 Bg6 6.f4Caro-Kann Defense: Classical Variation, Flohr VariationB18 5.Ng3 Bg6 6.Nh3Caro-Kann Defense: Martian GambitB18 5.Ng5 Bg6 6.N1f3 h6 7.Ne6
Nearby lines in the family
From the archives
Named for Horatio Caro and Marcus Kann in the 1880s, the Caro-Kann became the fortress of positional world champions — Capablanca, Petrosian, Karpov. Its promise: Black gets the French's solidity WITHOUT burying the light-squared bishop. Slow, sound, and infuriating to attack.
Study this opening