B18 · Semi-Open · a defense for Black
Caro-Kann Defense: Classical Variation, Main Line
11/11
1.e4c62.d4d53.Nd2dxe44.Nxe4Bf55.Ng3Bg66.h4
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Caro-Kann Defense: Classical Variation, Main Line1.3M games · Black to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
84%1.1M46%
13%169k37%
1.5%20k40%
1%13k36%
0.7%8.9k38%
0.2%2.9k27%
0.1%95019%
0.1%84428%
0%36025%
0%23345%
Famous games in this line10k 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)Ivanchuk, Vassily (2779) – Anand, Viswanathan (2791)Karjakin, Sergey (2786) – Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar (2766)Anand, Viswanathan (2799) – Leko, Peter (2753)Heroes of this opening Caruana, Fabiano · Kasparov, Garry · Nepomniachtchi, I.. · Karjakin, Sergey
- 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 5. Ng3 Bg6 6. h4
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, Spassky VariationB19 6…h6 7.Nf3 Nd7 8.h5 · 2 deeper linesCaro-Kann Defense: Classical Variation, Lobron SystemB19 6…h6 7.Nf3 Nd7 8.h5 Bh7 9.Bd3 …Caro-Kann Defense: Classical Variation, Seirawan VariationB19 6…h6 7.Nf3 Nd7 8.h5 Bh7 9.Bd3 …
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