B19 · Semi-Open · a defense for Black
Caro-Kann Defense: Classical Variation, Spassky Variation
15/15
1.e4c62.d4d53.Nd2dxe44.Nxe4Bf55.Ng3Bg66.h4h67.Nf3Nd78.h5
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Caro-Kann Defense: Classical Variation, Spassky Variation449k games · Black to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
100%449k47%
0.1%26964%
0%7413%
0%4914%
0%4414%
0%3843%
0%198%
0%90%
0%650%
0%450%
Famous games in this line7.9k master games
Kasparov, Garry (2847) – Anand, Viswanathan (2753)Anand, Viswanathan (2799) – Topalov, Veselin (2780)Ivanchuk, Vassily (2779) – Anand, Viswanathan (2791)Anand, Viswanathan (2799) – Leko, Peter (2753)Karjakin, Sergey (2786) – Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar (2766)Leko, Peter (2751) – Topalov, Veselin (2796)Anand, Viswanathan (2803) – Ponomariov, Ruslan (2738)Topalov, Veselin (2771) – Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar (2766)Heroes of this opening Kasparov, Garry · Karjakin, Sergey · Leko, Peter · Anand, Viswanathan
- Family
- Caro-Kann Defense
- Category
- Semi-Open
- First move
- 1.e4
- ECO
- B19
- Line
- 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bf5 5. Ng3 Bg6 6. h4 h6 7. Nf3 Nd7 8. h5
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, Lobron SystemB19 8…Bh7 9.Bd3 Bxd3 10.Qxd3 e6 11.Bd2 …Caro-Kann Defense: Classical Variation, Seirawan VariationB19 8…Bh7 9.Bd3 Bxd3 10.Qxd3 Ngf6 11.Bd2 …
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