Semi-Open · a defense for Black
Caro-Kann Defense: Karpov Variation, Modern Main Line
19/19
1.e4c62.d4d53.Nd2dxe44.Nxe4Nd75.Ng5Ngf66.Bd3e67.N1f3Bd68.Qe2h69.Ne4Nxe410.Qxe4
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Caro-Kann Defense: Karpov Variation, Modern Main Line2.8k games · Black to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
64%1.8k46%
33%93850%
1.8%5039%
0.2%771%
0.1%438%
0.1%425%
0.1%450%
0.1%30%
0%1100%
Famous games in this line1.7k master games
Kasparov, Garry (2825) – Anand, Viswanathan (2770)Topalov, Veselin (2740) – Anand, Viswanathan (2770)Kamsky, Gata (2735) – Karpov, Anatoly (2770)Anand, Viswanathan (2770) – Karpov, Anatoly (2735)Kamsky, Gata (2735) – Karpov, Anatoly (2770)Ivanchuk, Vassily (2735) – Karpov, Anatoly (2770)Leko, Peter (2753) – Ivanchuk, Vassily (2751)Kasparov, Garry (2805) – Kamsky, Gata (2695)Heroes of this opening Kasparov, Garry · Ivanchuk, Vassily
- Family
- Caro-Kann Defense
- Category
- Semi-Open
- First move
- 1.e4
- ECO
- B17
- Line
- 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nd7 5. Ng5 Ngf6 6. Bd3 e6 7. N1f3 Bd6 8. Qe2 h6 9. Ne4 Nxe4 10. Qxe4
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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