B17 · Semi-Open · a defense for Black
Caro-Kann Defense: Karpov Variation, Modern Variation
9/9
1.e4c62.d4d53.Nd2dxe44.Nxe4Nd75.Ng5
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Caro-Kann Defense: Karpov Variation, Modern Variation81k games · Black to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
70%57k41%
10%8.2k42%
10%8.2k34%
0.9%70144%
0.5%44340%
0.4%29539%
0.3%27639%
0.3%23637%
0.1%7939%
Famous games in this line2.4k master games
Kasparov, Garry (2825) – Anand, Viswanathan (2770)Leko, Peter (2751) – Morozevich, Alexander (2771)Topalov, Veselin (2740) – Anand, Viswanathan (2770)Anand, Viswanathan (2770) – Karpov, Anatoly (2735)Kasparov, Garry (2805) – Ivanchuk, Vassily (2700)Kasparov, Garry (2780) – Karpov, Anatoly (2725)Kamsky, Gata (2735) – Karpov, Anatoly (2770)Ivanchuk, Vassily (2735) – Karpov, Anatoly (2770)Heroes of this opening Kasparov, Garry · Leko, Peter · 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
Solid
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Go deeper — named lines from here
Caro-Kann Defense: Karpov Variation, Modern Variation, Ivanchuk DefenseB17 5…Ndf6Caro-Kann Defense: Karpov Variation, Modern Main LineB17 5…Ngf6 6.Bd3 e6 7.N1f3 Bd6 8.Qe2 …
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.
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