B17 · Semi-Open · a defense for Black
Caro-Kann Defense: Karpov Variation, Smyslov Variation, Main Line
15/15
1.e4c62.d4d53.Nd2dxe44.Nxe4Nd75.Bc4Ngf66.Ng5e67.Qe2Nb68.Bb3
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Caro-Kann Defense: Karpov Variation, Smyslov Variation, Main Line21k games · Black to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
39%8.1k49%
23%4.7k43%
13%2.7k46%
11%2.2k36%
6%1.2k49%
3.1%63442%
2.9%58852%
0.4%9133%
0.4%8035%
0.4%7937%
Famous games in this line480 master games
Kasparov, Garry (2800) – Karpov, Anatoly (2740)Anand, Viswanathan (2790) – Ivanchuk, Vassily (2717)Kasparov, Garry (2780) – Karpov, Anatoly (2725)Ivanchuk, Vassily (2709) – Anand, Viswanathan (2769)Ivanchuk, Vassily (2705) – Karpov, Anatoly (2760)Anand, Viswanathan (2715) – Karpov, Anatoly (2740)Anand, Viswanathan (2715) – Karpov, Anatoly (2740)Ivanchuk, Vassily (2710) – Karpov, Anatoly (2740)Heroes of this opening Karpov, Anatoly · 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. Bc4 Ngf6 6. Ng5 e6 7. Qe2 Nb6 8. Bb3
Solid
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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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