Semi-Open · a defense for Black
Caro-Kann Defense: Modern Variation
5/5
1.e4c62.d4d53.Nd2
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Caro-Kann Defense: Modern Variation2.5M games · Black to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
83%2.0M47%
5.6%138k43%
4.3%107k42%
2.1%51k45%
1.8%44k46%
1.1%28k43%
0.6%14k40%
0.4%11k41%
0.3%8.5k39%
Famous games in this line11k master games
Caruana, Fabiano (2835) – So, Wesley (2770)Kasparov, Garry (2847) – Anand, Viswanathan (2753)Kasparov, Garry (2825) – Anand, Viswanathan (2770)Svidler, P. (2756) – Carlsen, M. (2839)Ivanchuk, Vassily (2779) – Anand, Viswanathan (2791)Kasparov, Garry (2825) – Topalov, Veselin (2740)Svidler, P. (2765) – Anand, V. (2782)Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar (2760) – Topalov, Veselin (2780)Heroes of this opening Kasparov, Garry · Caruana, Fabiano · Topalov, Veselin
- Family
- Caro-Kann Defense
- Category
- Semi-Open
- First move
- 1.e4
- ECO
- B12
- Line
- 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2
Solid
★ Read the guide: Caro-Kann DefenseExplore all 110 Caro-Kann Defense lines →Keep exploring
Go deeper — named lines from here
Caro-Kann Defense: Edinburgh Variation3…Qb6Caro-Kann Defense: Main Line3…dxe4 4.Nxe4 · 16 deeper linesCaro-Kann Defense: Karpov Variation3…dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nd7 · 6 deeper linesCaro-Kann Defense: Finnish Variation3…dxe4 4.Nxe4 h6
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.
Study this opening