- ECO code
- B12
- Moves
- 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.h4
- Family
- Caro-Kann Defense
- To move
- Black
- Master games
- 366
- Average game length
- 45 moves
- Years covered
- 1961–2026
Caro-Kann Defense: Advance Variation, Tal Variation is the opening filed under ECO code B12, reached after 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.h4. It belongs to the Caro-Kann Defense family and is known as the Advance Variation, Tal Variation; in the resulting position it is Black to move.
Katuranga's collection of 138,070 master games contains 366 games on this line — the 266th most played opening in the collection. The oldest game on this line is from 1961 and the most recent from 2026. The busiest decade in this collection is the 2020s, with 284 games. An average game here lasts 45 moves.
White wins 44% of those games, 19% end in a draw, and Black wins 37%. Compared with the collection average (White 37%, draws 35%, Black 28%), Black scores better here by 9 percentage points. Draws are less common here than usual, by 16 points.
From this position the most popular move is 4...h5, played in 247 games, followed by 4...h6 (76) and 4...Qb6 (14). After 4...h5 White scores 44% and Black 34%.
The name that appears most often on the White side of this line is Shirov,A (56 games); on the Black side, Keymer,Vincent (35).
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Results in master games
- White 44% (162)
- Draws 19% (69)
- Black 37% (135)
Most played continuations
| Move | Games | White / draws / Black | Leads into |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4...h5 | 247 | 44/22/34 | — |
| 4...h6 | 76 | 41/12/47 | — |
| 4...Qb6 | 14 | 72/7/21 | — |
| 4...a6 | 12 | 42/25/33 | — |
| 4...c5 | 6 | 50/17/33 | — |
| 4...Qc7 | 5 | 40/20/40 | — |
| 4...Qc8 | 4 | 25/0/75 | — |
| 4...e6 | 1 | 100/0/0 | — |
How the position is reached
- King's Pawn Game · 1.e4 · 62,859 games
- Caro-Kann Defense · 1.e4 c6 · 5,477 games
- Caro-Kann Defense · 1.e4 c6 2.d4 · 4,145 games
- Caro-Kann Defense · 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 · 4,064 games
- Caro-Kann Defense: Advance Variation · 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 · 1,738 games
Played most often by
As White
- Shirov,A 56
- Nepomniachtchi,I 27
- Grischuk,A 16
As Black
- Keymer,Vincent 35
- Nakamura,Hi 30
- Firouzja,Alireza 27
Games per decade
- 1960s 10
- 1980s 3
- 1990s 11
- 2000s 9
- 2010s 49
- 2020s 284
Master games on this line
| White | Black | Result | Year | Events |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grischuk,A | Daneshvar,Bardiya | 0-1 | 2026 | Titled Tue 14th Apr 2026 |
| Grischuk,A | Faryma,Maksym | 1-0 | 2026 | 1st 3-0 Thu 11th Jun 2026 |
| Praggnanandhaa,R | Murzin,Volodar | 1-0 | 2026 | Tata Steel India Rapid |
| Vokhidov,Shamsiddin | Abdusattorov,Nodirbek | 1-0 | 2026 | Titled Tue 10th Mar 2026 |
| Grischuk,A | Silva,Luca | 1-0 | 2026 | 3rd 3-0 Thu 11th Jun 2026 |
| Ganiev,Artur | Keymer,Vincent | 0-1 | 2026 | Titled Tue 17th Feb 2026 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the Caro-Kann Defense: Advance Variation, Tal Variation?
It is the opening with ECO code B12, reached after 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.h4. It belongs to the Caro-Kann Defense family.
Is the Caro-Kann Defense: Advance Variation, Tal Variation good for White or for Black?
In 366 master games on this line White wins 44%, 19% are drawn and Black wins 37%. The collection average is White 37%, draws 35%, Black 28% — so this line is a slightly better bargain for Black than the field as a whole.
What is the main continuation of the Caro-Kann Defense: Advance Variation, Tal Variation?
4...h5 — played in 247 of the master games on this line.
Which grandmasters play the Caro-Kann Defense: Advance Variation, Tal Variation?
On the White side Shirov,A (56), Nepomniachtchi,I (27), Grischuk,A (16); on the Black side Keymer,Vincent (35), Nakamura,Hi (30), Firouzja,Alireza (27).
Every number on this page is computed from Katuranga's master game collection; names and ECO codes follow the lichess opening book (CC0).
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