- ECO code
- B12
- Moves
- 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5
- Family
- Caro-Kann Defense
- To move
- White
- Master games
- 4,064
- Average game length
- 44 moves
- Years covered
- 1891–2026
Caro-Kann Defense is the opening filed under ECO code B12, reached after 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5. It belongs to the Caro-Kann Defense family; in the resulting position it is White to move.
Katuranga's collection of 138,070 master games contains 4,064 games on this line — the 38th most played opening in the collection. The oldest game on this line is from 1891 and the most recent from 2026. The busiest decade in this collection is the 2020s, with 1,766 games. An average game here lasts 44 moves.
White wins 40% of those games, 31% end in a draw, and Black wins 29%. That is close to the collection average (White 37%, draws 35%, Black 28%).
From this position the most popular move is 3.e5, played in 1,738 games, followed by 3.Nc3 (946) and 3.exd5 (832). 3.e5 leads into Caro-Kann Defense: Advance Variation. After 3.e5 White scores 44% and Black 30%.
The name that appears most often on the White side of this line is Shirov,A (209 games); on the Black side, Keymer,Vincent (216).
11 named variations branch off this position and have their own page here, among them Caro-Kann Defense: Advance Variation; Caro-Kann Defense (B15); Caro-Kann Defense (B15).
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Results in master games
- White 40% (1,600)
- Draws 31% (1,279)
- Black 29% (1,185)
Most played continuations
| Move | Games | White / draws / Black | Leads into |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.e5 | 1,738 | 44/26/30 | Caro-Kann Defense: Advance Variation |
| 3.Nc3 | 946 | 35/38/27 | Caro-Kann Defense (B15) |
| 3.exd5 | 832 | 36/31/33 | Caro-Kann Defense: Exchange Variation |
| 3.Nd2 | 435 | 36/42/22 | Caro-Kann Defense: Modern Variation |
| 3.f3 | 112 | 47/15/38 | — |
| 3.Bd3 | 1 | 0/0/100 | — |
Variations from this position
- Advance Variation · 3.e5 · 1,738 games
- Caro-Kann Defense (B15) · 3.Nc3 · 946 games
- Caro-Kann Defense (B15) · 3.Nc3 dxe4 · 914 games
- Exchange Variation · 3.exd5 · 832 games
- Exchange Variation · 3.exd5 cxd5 · 825 games
- Advance Variation, Short Variation · 3.e5 Bf5 4.Nf3 · 733 games
- Modern Variation · 3.Nd2 · 435 games
- Main Line · 3.Nd2 dxe4 4.Nxe4 · 420 games
- Advance Variation, Tal Variation · 3.e5 Bf5 4.h4 · 366 games
- Panov Attack · 3.exd5 cxd5 4.c4 · 334 games
- Panov Attack · 3.exd5 cxd5 4.c4 Nf6 5.Nc3 · 313 games
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
Played most often by
As White
- Shirov,A 209
- Nepomniachtchi,I 145
- Vachier Lagrave,M 137
As Black
- Keymer,Vincent 216
- Karpov, Anatoly 172
- Firouzja,Alireza 137
Games per decade
- 1890s 5
- 1900s 10
- 1910s 22
- 1920s 42
- 1930s 51
- 1940s 31
- 1950s 40
- 1960s 153
- 1970s 112
- 1980s 163
- 1990s 401
- 2000s 552
- 2010s 716
- 2020s 1,766
Master games on this line
| White | Black | Result | Year | Events |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lazavik,Denis | Carlsen,M | 1-0 | 2026 | Chess.com Open Playoffs |
| Nepomniachtchi,I | Dushatov,Timur | 1-0 | 2026 | Titled Tue 23rd Jun 2026 |
| Abdusattorov,Nodirbek | Henriquez Villagra,C | 1/2-1/2 | 2026 | Titled Tue 13th Jan 2026 |
| Grischuk,A | Daneshvar,Bardiya | 0-1 | 2026 | Titled Tue 14th Apr 2026 |
| Caruana,F | Bryakin,M | 0-1 | 2026 | Titled Tue 26th May 2026 |
| Grischuk,A | Faryma,Maksym | 1-0 | 2026 | 1st 3-0 Thu 11th Jun 2026 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the Caro-Kann Defense?
It is the opening with ECO code B12, reached after 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5. It belongs to the Caro-Kann Defense family.
Is the Caro-Kann Defense good for White or for Black?
In 4,064 master games on this line White wins 40%, 31% are drawn and Black wins 29%. 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?
3.e5 — played in 1,738 of the master games on this line, which leads into Caro-Kann Defense: Advance Variation.
Which grandmasters play the Caro-Kann Defense?
On the White side Shirov,A (209), Nepomniachtchi,I (145), Vachier Lagrave,M (137); on the Black side Keymer,Vincent (216), Karpov, Anatoly (172), Firouzja,Alireza (137).
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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