- ECO code
- B12
- Moves
- 1.e4 c6 2.d4
- Family
- Caro-Kann Defense
- To move
- Black
- Master games
- 4,145
- 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. It belongs to the Caro-Kann Defense family; in the resulting position it is Black to move.
Katuranga's collection of 138,070 master games contains 4,145 games on this line — the 36th 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 1,829 games. An average game here lasts 44 moves.
White wins 39% of those games, 31% end in a draw, and Black wins 30%. That is close to the collection average (White 37%, draws 35%, Black 28%).
From this position the most popular move is 2...d5, played in 4,064 games, followed by 2...d6 (40) and 2...g6 (31). 2...d5 leads into Caro-Kann Defense (B12). After 2...d5 White scores 40% and Black 29%.
The name that appears most often on the White side of this line is Shirov,A (212 games); on the Black side, Keymer,Vincent (216).
12 named variations branch off this position and have their own page here, among them Caro-Kann Defense (B12); Caro-Kann Defense: Advance Variation; Caro-Kann Defense (B15).
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Results in master games
- White 39% (1,619)
- Draws 31% (1,292)
- Black 30% (1,234)
Most played continuations
| Move | Games | White / draws / Black | Leads into |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2...d5 | 4,064 | 40/31/29 | Caro-Kann Defense (B12) |
| 2...d6 | 40 | 15/8/77 | — |
| 2...g6 | 31 | 29/26/45 | — |
| 2...Na6 | 4 | 25/25/50 | — |
| 2...a6 | 3 | 67/0/33 | — |
| 2...Nf6 | 2 | 50/50/0 | — |
| 2...Qc7 | 1 | 0/0/100 | — |
Variations from this position
- Caro-Kann Defense (B12) · 2...d5 · 4,064 games
- Advance Variation · 2...d5 3.e5 · 1,738 games
- Caro-Kann Defense (B15) · 2...d5 3.Nc3 · 946 games
- Caro-Kann Defense (B15) · 2...d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 · 914 games
- Exchange Variation · 2...d5 3.exd5 · 832 games
- Exchange Variation · 2...d5 3.exd5 cxd5 · 825 games
- Advance Variation, Short Variation · 2...d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.Nf3 · 733 games
- Modern Variation · 2...d5 3.Nd2 · 435 games
- Main Line · 2...d5 3.Nd2 dxe4 4.Nxe4 · 420 games
- Advance Variation, Tal Variation · 2...d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.h4 · 366 games
- Panov Attack · 2...d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.c4 · 334 games
- Panov Attack · 2...d5 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
Played most often by
As White
- Shirov,A 212
- Nepomniachtchi,I 146
- Vachier Lagrave,M 138
As Black
- Keymer,Vincent 216
- Karpov, Anatoly 172
- Firouzja,Alireza 171
Games per decade
- 1890s 5
- 1900s 10
- 1910s 22
- 1920s 42
- 1930s 53
- 1940s 31
- 1950s 41
- 1960s 153
- 1970s 112
- 1980s 164
- 1990s 405
- 2000s 554
- 2010s 724
- 2020s 1,829
Master games on this line
| White | Black | Result | Year | Events |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lazavik,Denis | Carlsen,M | 1-0 | 2026 | Chess.com Open Playoffs |
| Durarbayli,Vasif | Firouzja,Alireza | 0-1 | 2026 | Titled Tue 9th Jun 2026 |
| 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 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the Caro-Kann Defense?
It is the opening with ECO code B12, reached after 1.e4 c6 2.d4. It belongs to the Caro-Kann Defense family.
Is the Caro-Kann Defense good for White or for Black?
In 4,145 master games on this line White wins 39%, 31% are drawn and Black wins 30%. 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?
2...d5 — played in 4,064 of the master games on this line, which leads into Caro-Kann Defense (B12).
Which grandmasters play the Caro-Kann Defense?
On the White side Shirov,A (212), Nepomniachtchi,I (146), Vachier Lagrave,M (138); on the Black side Keymer,Vincent (216), Karpov, Anatoly (172), Firouzja,Alireza (171).
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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