- ECO code
- B13
- Moves
- 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5
- Family
- Caro-Kann Defense
- To move
- White
- Master games
- 825
- Average game length
- 44 moves
- Years covered
- 1906–2026
Caro-Kann Defense: Exchange Variation is the opening filed under ECO code B13, reached after 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5. It belongs to the Caro-Kann Defense family and is known as the Exchange Variation; in the resulting position it is White to move.
Katuranga's collection of 138,070 master games contains 825 games on this line — the 131st most played opening in the collection. The oldest game on this line is from 1906 and the most recent from 2026. The busiest decade in this collection is the 2020s, with 399 games. An average game here lasts 44 moves.
White wins 36% of those games, 31% end in a draw, and Black wins 33%. Compared with the collection average (White 37%, draws 35%, Black 28%), Black scores better here by 5 percentage points.
From this position the most popular move is 4.Bd3, played in 391 games, followed by 4.c4 (334) and 4.Nf3 (63). After 4.Bd3 White scores 35% and Black 40%.
The name that appears most often on the White side of this line is Abdusattorov,Nodirbek (47 games); on the Black side, Keymer,Vincent (61).
2 named variations branch off this position and have their own page here, among them Caro-Kann Defense: Panov Attack; Caro-Kann Defense: Panov Attack.
Reading about an opening is not the same as knowing it. Play this line against the Katuranga bot, then let the engine mark your brilliant moves, mistakes and blunders in Analysis — the fastest way to find out which of these moves you actually understand.
Results in master games
- White 36% (294)
- Draws 31% (259)
- Black 33% (272)
Most played continuations
| Move | Games | White / draws / Black | Leads into |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.Bd3 | 391 | 35/25/40 | — |
| 4.c4 | 334 | 34/38/28 | Caro-Kann Defense: Panov Attack |
| 4.Nf3 | 63 | 46/37/17 | — |
| 4.c3 | 33 | 40/27/33 | — |
| 4.Bf4 | 3 | 67/0/33 | — |
| 4.h3 | 1 | 100/0/0 | — |
Variations from this position
- Caro-Kann Defense: Panov Attack · 4.c4 · 334 games
- Caro-Kann Defense: Panov Attack · 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
- Caro-Kann Defense · 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 · 4,064 games
- Caro-Kann Defense: Exchange Variation · 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 · 832 games
Played most often by
As White
- Abdusattorov,Nodirbek 47
- Carlsen,M 34
- Aronian,L 32
As Black
- Keymer,Vincent 61
- Firouzja,Alireza 39
- Gukesh,D 29
Games per decade
- 1900s 1
- 1910s 1
- 1920s 17
- 1930s 30
- 1940s 13
- 1950s 4
- 1960s 42
- 1970s 22
- 1980s 27
- 1990s 84
- 2000s 74
- 2010s 111
- 2020s 399
Master games on this line
| White | Black | Result | Year | Events |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saric,Iv | Praggnanandhaa,R | 0-1 | 2026 | GCT Super Rapid Croatia |
| Aravindh,Chithambaram VR. | Praggnanandhaa,R | 1/2-1/2 | 2026 | Tata Steel India Rapid |
| Vakhlamov,I | Caruana,F | 1/2-1/2 | 2026 | Titled Tue 10th Feb 2026 |
| Carlsen,M | Firouzja,Alireza | 0-1 | 2026 | SpeedChess Final 2025 |
| Kaminskii,Daniil | Caruana,F | 0-1 | 2026 | 1st 3-0 Thu 19th Feb 2026 |
| Anand,V | Murzin,Volodar | 1-0 | 2026 | Tata Steel India Blitz |
Frequently asked questions
What is the Caro-Kann Defense: Exchange Variation?
It is the opening with ECO code B13, reached after 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5. It belongs to the Caro-Kann Defense family.
Is the Caro-Kann Defense: Exchange Variation good for White or for Black?
In 825 master games on this line White wins 36%, 31% are drawn and Black wins 33%. 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: Exchange Variation?
4.Bd3 — played in 391 of the master games on this line.
Which grandmasters play the Caro-Kann Defense: Exchange Variation?
On the White side Abdusattorov,Nodirbek (47), Carlsen,M (34), Aronian,L (32); on the Black side Keymer,Vincent (61), Firouzja,Alireza (39), Gukesh,D (29).
Every number on this page is computed from Katuranga's master game collection; names and ECO codes follow the lichess opening book (CC0).
Try this line on the board
Play this opening against the Katuranga bot, then review the game — the engine marks every brilliant move, mistake and blunder.