- ECO code
- B15
- Moves
- 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 dxe4 4.Nxe4
- Family
- Caro-Kann Defense
- To move
- Black
- Master games
- 420
- Average game length
- 44 moves
- Years covered
- 1970–2026
Caro-Kann Defense: Main Line is the opening filed under ECO code B15, reached after 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 dxe4 4.Nxe4. It belongs to the Caro-Kann Defense family and is known as the Main Line; in the resulting position it is Black to move.
Katuranga's collection of 138,070 master games contains 420 games on this line — the 239th most played opening in the collection. The oldest game on this line is from 1970 and the most recent from 2026. The busiest decade in this collection is the 2020s, with 104 games. An average game here lasts 44 moves.
White wins 36% of those games, 43% end in a draw, and Black wins 21%. Compared with the collection average (White 37%, draws 35%, Black 28%), Black scores worse here by 7 percentage points. Draws are more common here than usual, by 8 points.
From this position the most popular move is 4...Bf5, played in 193 games, followed by 4...Nd7 (131) and 4...Nf6 (96). After 4...Bf5 White scores 37% and Black 19%.
The name that appears most often on the White side of this line is Kramnik,V (32 games); on the Black side, Karpov, Anatoly (51).
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Results in master games
- White 36% (151)
- Draws 43% (180)
- Black 21% (89)
Most played continuations
| Move | Games | White / draws / Black | Leads into |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4...Bf5 | 193 | 37/44/19 | — |
| 4...Nd7 | 131 | 32/53/15 | — |
| 4...Nf6 | 96 | 40/25/35 | — |
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: Modern Variation · 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 · 435 games
Played most often by
As White
- Kramnik,V 32
- Karpov, Anatoly 26
- Wei Yi 16
As Black
- Karpov, Anatoly 51
- Adianto, Utut 14
- Larsen, Bent 14
Games per decade
- 1970s 27
- 1980s 70
- 1990s 90
- 2000s 70
- 2010s 59
- 2020s 104
Master games on this line
| White | Black | Result | Year | Events |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amar,Elham | Nakamura,Hi | 0-1 | 2026 | 1st 3-0 Thu 15th Jan 2026 |
| Ivanchuk,V | Pakleza,Z | 1-0 | 2026 | Grand Prix Bucharest 2026 |
| Arakelyan,Manvel | Keymer,Vincent | 0-1 | 2026 | Titled Tue 6th Jan 2026 |
| Ivanchuk,V | Krstulovic,Alex | 1/2-1/2 | 2026 | 10th Semana Santa Open |
| Firouzja,Alireza | Samunenkov,Ihor | 1/2-1/2 | 2025 | Titled Tue 18th Nov 2025 |
| Haug,Havard | Nakamura,Hi | 0-1 | 2025 | Titled Tue 25th Feb Early |
Frequently asked questions
What is the Caro-Kann Defense: Main Line?
It is the opening with ECO code B15, reached after 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 dxe4 4.Nxe4. It belongs to the Caro-Kann Defense family.
Is the Caro-Kann Defense: Main Line good for White or for Black?
In 420 master games on this line White wins 36%, 43% are drawn and Black wins 21%. The collection average is White 37%, draws 35%, Black 28% — so this line is no worse than usual for White than the field as a whole.
What is the main continuation of the Caro-Kann Defense: Main Line?
4...Bf5 — played in 193 of the master games on this line.
Which grandmasters play the Caro-Kann Defense: Main Line?
On the White side Kramnik,V (32), Karpov, Anatoly (26), Wei Yi (16); on the Black side Karpov, Anatoly (51), Adianto, Utut (14), Larsen, Bent (14).
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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