- ECO code
- B12
- Moves
- 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2
- Family
- Caro-Kann Defense
- To move
- Black
- Master games
- 435
- Average game length
- 43 moves
- Years covered
- 1967–2026
Caro-Kann Defense: Modern Variation is the opening filed under ECO code B12, reached after 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2. It belongs to the Caro-Kann Defense family and is known as the Modern Variation; in the resulting position it is Black to move.
Katuranga's collection of 138,070 master games contains 435 games on this line — the 235th most played opening in the collection. The oldest game on this line is from 1967 and the most recent from 2026. The busiest decade in this collection is the 2020s, with 110 games. An average game here lasts 43 moves.
White wins 36% of those games, 42% end in a draw, and Black wins 22%. Compared with the collection average (White 37%, draws 35%, Black 28%), Black scores worse here by 6 percentage points. Draws are more common here than usual, by 7 points.
From this position the most popular move is 3...dxe4, played in 420 games, followed by 3...g6 (9) and 3...a6 (2). After 3...dxe4 White scores 36% and Black 21%.
The name that appears most often on the White side of this line is Kramnik,V (33 games); on the Black side, Karpov, Anatoly (51).
1 named variation branch off this position and have their own page here, among them Caro-Kann Defense: Main Line.
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Results in master games
- White 36% (155)
- Draws 42% (185)
- Black 22% (95)
Most played continuations
| Move | Games | White / draws / Black | Leads into |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3...dxe4 | 420 | 36/43/21 | — |
| 3...g6 | 9 | 22/56/22 | — |
| 3...a6 | 2 | 50/0/50 | — |
| 3...Nd7 | 1 | 0/0/100 | — |
| 3...Nf6 | 1 | 100/0/0 | — |
| 3...Qa5 | 1 | 0/0/100 | — |
| 3...Qc7 | 1 | 0/0/100 | — |
Variations from this position
- Caro-Kann Defense: Main Line · 3...dxe4 4.Nxe4 · 420 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
Played most often by
As White
- Kramnik,V 33
- Karpov, Anatoly 27
- Wei Yi 16
As Black
- Karpov, Anatoly 51
- Adianto, Utut 14
- Larsen, Bent 14
Games per decade
- 1960s 1
- 1970s 28
- 1980s 71
- 1990s 93
- 2000s 72
- 2010s 60
- 2020s 110
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: Modern Variation?
It is the opening with ECO code B12, reached after 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2. It belongs to the Caro-Kann Defense family.
Is the Caro-Kann Defense: Modern Variation good for White or for Black?
In 435 master games on this line White wins 36%, 42% are drawn and Black wins 22%. 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: Modern Variation?
3...dxe4 — played in 420 of the master games on this line.
Which grandmasters play the Caro-Kann Defense: Modern Variation?
On the White side Kramnik,V (33), Karpov, Anatoly (27), 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).
Try this line on the board
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