- ECO code
- B13
- Moves
- 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.c4 Nf6 5.Nc3
- Family
- Caro-Kann Defense
- To move
- Black
- Master games
- 313
- Average game length
- 40 moves
- Years covered
- 1923–2026
Caro-Kann Defense: Panov Attack is the opening filed under ECO code B13, reached after 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.c4 Nf6 5.Nc3. It belongs to the Caro-Kann Defense family and is known as the Panov Attack; in the resulting position it is Black to move.
Katuranga's collection of 138,070 master games contains 313 games on this line — the 296th most played opening in the collection. The oldest game on this line is from 1923 and the most recent from 2026. The busiest decade in this collection is the 1990s, with 73 games. An average game here lasts 40 moves.
White wins 33% of those games, 40% end in a draw, and Black wins 27%. That is close to the collection average (White 37%, draws 35%, Black 28%). Draws are more common here than usual, by 5 points.
From this position the most popular move is 5...e6, played in 175 games, followed by 5...Nc6 (89) and 5...g6 (46). After 5...e6 White scores 33% and Black 27%.
The name that appears most often on the White side of this line is Polgar, Judit (29 games); on the Black side, Karpov, Anatoly (22).
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Results in master games
- White 33% (103)
- Draws 40% (124)
- Black 27% (86)
Most played continuations
| Move | Games | White / draws / Black | Leads into |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5...e6 | 175 | 33/40/27 | — |
| 5...Nc6 | 89 | 38/34/28 | — |
| 5...g6 | 46 | 24/46/30 | — |
| 5...a6 | 1 | 0/100/0 | — |
| 5...dxc4 | 1 | 0/100/0 | — |
| 5...h6 | 1 | 100/0/0 | — |
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
- Caro-Kann Defense: Exchange Variation · 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 · 825 games
- Caro-Kann Defense: Panov Attack · 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.c4 · 334 games
Played most often by
As White
- Polgar, Judit 29
- Anand, Viswanathan 12
- Nepomniachtchi,I 12
As Black
- Karpov, Anatoly 22
- Keymer,Vincent 13
- Bronstein, David I 12
Games per decade
- 1920s 3
- 1930s 20
- 1940s 8
- 1950s 2
- 1960s 33
- 1970s 16
- 1980s 20
- 1990s 73
- 2000s 51
- 2010s 20
- 2020s 67
Master games on this line
| White | Black | Result | Year | Events |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vakhlamov,I | Caruana,F | 1/2-1/2 | 2026 | Titled Tue 10th Feb 2026 |
| Samyak Dharewa | Caruana,F | 1/2-1/2 | 2026 | Titled Tue 20th Jan 2026 |
| Ajay Santhosh Parvathareddy | Grischuk,A | 0-1 | 2026 | Aeroflot Open A 2026 |
| Caruana,F | Mitrabha,G | 1-0 | 2025 | 1st 3-0 Thu 20th Nov 2025 |
| Yoo,Christopher Woojin | Firouzja,Alireza | 1-0 | 2025 | Titled Tue 6th May Early |
| Aronian,L | Esipenko,Andrey | 0-1 | 2025 | Esports World Cup LC Lose |
Frequently asked questions
What is the Caro-Kann Defense: Panov Attack?
It is the opening with ECO code B13, reached after 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.c4 Nf6 5.Nc3. It belongs to the Caro-Kann Defense family.
Is the Caro-Kann Defense: Panov Attack good for White or for Black?
In 313 master games on this line White wins 33%, 40% are drawn and Black wins 27%. 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: Panov Attack?
5...e6 — played in 175 of the master games on this line.
Which grandmasters play the Caro-Kann Defense: Panov Attack?
On the White side Polgar, Judit (29), Anand, Viswanathan (12), Nepomniachtchi,I (12); on the Black side Karpov, Anatoly (22), Keymer,Vincent (13), Bronstein, David I (12).
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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