- ECO code
- B13
- Moves
- 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.c4
- Family
- Caro-Kann Defense
- To move
- Black
- Master games
- 334
- 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. 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 334 games on this line — the 284th 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 74 games. An average game here lasts 40 moves.
White wins 34% of those games, 38% end in a draw, and Black wins 28%. That is close to the collection average (White 37%, draws 35%, Black 28%).
From this position the most popular move is 4...Nf6, played in 318 games, followed by 4...e6 (8) and 4...Nc6 (5). After 4...Nf6 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).
1 named variation branch off this position and have their own page here, among them Caro-Kann Defense: Panov Attack (B13).
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 34% (112)
- Draws 38% (129)
- Black 28% (93)
Most played continuations
| Move | Games | White / draws / Black | Leads into |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4...Nf6 | 318 | 33/40/27 | — |
| 4...e6 | 8 | 38/0/62 | — |
| 4...Nc6 | 5 | 100/0/0 | — |
| 4...dxc4 | 2 | 0/50/50 | — |
| 4...e5 | 1 | 0/0/100 | — |
Variations from this position
- Panov Attack (B13) · 4...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
- Caro-Kann Defense: Exchange Variation · 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 · 825 games
Played most often by
As White
- Polgar, Judit 29
- Alekhine, Alexander 16
- Anand, Viswanathan 12
As Black
- Karpov, Anatoly 22
- Keymer,Vincent 13
- Bronstein, David I 12
Games per decade
- 1920s 4
- 1930s 25
- 1940s 8
- 1950s 3
- 1960s 33
- 1970s 16
- 1980s 24
- 1990s 74
- 2000s 54
- 2010s 20
- 2020s 73
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. It belongs to the Caro-Kann Defense family.
Is the Caro-Kann Defense: Panov Attack good for White or for Black?
In 334 master games on this line White wins 34%, 38% are drawn and Black wins 28%. 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?
4...Nf6 — played in 318 of the master games on this line.
Which grandmasters play the Caro-Kann Defense: Panov Attack?
On the White side Polgar, Judit (29), Alekhine, Alexander (16), Anand, Viswanathan (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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