- ECO code
- B10
- Moves
- 1.e4 c6 2.Nc3 d5 3.Nf3
- Family
- Caro-Kann Defense
- To move
- Black
- Master games
- 370
- Average game length
- 45 moves
- Years covered
- 1927–2026
Caro-Kann Defense: Two Knights Attack is the opening filed under ECO code B10, reached after 1.e4 c6 2.Nc3 d5 3.Nf3. It belongs to the Caro-Kann Defense family and is known as the Two Knights Attack; in the resulting position it is Black to move.
Katuranga's collection of 138,070 master games contains 370 games on this line — the 262nd most played opening in the collection. The oldest game on this line is from 1927 and the most recent from 2026. The busiest decade in this collection is the 2020s, with 167 games. An average game here lasts 45 moves.
White wins 34% of those games, 28% end in a draw, and Black wins 38%. Compared with the collection average (White 37%, draws 35%, Black 28%), Black scores better here by 10 percentage points. Draws are less common here than usual, by 7 points.
From this position the most popular move is 3...Bg4, played in 186 games, followed by 3...dxe4 (136) and 3...Nf6 (22). After 3...Bg4 White scores 30% and Black 39%.
The name that appears most often on the White side of this line is Nakamura,Hi (45 games); on the Black side, Keymer,Vincent (31).
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Results in master games
- White 34% (124)
- Draws 28% (105)
- Black 38% (141)
Most played continuations
| Move | Games | White / draws / Black | Leads into |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3...Bg4 | 186 | 30/31/39 | — |
| 3...dxe4 | 136 | 38/27/35 | — |
| 3...Nf6 | 22 | 32/27/41 | — |
| 3...g6 | 13 | 31/8/61 | — |
| 3...a6 | 8 | 25/37/38 | — |
| 3...d4 | 4 | 75/0/25 | — |
| 3...b5 | 1 | 0/0/100 | — |
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.Nc3 · 455 games
- Caro-Kann Defense · 1.e4 c6 2.Nc3 d5 · 440 games
Played most often by
As White
- Nakamura,Hi 45
- Keres, Paul 17
- Fischer, Robert James 15
As Black
- Keymer,Vincent 31
- Nakamura,Hi 16
- Firouzja,Alireza 15
Games per decade
- 1920s 3
- 1930s 6
- 1940s 19
- 1950s 41
- 1960s 28
- 1970s 6
- 1980s 4
- 1990s 14
- 2000s 14
- 2010s 68
- 2020s 167
Master games on this line
| White | Black | Result | Year | Events |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yeremyan,Alen | Nakamura,Hi | 0-1 | 2026 | Titled Tue 10th Mar 2026 |
| Matinian,N | Keymer,Vincent | 0-1 | 2026 | Titled Tue 3rd Feb 2026 |
| Schnaider,Ilan | Caruana,F | 0-1 | 2026 | 2nd 3-0 Thu 9th Apr 2026 |
| Drygalov,Sergey | Nakamura,Hi | 0-1 | 2026 | 1st 3-0 Thu 25th Jun 2026 |
| Lortkipanidze,N | Keymer,Vincent | 0-1 | 2025 | Titled Tue 29th Apr Early |
| Maerevoet,Sim | Erigaisi,Arjun | 0-1 | 2025 | Titled Tue 7th Jan Late |
Frequently asked questions
What is the Caro-Kann Defense: Two Knights Attack?
It is the opening with ECO code B10, reached after 1.e4 c6 2.Nc3 d5 3.Nf3. It belongs to the Caro-Kann Defense family.
Is the Caro-Kann Defense: Two Knights Attack good for White or for Black?
In 370 master games on this line White wins 34%, 28% are drawn and Black wins 38%. 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: Two Knights Attack?
3...Bg4 — played in 186 of the master games on this line.
Which grandmasters play the Caro-Kann Defense: Two Knights Attack?
On the White side Nakamura,Hi (45), Keres, Paul (17), Fischer, Robert James (15); on the Black side Keymer,Vincent (31), Nakamura,Hi (16), Firouzja,Alireza (15).
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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