Caro-Kann Defence

The Caro-Kann Defence is a common chess opening characterized by the moves (see algebraic notation):

1.Chess/Opening Theory/1.e4 Chess/Opening Theory/1.e4/1...c6

The usual continuation (position shown) is

2.Chess/Opening Theory/1.e4/1...c6/2.d4 Chess/Opening Theory/1.e4/1...c6/2.d4/2...d5

followed by 3.Chess/Opening Theory/1.e4/1...c6/2.d4/2...d5/3.Nc3, 3.Chess/Opening Theory/1.e4/1...c6/2.d4/2...d5/3.Nd2, 3.Chess/Opening Theory/1.e4/1...c6/2.d4/2...d5/3.exd5, or 3.Chess/Opening Theory/1.e4/1...c6/2.d4/2...d5/3.e5 (the Advance Variation.) The Caro-Kann, like the Sicilian Defense and French Defense, is classified as a "semi-open game", but it is thought to be more passive and drawish than either of those openings.

The opening is named after the German players Horatio Caro and Marcus Kann who analyzed the opening in 1886.

Classical Variation

The most common way of handling the Caro-Kann, the Classical Variation, follows with

3.Nc3 (or 3.Nd2) dxe4

4.Nxe4 Bf5

5.Ng3 Bg6

This was long considered to represent best play for both sides in the Caro-Kann. White usually continues

6.h4 h6

7.Nf3 Nd7

8.h5 Bh7

9.Bd3 Bxd3

10.Qxd3

obtaining a pawn bind on the king-side that may be useful in an endgame.

Much of the Caro-Kann's reputation as a solid defence stems from this variation being so hard to crack. Black makes very few compromises in his pawn structure, and plays a timely c5 to contest the d4 square. Black has the options of castling queen-side, castling king-side, and even leaving his king in the center. Should things proceed to an endgame, Black often stands well thanks to his solid pawn structure and king-side pawn majority.

Smyslov Variation

Another solid positional line, this variation follows with the moves

3.Nc3 dxe4

4.Nxe4 Nd7

Named after the seventh world champion Vasily Smyslov, in modern play it has been identified with former World Champion Anatoly Karpov, who has used it dozens of times in top-level play. Play is similar to the Classical Variation except that Black has more freedom by delaying the development of his bishop, and is not forced to play it to the g6 square. However this freedom comes at a cost as White also enjoys added freedom in taking up space in the center, and often plays the aggressive 5.Ng5 to immediately raise some problems for Black. The famous last game of the Deep Blue-Garry Kasparov rematch where Kasparov blundered and lost was played in this very line.

Bronstein-Larsen Variation

An unusual continuation that follows

3.Nc3 dxe4

4.Nxe4 Nf6!?

5.Nxf6 gxf6 (5...exf6 is possible but no longer in favor)

leading to a very unclear position. Black has voluntarily opted for an inferior kingside pawn structure and a practical necessity of castling queenside, but also has some compensation in the form of the open g-file for the rook and unusually active play for the Caro-Kann. It is generally considered somewhat unsound, but former top-10 player Bent Larsen employed it with some success during the 1970s.

Advance Variation

This variation that follows with

3.e5 Bf5

has gained popularity after having previously been widely regarded as inferior for many years since it gives black a position like the French Defence, but without the bad light-squared bishop. It has since been revitalized by aggressive lines like the Bayonet Attack (4.Nc3 e6 5.g4) or the less ambitious variation popularized by English Grandmaster Nigel Short and American Grandmaster Gata Kamsky (4.Nf3 e6 5.Be2 c5 6.Be3) and regularly appears in top-level play.

Exchange Variation

Variation follows

3.exd5 cxd5

this line often leads up to the Panov-Botvinnik Attack with 4.c4. The relative simplicity of this system is misleading as it often leads to wildly tactical play thanks to the open diagonals and rapid White development. However, at the highest levels, the Panov-Botvinnik is drawish, with the Advance Variation (3.e5) currently scoring much better.

Another line for White is 4.Bd3 Nc6 5.c3 Nf6 6.Bf4 Bg4 7.Qb3, which isn't thought to lead to much.

Unusual lines

Two Knights Variation: 1.e4 c6 2.Nf3 d5 3.Nc3, as sometimes played by Bobby Fischer.

Fantasy or Tartakower Variation: 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.f3, with shades of the Blackmar-Diemer Gambit.

Gurgenidze Variation: 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 g6--it is because of this variation that some players believe 3. Nd2 is more accurate (White can then play c3 at some point), though ...g6 is also playable after that move.

Note that the Caro-Kann or lines similar to it can sometimes be reached by transposition of moves from the English Opening, after 1.c4 c6 2.e4 d5.

Here is a recent brilliancy illustrating White's attacking chances when the players castle on opposite sides in the Classical Variation:

Lev Milman-Joseph Fang Foxwoods Open, 2005 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bf5 5.Ng3 Bg6 6.h4 h6 7.Nf3 Nd7 8.h5 Bh7 9.Bd3 Bxd3 10.Qxd3 e6 (10...Qc7 avoids White's next) 11.Bf4 Bb4+ 12.c3 Be7 13.0-0-0 Ngf6 14.Kb1 0-0 15.Ne5 c5?! (15...Qa5 is usual and better) 16.Qf3 Qb6? (necessary was 16...cxd4 17.Rxd4 Nex5 18.Bxe5 Qc8 19.Rhd1 Rd8 20.Ne4 with a small White advantage) 17.Nxd7 Nxd7 18.d5 exd5 19.Nf5! Bf6 20.Rxd5 Qe6 21.Bxh6 (21...gxh6 22.Rd6 Qe8 23.Rxf6 Nxf6 24.Qg3+ mates on g7) Ne5 22.Qe4 Nc6 23.Qf3 Ne5? (23...gxh6 24.Rd6 Qe5 25.Nxh6+ Kg7 26.Nf5+ Kh7 with an unclear position) 24.Qe4 Nc6 25.Qg4! Qxd5 (25...Ne5 26.Rxe5 Qxe5 27.Bxg7 Bxg7 28.h6 wins) 26.Bxg7 Qd3+ 27.Ka1 Ne5 28.Ne7+!! Kh7 29.Qg6+!! fxg6 30.hxg6+ Kxg7 31.Rh7# (White is down a queen, a rook, and a bishop!) Notes based on Milman's much more extensive notes in July 2005 Chess Life, pp. 11-12.

Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings

The Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings has ten codes for the Caro-Kann Defence, B10 through B19.

B10: 1.e4 c6
B11: 1.e4 c6 2.Nc3 d5 3.Nf3 Bg4 (Two Knights Variation with 3...Bg4)
B12: 1.e4 c6 2.d4
B13: 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 (Exchange Variation)
B14: 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.c4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e6 (Panov-Botvinnik Attack)
B15: 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3
B16: 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nf6 5.Nxf6+ gxf6 (Bronstein-Larsen Variation)
B17: 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nd7 (Smyslov Variation)
B18: 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bf5 (Classical Variation)
B19: 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bf5 5.Ng3 Bg6 6.h4 h6 7.Nf3 Nd7 (Classical Variation)

Chess openings