Caro-Kann Defense (2. Nc3 d5)
1. e4 c6 2. Nc3 d5
The Caro-Kann Defense is a chess opening classified as ECO B10, reached after 1. e4 c6 2. Nc3 d5. White is to move. 4 named lines continue from this position.
In 12.6 million rated Lichess games (blitz and slower), this position was reached 44,535 times by this move order. White won 47%, 4% were drawn and Black won 49%. The most popular continuation is 3. exd5 (46% of games).
Engine evaluation: +0.38 (Stockfish, depth 50; best line 3. d4 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nf6 5. Nxf6+ exf6)
- ECO
- B10
- Moves
- 4 plies
- FEN
rnbqkbnr/pp2pppp/2p5/3p4/4P3/2N5/PPPP1PPP/R1BQKBNR w KQkq - 0 3- PGN
1. e4 c6 2. Nc3 d5
Analyse with Stockfish · Board image (SVG) · Open on Lichess
Results by rating
| Average rating | Games | White / draw / Black |
|---|---|---|
| 0-1499 | 14,982 | |
| 1500-1999 | 22,501 | |
| 2000+ | 7,052 | |
| All | 44,535 |
Most played moves
| Move | Games | White / draw / Black |
|---|---|---|
| 3. exd5 | 20,421 (46%) | |
| 3. Nf3 Two Knights Attack | 10,478 (24%) | |
| 3. d4 | 5,463 (12%) | |
| 3. e5 | 2,276 (5%) | |
| 3. d3 | 1,855 (4%) | |
| 3. Qf3 Goldman Variation | 1,379 (3%) | |
| 3. f4 | 737 (2%) | |
| 3. f3 | 610 (1%) |
Master games
2,526 over-the-board games are classified under this line (White 38%, draw 18%, Black 44%). The strongest:
- GM Yi Wei (2740) – GM Liren Ding (2780) 1/2-1/2 · 1st China Chess King 2024 · 2024-01-07
- GM Judit Polgar (2696) – GM Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (2753) 1-0 · Geneva Masters GpA 2013 · 2013-06-28
- GM Anish Giri (2732) – GM Liren Ding (2711) 1/2-1/2 · World Teams 2013 · 2013-11-26
- GM Samuel Sevian (2687) – GM Alireza Firouzja (2737) 1-0 · Bullet Chess Winners 2024 · 2024-06-10
- GM Rauf Mamedov (2703) – GM Ivan Cheparinov (2709) 1/2-1/2 · World Blitz 2018 · 2018-12-29
Search all games of the Caro-Kann Defense and its sub-variations
Highest-rated Lichess games
- IM KAPUTVSEMU (2833) – GM Sigma_Tauri (2821) 0-1 · 2026-09-07 · 180 + 0s
- molecularchemist285 (2868) – hadishahod (2778) 0-1 · 2026-09-03 · 180 + 0s
- TigerSiberian (2836) – JeromePanoSoler (2707) 1-0 · 2026-09-04 · 180 + 0s
Comes from
Caro-Kann Defense (1… c6 2. Nc3) 1. e4 c6 2. Nc3
Continuations
- Caro-Kann Defense: Goldman Variation B10 · 1. e4 c6 2. Nc3 d5 3. Qf3
- Caro-Kann Defense: St. Patrick's Attack B10 · 1. e4 c6 2. Nc3 d5 3. h3
- Caro-Kann Defense: Two Knights Attack B10 · 1. e4 c6 2. Nc3 d5 3. Nf3
- Caro-Kann Defense: Scorpion-Horus Gambit B10 · 1. e4 c6 2. Nc3 d5 3. d3 dxe4 4. Bg5
More Caro-Kann Defense lines (all)
- Caro-Kann Defense (1. e4 c6) B10
- Caro-Kann Defense: Accelerated Panov Attack (1… c6 2. c4) B10
- Caro-Kann Defense: Accelerated Panov Attack (2. c4 d5) B10
- Caro-Kann Defense: Accelerated Panov Attack, Modern Variation B10
- Caro-Kann Defense: Accelerated Panov Attack, Open Variation B10
- Caro-Kann Defense: Accelerated Panov Attack, Pseudo-Scandinavian B10
- Caro-Kann Defense: Accelerated Panov Attack, Van Weersel Attack B10
- Caro-Kann Defense: Apocalypse Attack B10
- Caro-Kann Defense: Breyer Variation B10
- Caro-Kann Defense: Breyer Variation, Stein Attack B10
- Caro-Kann Defense: Dinic Gambit B10
- Caro-Kann Defense: Endgame Offer B10
Opening names and moves from the Lichess openings dataset; statistics from the Lichess open database, 2026-09 (CC0), sample of 12.6 million games, bots excluded; evaluations from Lichess cloud analysis (all CC0). Master games from The Week in Chess #920–#1664 by Mark Crowther, used with permission.