Caro-Kann Defense: Karpov Variation, Smyslov Variation
1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nd7 5. Bc4 Ngf6 6. Ng5 e6 7. Qe2 Nb6
The Caro-Kann Defense: Karpov Variation, Smyslov Variation is a chess opening classified as ECO B17, reached after 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nd7 5. Bc4 Ngf6 6. Ng5 e6 7. Qe2 Nb6. It is a line of the Caro-Kann Defense. White is to move. 1 named line continues from this position.
In 12.6 million rated Lichess games (blitz and slower), this position was reached 21 times by this move order. White won 38%, 5% were drawn and Black won 57%. The most popular continuation is 8. Bb3 (76% of games).
Engine evaluation: 0.00 (Stockfish, depth 42; best line 8. Bd3 h6 9. N5f3 c5 10. c3 cxd4)
- ECO
- B17
- Moves
- 14 plies
- FEN
r1bqkb1r/pp3ppp/1np1pn2/6N1/2BP4/8/PPP1QPPP/R1B1K1NR w KQkq - 2 8- PGN
1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nd7 5. Bc4 Ngf6 6. Ng5 e6 7. Qe2 Nb6
Analyse with Stockfish · Board image (SVG) · Open on Lichess
Results by rating
| Average rating | Games | White / draw / Black |
|---|---|---|
| 1500-1999 | 3 | |
| 2000+ | 18 | |
| All | 21 |
Most played moves
| Move | Games | White / draw / Black |
|---|---|---|
| 8. Bb3 Karpov Variation, Smyslov Variation, Main Line | 16 (76%) | |
| 8. Bd3 | 4 (19%) | |
| 8. N1f3 | 1 (5%) |
Master games
41 over-the-board games are classified under this line (White 46%, draw 27%, Black 27%). The strongest:
- GM Dmitry Andreikin (2715) – GM Sanan Sjugirov (2635) 1-0 · 65th ch-RUS · 2012-08-09
- GM Michele Godena (2513) – GM Vladimir Belov (2614) 0-1 · World Rapid 2015 · 2015-10-11
- GM Michele Godena (2495) – GM Alberto David (2578) 1/2-1/2 · 74th ch-ITA 2014 · 2014-11-26
- GM Mikhail Panarin (2562) – IM Mohamed Ezat (2401) 1-0 · Titled Tuesday 14th July · 2020-07-14
- GM Gilberto Hernandez Guerrero (2531) – IM Roberto Junio Brito Molina (2400) 1/2-1/2 · 7th Americas Continental 2012 · 2012-10-17
Highest-rated Lichess games
- IM micfel (2431) – Sokkia (2353) 1-0 · 2026-09-02 · 180 + 0s
- IM micfel (2440) – Sokkia (2344) 1-0 · 2026-09-02 · 180 + 0s
- IM micfel (2445) – Sokkia (2338) 0-1 · 2026-09-02 · 180 + 0s
Comes from
Caro-Kann Defense: Karpov Variation 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nd7
Continuations
- Caro-Kann Defense: Karpov Variation, Smyslov Variation, Main Line B17 · 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nd7 5. Bc4 Ngf6 6. Ng5 e6 7. Qe2 Nb6 8. Bb3
More Caro-Kann Defense lines (all)
- Caro-Kann Defense (1. e4 c6) B10
- Caro-Kann Defense (1… c6 2. Nc3) B10
- Caro-Kann Defense (2. Nc3 d5) 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
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.