Caro-Kann Defense: Masi Variation
1. e4 c6 2. d4 Nf6
The Caro-Kann Defense: Masi Variation is a chess opening classified as ECO B12, reached after 1. e4 c6 2. d4 Nf6. It is a line of the Caro-Kann Defense. White is to move.
In 12.6 million rated Lichess games (blitz and slower), this position was reached 759 times by this move order. White won 57%, 2% were drawn and Black won 41%. The most popular continuation is 3. e5 (49% of games).
Engine evaluation: +0.68 (Stockfish, depth 40; best line 3. Nc3 g6 4. Be2 d6 5. f4 Bg7)
- ECO
- B12
- Moves
- 4 plies
- FEN
rnbqkb1r/pp1ppppp/2p2n2/8/3PP3/8/PPP2PPP/RNBQKBNR w KQkq - 1 3- PGN
1. e4 c6 2. d4 Nf6
Analyse with Stockfish · Board image (SVG) · Open on Lichess
Results by rating
| Average rating | Games | White / draw / Black |
|---|---|---|
| 0-1499 | 478 | |
| 1500-1999 | 234 | |
| 2000+ | 47 | |
| All | 759 |
Most played moves
| Move | Games | White / draw / Black |
|---|---|---|
| 3. e5 | 371 (49%) | |
| 3. Nc3 | 260 (34%) | |
| 3. Bd3 | 58 (8%) | |
| 3. f3 | 21 (3%) | |
| 3. Nd2 | 12 (2%) | |
| 3. Nf3 | 10 (1%) | |
| 3. Bc4 | 8 (1%) | |
| 3. d5 | 3 (0%) |
Master games
18 over-the-board games are classified under this line (White 67%, draw 11%, Black 22%). The strongest:
- GM Sanan Sjugirov (2661) – IM Justin Sarkar (2338) 1-0 · 34th Leon Blitz Open 2021 · 2021-07-07
- FM Sumiya Bilguun (2177) – IM Radoslav Dolezal (2374) 1-0 · Olomouc Summer Open · 2012-08-07
- GM Jonny Hector (2498) – Stig Andersson (1900) 1-0 · Kvibergspelen 2017 · 2017-05-05
- Franco Rizzardi (2026) – FM Nicolo Napoli (2298) 0-1 · 3rd Mediterranean Open · 2012-06-25
- Eckehard Schneider (1795) – FM Dirk Paulsen (2374) 0-1 · 11th Lichtenberger Sommer 2012 · 2012-08-19
Search all games of the Caro-Kann Defense: Masi Variation and its sub-variations
Highest-rated Lichess games
- ihtus (2374) – Chupakok (2332) 1-0 · 2026-09-07 · 180 + 0s
- antonbao2008 (2350) – Dja_Noer (2311) 0-1 · 2026-09-02 · 180 + 0s
- ahmed_emam_zaki (2228) – abp1980 (2380) 1-0 · 2026-09-04 · 600 + 0s
Comes from
Caro-Kann Defense (1… c6 2. d4) 1. e4 c6 2. d4
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.