Caro-Kann Defense: Two Knights Attack, Mindeno Variation
1. e4 c6 2. Nc3 d5 3. Nf3 Bg4
The Caro-Kann Defense: Two Knights Attack, Mindeno Variation is a chess opening classified as ECO B11, reached after 1. e4 c6 2. Nc3 d5 3. Nf3 Bg4. It is a line of the Caro-Kann Defense. White is to move. 2 named lines continue from this position.
In 12.6 million rated Lichess games (blitz and slower), this position was reached 2,598 times by this move order. White won 45%, 6% were drawn and Black won 49%. The most popular continuation is 4. h3 (48% of games).
Engine evaluation: +0.27 (Stockfish, depth 51; best line 4. d4 e6 5. Be2 Bh5 6. h3 a6)
- ECO
- B11
- Moves
- 6 plies
- FEN
rn1qkbnr/pp2pppp/2p5/3p4/4P1b1/2N2N2/PPPP1PPP/R1BQKB1R w KQkq - 2 4- PGN
1. e4 c6 2. Nc3 d5 3. Nf3 Bg4
Analyse with Stockfish · Board image (SVG) · Open on Lichess
Results by rating
| Average rating | Games | White / draw / Black |
|---|---|---|
| 0-1499 | 581 | |
| 1500-1999 | 1,121 | |
| 2000+ | 896 | |
| All | 2,598 |
Most played moves
| Move | Games | White / draw / Black |
|---|---|---|
| 4. h3 | 1,260 (48%) | |
| 4. exd5 | 598 (23%) | |
| 4. Be2 | 407 (16%) | |
| 4. d4 | 211 (8%) | |
| 4. d3 | 52 (2%) | |
| 4. e5 | 34 (1%) | |
| 4. Bd3 | 13 (1%) | |
| 4. Qe2 | 11 (0%) |
Master games
683 over-the-board games are classified under this line (White 35%, draw 25%, Black 40%). The strongest:
- GM Richard Rapport (2740) – GM Gukesh D (2725) 1-0 · 8th Gashimov Mem Blitz · 2022-12-22
- GM Francisco Vallejo Pons (2711) – GM David Navara (2725) 1/2-1/2 · European Blitz 2016 · 2016-12-18
- GM Francisco Vallejo Pons (2698) – GM Alexander Riazantsev (2692) 1-0 · FIDE World Blitz 2014 · 2014-06-19
- GM Francisco Vallejo Pons (2698) – GM Luka Lenic (2659) 1-0 · FIDE World Rapid 2014 · 2014-06-17
- GM Francisco Vallejo Pons (2684) – GM Vladimir Fedoseev (2659) 1/2-1/2 · World Blitz 2015 · 2015-10-14
Highest-rated Lichess games
- MereseBerserkNhi (2686) – IM AlexTriapishko (2830) 0-1 · 2026-09-05 · 180 + 0s
- kletochkaa_2007 (2734) – IM liczner (2760) 1-0 · 2026-09-05 · 180 + 0s
- IM clinclincaja (2739) – Natah_Flo (2675) 0-1 · 2026-09-01 · 180 + 0s
Comes from
Caro-Kann Defense: Two Knights Attack 1. e4 c6 2. Nc3 d5 3. Nf3
Continuations
- Caro-Kann Defense: Two Knights Attack, Mindeno Variation, Exchange Line B11 · 1. e4 c6 2. Nc3 d5 3. Nf3 Bg4 4. h3 Bxf3
- Caro-Kann Defense: Two Knights Attack, Mindeno Variation, Retreat Line B11 · 1. e4 c6 2. Nc3 d5 3. Nf3 Bg4 4. h3 Bh5
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.