Caro-Kann Classical

Play as BlackDefence

A solid, sound structure with a healthy bishop outside the pawn chain.

The main line, move by move

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

1. 1. e4 — Claim the center and open lines for the queen and bishop.
2. 1... c6 — The Caro-Kann: prepare ...d5 while keeping the c8 bishop free.
3. 2. d4 — Build a big pawn center.
4. 2... d5 — Strike at the center.
5. 3. Nc3 — Brings the knight into the game.
6. 3... dxe4 — Takes the pawn on e4.
7. 4. Nxe4 — Takes the pawn on e4.
8. 4... Bf5 — Brings the bishop into the game.
9. 5. Ng3 — Attack the bishop on f5.
10. 5... Bg6 — Retreat the bishop to a safe square.
11. 6. h4 — Threaten h5, which would trap the bishop.
12. 6... h6 — Prepare to meet h5 with ...Bh7.
13. 7. Nf3 — Brings the knight into the game.
14. 7... Nd7 — Brings the knight into the game.
15. 8. h5 — Attack the bishop again.
16. 8... Bh7 — Keep the bishop safe on the diagonal.
17. 9. Bd3 — Brings the bishop into the game.
18. 9... Bxd3 — Takes the bishop on d3.
19. 10. Qxd3 — Takes the bishop on d3.
20. 10... e6 — Solid: support d5 and free the f8 bishop.

Related openings

• Sicilian Defense (Najdorf)
• French Defense
• Caro-Kann Defense
• Scandinavian Defense
• Pirc Defense

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