Crush White With the Caro-Kann Defense
Against 1.e4, Black has one move that scores better than all the rest – yet how many people would have guessed it's 1...c6, the Caro-Kann Defense?
While only played in 7% of games, the Caro-Kann boasts a superior average of 51 points per 100 games at club level. Not just that, but this bullet-proof chess opening can score an even higher percentage when Black knows the best way to counter every variation.
For this article, we dived deep into trusted chess databases to find the highest scoring lines that win Black the majority of games, no matter what White tries to play. Here, we'll show you how to play the Caro-Kann in the best possible way.
Key Themes of the Caro-Kann Defense
The Caro-Kann Defense begins with the moves 1.e4 c6. Here are the main themes of the opening that you need to know:
Preparing for 2...d5
As with the French Defense (1...e6), Black’s main plan in playing 1...c6 is to offer a supporting pawn to follow with 2…d5. In so doing, Black launches a robust challenge to White’s e4 pawn, while preventing Bc4 and the dangerous attacks on f7 that can follow.
Liberates a Bishop but Blocks a Knight
An advantage of the Caro-Kann over the French Defense is that it supports d5 without blocking in its light-squared bishop. On the downside, in the short term, it denies the queenside knight from its natural c6 square.
Strong Pawn Structure
The Caro-Kann is renowned for offering Black a robust pawn structure. In many variations, Black comes out with a superior pawn structure to White, tipping the balance in Black’s favor in the end game.
Easy to Learn for a Quick Advantage
One of the greatest perks of the Caro-Kann is that it's an easy opening to learn and puts Black in the driving seat. The game plans in the different lines of the Caro-Kann are generally similar and typically rely only on Black playing natural development moves to gain a strong position.
Furthermore, because the Caro-Kann is only chosen by 7% of opponents, White is unlikely to know the lines as well as you, so you can usually claim an early advantage!
Can Lead to Closed, Cramped Games
The Caro-Kann is often described as ‘safe’ and ‘solid’, yet it can also lead to closed games where White wins a space advantage – the game can become slightly sticky for Black. If you prefer an attacking game with an open board, the Caro-Kann might not be for you!
Caro-Kann Defense Statistics
Looking at the table below, we see the Caro-Kann comes out above all other openings vs 1.e4. These averages come from the lichess.org database from over 3 billion online games that start with 1.e4:
| Black's Response to 1.e4 | Opening Name | Percentage of Games Played | Points Won Per 100 Games |
| ...c6 | Caro-Kann Defense | 7 | 51 |
| ...c5 | Sicilian Defense | 18 | 50 |
| ...e6 | French Defense | 10 | 50 |
| ...d5 | Scandinavian Defense | 10 | 49 |
| ...e5 | Open Game | 41 | 47 |
Main Lines From Move 3
After 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5, White must decide whether to a) Push b) Exchange, or c) Protect their e4 pawn. All three options are common lines for White, so as Black, you’ll need to learn the best way to counter all of them.
Advance Variation (3.e5)
In the Advance Variation, White avoids protecting or exchanging its king’s pawn by pushing it up to e5. While this variation was formerly considered inferior, it’s now the most popular and played in 42% of online games.
Black’s classic response to this in master games is to play 3...Bf5, followed by 4...e6. But this position becomes quite complex. It’s awkward for Black to develop its knights, and if not careful, Black can become suffocated by a cramped position. For most club level players, there are better options.
Botvinnik-Carls Defense
Statistically more promising for amateur players is the Botvinnik-Carls Defense: 3...c5. Named after World Champion Mikhail Botvinnik, 3...c5 offers a sacrificial pawn to weaken White’s pawn structure.
Interestingly, in 50% of online games, White refuses the gambit by playing the inferior 4.c3. After playing 4...Nc6, Black has strong options (5...cxd4 or Bf5) that win a substantial majority of games.
Better for White is to accept the gambit immediately (4.dxc5). White is now a pawn up, but both central pawns are vulnerable. Black must now play 4...Nc6, and then ...Bg4 when White plays Nf3. White’s e5 pawn may soon be free to capture, but Black must beware of attacks on the queenside (e.g. Bb5+ can cost Black its queen if there is no knight to cover its king!)
Instead, take your time. By playing ...e6, you also threaten White’s c5 pawn with your bishop. Hopping your knight to f5 challenges White’s defending bishop, after which you have a good chance of capturing both pawns to secure a clear advantage.
[product skus="BOXPREMLUXMB,DVD0008CLS,CLKD3000LTDExchange Variation (3.exd5)
The second most commonly played move three for White is to swap pawns (3.exd5). Known as the Exchange Variation, this performs equally poorly for club players as the Advance Variation.
After the exchange, White usually plays standard development moves. As with the Botvinnik-Carls Defense, a solid response from Black in most lines is to play ...Nc6 and ...Bg4 once White has played Ng4, and ...e6 usually soon follows. These are simple book moves, but the exchange puts Black in good stead.
Amazingly, proceeding the classic position that follows, Black goes on to win 58 points from every 100 games played! Chess engines agree that Black has the upper hand:
Panov Botvinnik Attack
Not all lines following exd5 are known as the Exchange Variation. By following the pawn exchange with 4.c4, White initiates the Panov Botvinnik Attack. Also known simply as the Panov Attack, it’s an aggressive line that scores highly for White. So, how to beat it?
Firstly, when playing against the Panov Attack, you can remain even with White simply by declining the pawn. Instead, defend your center with 4...Nf6. If White increases the pressure on d5, you can bolster it with ...e6, but there’s also a higher scoring strategy...
5...g6 - a Bid for d4
By playing 5...g6 and fianchettoed your dark-squared bishop, you begin to x-ray d4 with your bishop. At some point, White will usually exchange pawns on d5. After recapturing with your knight, your bishop immediately begins piling pressure on the isolated queen’s pawn. Later, your queenside knight and queen may join the fight to overwhelm White and claim the influential square:
Classical Variation (3.Nc3)
White’s most passive response to the Caro-Kann is statistically the most successful of the main variations. By playing 3.Nc3, White protects e4 with its knight and initiates the Caro-Kann Defense Classical Variation. But just like the others, the Classical Variation can be crushed if you know what to do!
Black usually responds by taking the pawn and bringing White’s knight into the center (3..dxe4 4.Nxe4). You now have various ways to challenge White’s central knight. The highest scoring move (as well as the one that chess engines recommend) is 4...Nf6.
After this, your basic game plan is to play ...Bd6 and castle. Afterward, playing Re8 and swinging the queenside knight over to f8 creates a rock solid fort for your king. In a typical setup following these moves, Black goes on to win a stunning 59.5% points from 100 games:
The Best Variation for White Against the Caro-Kann Defense
Looking at the statistics for White’s best move after 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5, one move stands out for having a better record than the rest. It's 3.f3, known as the Fantasy Variation.
How to Play Against the Caro-Kann Fantasy Variation (3.f3)
While only played in 4% of players, 3.f3, the Fantasy Variation scores White an average of 54 points per 100 games. Indeed, if Black doesn't know the right moves, White can claim a quick advantage.
In the Fantasy Variation, White opts to protect the e4 pawn by playing 3.f3. The most important thing to know when playing against the Fantasy Variation is not to exchange pawns on e4! Doing so will only give White full control of the center and a head start in development.
Instead, let White exchange pawns when they’re ready. In the meantime, you may opt to take advantage of your opponent opening up the vulnerable f-file with some cunning tricks and traps!
Tricks and Traps
In the vast majority of lines, the Caro-Kann develops into a solid position for both sides – there’s little room for catching your opponent off guard. The Fantasy Variation is different. By advancing the f-pawn, White opens itself up to kingside attacks that can prove fatal.
Here are two of the most classic traps that have caught many White players unawares.
Checkmate in Seven Moves (3...e5)
A nameless trap that works well in blitz and bullet games can win Black the game in seven moves. Black boldly counters the Fantasy with 3...e5 before setting up a terrifying queen-bishop cannon towards f2 and White's kingside knight.
If White isn't careful, an instinctive move like 6.Nge2 can spell game over very quickly:
1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. f3 e5 4. dxe5 Bc5 5. Nc3 Qb6 6. Nge2 Bf2+ 7. Kd2 Qe3#
Dangerous Queen Attacks on h4
With its f-pawn off its starting block, White must beware of checks from Qh4. These can be especially dangerous if Black first exchanges pawns on e4 and dispatches White's queenside knight. For example:
1.e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. f3 e6 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. Bd2 Bxc3 6.Bxc3 dxe4:
White must now refrain from recapturing or else: 7.fxe4? Qh4+ and Black wins e4 through a fork. In the worst case, White can even blunder a rook: 8. g3?? Qxe4+ 9. Kd2 Qxh1
Even if White doesn't recapture on e4, Black is a pawn up and can proceed by protecting its material advantage with 7...Nf6.
Conclusion
The Caro-Kann Defense is a rock solid opening for Black that scores better than any other answer to the King’s Pawn Opening. By following the lines and game plans that we’ve suggested here, you’ll have the best chance of defeating White against the most commonly played first move.
What we’ve covered here is just a taster of what the Caro-Kann has to offer. To profit from everything that the opening has to offer, we’d highly recommend studying an in-depth course from a master. Then, fully prepared for all eventualities, the Caro-Kann may well become your favorite Black opening of all.