As Black
Caro-Kann Defence
The Caro-Kann Defence is a chess opening for Black that starts with 1.e4 c6.
A solid defence against 1.e4: c6 and d5 to contest the centre, and the light-squared bishop comes out before e6 locks it in.
Reviewed on November 6, 2026 · Prepared by Josep Serrano Ballestero
Basic · Elo 400 – 600
Opponent's mistake · 4.Ne5
1.e4 c6 2.Nf3 d5 3.d3 dxe4 4.Ne5 Qa5+ 5.Bd2 Qxe5
3...cxd5 4.Bb5+
1.e4 c6 2.Nf3 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.Bb5+ Nc6 5.Bxc6+ bxc6
Main Line
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nf6 5.Nxf6+ exf6
Hillbilly Attack · 3...cxd5 4.Bb5+
1.e4 c6 2.Bc4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.Bb5+ Nc6 5.Bxc6+ bxc6 6.Nf3 Nf6
Hillbilly Attack · 3...cxd5 4.Bb3
1.e4 c6 2.Bc4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.Bb3 Nf6 5.Nf3 Bg4
3...cxd5 4.d4
1.e4 c6 2.Nf3 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.d4 Nc6 5.Bb5 Bg4 6.O-O e6
Advance Variation
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.Bd3 Bxd3 5.Qxd3 e6 6.Nf3 c5 7.c3 Nc6
Advance Variation, Short Variation
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.Nf3 e6 5.Bd3 Bxd3
2...d5 3.e5
1.e4 c6 2.Nf3 d5 3.e5 Bg4 4.d4 e6 5.h3 Bh5 6.g4 Bg6
Intermediate · Elo 1000 – 1200
Opponent's mistake · 4.Ne5
1.e4 c6 2.Nf3 d5 3.d3 dxe4 4.Ne5 Qa5+ 5.Bd2 Qxe5
Main Line
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nf6 5.Nxf6+ exf6 6.Nf3 Bd6
Exchange Variation · 4...Nc6 5.Nc3
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.Nf3 Nc6 5.Nc3 Bg4 6.Be2 e6
4...Nc6 5.Nc3
1.e4 c6 2.Nf3 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.d4 Nc6 5.Nc3 Bg4 6.Bb5 e6
Exchange Variation · 4...Nc6 5.Bb5
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.Nf3 Nc6 5.Bb5 Bg4 6.O-O e6
Exchange Variation · 3...cxd5 4.Nc3
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.Nc3 Nf6 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.Bb5 Bg4
4...Nc6 5.Bb5
1.e4 c6 2.Nf3 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.d4 Nc6 5.Bb5 Bg4 6.O-O e6 7.h3 Bh5
3...Bg4 4.Be2
1.e4 c6 2.Nf3 d5 3.e5 Bg4 4.Be2 e6 5.d4 c5 6.c3 Nc6
3...Bg4 4.d4
1.e4 c6 2.Nf3 d5 3.e5 Bg4 4.d4 e6 5.Be2 c5 6.c3 Nc6 7.O-O Nge7
Advance Variation, Short Variation
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.Nf3 e6 5.Nc3 c5 6.Bb5+ Nc6
Advanced · Elo 1200 – 1400
Two Knights Attack · 4...Nf6 5.Nxf6+
1.e4 c6 2.Nf3 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nf6 5.Nxf6+ exf6 6.d4 Bd6 7.Bd3 O-O
Exchange Variation, Rubinstein Variation
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.Bd3 Nc6 5.c3 Nf6 6.Bf4 Bg4 7.Qb3 Qd7 8.Nd2 e6 9.Ngf3 Bd6 10.Bxd6 Qxd6 11.O-O O-O 12.Rae1 Bxf3
Two Knights Attack · 4...Nf6 5.Ng3
1.e4 c6 2.Nf3 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nf6 5.Ng3 Bg4 6.h3 Bxf3
Two Knights Attack · 4...Nf6 5.Qe2
1.e4 c6 2.Nf3 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nf6 5.Qe2 Nxe4 6.Qxe4 Nd7 7.Bc4 Nf6 8.Ne5 e6 9.Qe2 Bd6 10.d4 O-O 11.O-O Qc7
Advance Variation
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.Bd3 Bxd3 5.Qxd3 e6 6.f4 c5 7.c3 Nc6 8.Nf3 Qb6 9.O-O cxd4
Exchange Variation · 4...Nc6 5.c3
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.Nf3 Nc6 5.c3 Bg4 6.Be2 e6
Exchange Variation · 4...Nc6 5.Bb5
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.Nf3 Nc6 5.Bb5 Bg4 6.O-O e6
Main Line
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nf6 5.Ng3 Bg4 6.Nf3 e6 7.Be2 Bd6
2...d5 3.exd5
1.e4 c6 2.Nf3 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.d4 Nc6 5.Bd3 Bg4 6.c3 e6 7.O-O Nf6 8.Bg5 Be7 9.Nbd2 O-O
Advance Variation, Short Variation
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.Nf3 e6 5.Be2 c5 6.c3 Nc6 7.O-O cxd4
Frequently asked questions
Is the Caro-Kann Defence good for beginners?
Yes. On OpeningCraft you learn it in these levels: Basic (Elo 400 – 600), Intermediate (Elo 1000 – 1200), Advanced (Elo 1200 – 1400). It suits players who prefer long-term plans and pawn structure.
What traps are there in the Caro-Kann Defence?
OpeningCraft teaches 1 traps and opponent mistakes in this opening, for example: Opponent's mistake (4.Ne5).
How many lines of the Caro-Kann Defence do you need to learn?
OpeningCraft teaches 27, in blocks of 5. They come from real Lichess games at each rating band, and the traps and opponent mistakes most common at your level come first.