Answers.Body: <p>One thing I can think of is that after 2. Nc3 you still have a chance to transpose to main lines after 2 ... d5 3. d4, so it's a tad more flexible. I know it's a stretch, but if your opponent is (for whatever reason) afraid of the two knights variation, they might not play 2. .. d5 and opt for 2. ... g6 or other inferior move.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2021-05-04T08:19:01.180Z
Answers.Text: 2...g6 is great after 2.Nf3 since the most aggressive setups against the Modern Defence would no longer be available
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Answers.CreationDate: 2021-05-03T22:33:27.183Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2021-05-03T22:33:27.183Z
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Body: <p>Is there any difference at all in playing 2.Nc3 or 2.Nf3 in the Two Knights of the Caro-Kann? On Lichess, why is 2.Nc3 the second most common move in the Masters database, and 2.Nf3 played almost one-third as much?</p>
  
Tags: <opening><caro-kann>
Title: Two Knights of the Caro-Kann: 2.Nc3 vs 2.Nf3
ThreadText: # Two Knights of the Caro-Kann: 2.Nc3 vs 2.Nf3
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2021-05-03)
  
  Is there any difference at all in playing 2.Nc3 or 2.Nf3 in the Two Knights of the Caro-Kann? On Lichess, why is 2.Nc3 the second most common move in the Masters database, and 2.Nf3 played almost one-third as much?
  
  **Tags:** opening, caro-kann
  
  
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  ## 1 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_1 on 2021-05-03. Score: 7 | Accepted answer
  
  One thing I can think of is that after 2. Nc3 you still have a chance to transpose to main lines after 2 ... d5 3. d4, so it's a tad more flexible. I know it's a stretch, but if your opponent is (for whatever reason) afraid of the two knights variation, they might not play 2. .. d5 and opt for 2. ... g6 or other inferior move.
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_2**: 2...g6 is great after 2.Nf3 since the most aggressive setups against the Modern Defence would no longer be available  
  
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