What is Caro–Kann Defence?
{{Chess diagram small | tright | The Caro–Kann Defence <!-- a b c d e f g h 8-->|rd|nd|bd|qd|kd|bd|nd|rd<!-- 7-->|pd|pd|__|__|pd|pd|pd|pd<!-- 6-->|__|__|pd|__|__|__|__|__<!-- 5-->|__|__|__|pd|__|__|__|__<!-- 4-->|__|__|__|pl|pl|__|__|__<!-- 3-->|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__<!-- 2-->|pl|pl|pl|__|__|pl|pl|pl<!-- 1-->|rl|nl|bl|ql|kl|bl|nl|rl|White to move }} The '''Caro–Kann Defence''' is a chess opening. It begins: :1.e4 c6 Black's idea for playing c6 is to support 2...d5. Usually, the next moves are: :2.d4 d5 Common next moves are 3.[[b:Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...c6/2. d4/2...d5/3. Nc3|Nc3]] (the Modern Variation), 3.[[b:Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...c6/2. d4/2...d5/3. Nd2|Nd2]] (the Classical Variation), 3.[[b:Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...c6/2. d4/2...d5/3. exd5|exd5]] (the Exchange Variation), or 3.[[b:Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...c6/2. d4/2...d5/3. e5|e5]] (the Advance Variation). 3.Nc3 is the most popular. The Caro–Kann is an [[wikt:asymmetrical|asymmetrical]] defence to 1.e4. These are sometimes called 'semi-open games'. The Caro–Kann is thought to be more solid and less dynamic than the [[Sicilian defence|Sicilian Defence]] and the [[French defence|French Defence]]. Games in the Caro–Kann are often quiet and positional. It may lead to good endgames for Black, who has the better pawn structure. The opening is named after the [[England|English]] player Horatio Caro and the [[Austria]]n Marcus Kann, who studied the opening in 1886. == Classical or Capablanca variation == The most common way of handling the Caro–Kann, the Classical variation (often called the [[Capablanca]] variation) happens after the moves: :1.e4 c6 :2.d4 d5 :3.Nc3 (or 3.Nd2) dxe4 :4.Nxe4 Bf5 For a long time, this was thought to be the best play for both sides in the Caro–Kann. White usually continues: :5.Ng3 Bg6 :6.h4 h6 :7.Nf3 Nd7 :8.h5 Bh7 :9.Bd3 Bxd3 :10.Qxd3 Although White's [[pawn (chess)|pawn]] on h5 looks ready to attack, it can prove to be a weakness in an [[endgame (chess)|endgame]]. This variation is why people t