B11 Caro-Kann Defense: Two Knights Attack, Mindeno Variation
B11 holds three named lines, all under the name Caro-Kann Defense. It leaves B10 (Caro-Kann Defense: Two Knights Attack) with 3...Bg4. White has two minor pieces off their first squares, level for the most of the 10 Caro-Kann Defense codes. White’s pieces and pawns attack six squares in Black’s half, the second-lowest count of the 10 Caro-Kann Defense codes. At six plies, its reference line is the fifth-shortest of the 10 Caro-Kann Defense codes.
| # | White | Black |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | e4 | c6 |
| 2 | Nc3 | d5 |
| 3 | Nf3 | Bg4 |
Moves only B11 plays
Same as B10 up to 1...c6, then:
- 2.Nc3 The knight leaves b1 for c3, opening a line for the rook on a1, guarding the pawn on e4.
- 2...d5 The d-pawn advances two squares to d5, covering c4 and e4, opening a line for the bishop on c8 and the queen on d8.
- 3.Nf3 The knight leaves g1 for f3, opening a line for the rook on h1.
- 3...Bg4 The bishop leaves c8 for g4, opening a line for the queen on d8, attacking the knight on f3.
Lines filed under B11
All three share their first six plies, the whole reference line.
| Name | After the shared start | Plies | At the end |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caro-Kann Defense: Two Knights Attack, Mindeno Variation | (the shared start itself) | 6 | |
| Caro-Kann Defense: Two Knights Attack, Mindeno Variation, Exchange Line | 4.h3 Bxf3 | 8 | Black +3 |
| Caro-Kann Defense: Two Knights Attack, Mindeno Variation, Retreat Line | 4.h3 Bh5 | 8 |
Caro-Kann Defense: Two Knights Attack, Mindeno Variation, Exchange Line
- 4.h3 The h-pawn advances to h3, covering g4, opening a line for the rook on h1, attacking the bishop on g4.
- 4...Bxf3 The bishop on g4 takes the knight on f3, attacking the queen on d1.
Caro-Kann Defense: Two Knights Attack, Mindeno Variation, Retreat Line
- 4.h3 The h-pawn advances to h3, covering g4, opening a line for the rook on h1, attacking the bishop on g4.
- 4...Bh5 The bishop goes from g4 to h5, attacking the knight on f3.
The road to B11
- 1.e4 … 2.Nc3three earlier stops: B00, B10
- 2...d5B10 Caro-Kann Defense
- 3.Nf3B10 Two Knights Attack
- 3...Bg4B11
The position after 3...Bg4
White has brought out the knight on c3 and knight on f3; Black the bishop on g4. White could capture with Nxd5, exd5. White is to move and has 30 legal moves.
Closest boards in other codes
| Code | Line | Differs on |
|---|---|---|
| B15 | Caro-Kann Defense | six squares: g1, d2, f3, d4, g4, c8 |
| A06 | Zukertort Opening | eight squares: b1, e2, c3, e4, g4, c6, c7, c8 |
| B01 | Scandinavian Defense | eight squares: b1, g1, c3, f3, g4, c6, c7, c8 |
| B23 | Sicilian Defense: Closed | eight squares: g1, f3, g4, c5, d5, c6, d7, c8 |
| B27 | Sicilian Defense | eight squares: b1, c3, g4, c5, d5, c6, d7, c8 |
| B50 | Sicilian Defense: Modern Variations | eight squares: b1, c3, g4, c5, d5, c6, d6, c8 |
| B18 | Caro-Kann Defense: Classical Variation | nine squares: g1, d2, c3, f3, d4, e4, g4, d5 … |