ecocodes
Volume B · Semi-open games‹ B14B16 ›
a1b2c3d4e5f6g7h8
Reference position · Black to move

B15 Caro-Kann Defense

B15 holds 13 named lines, all under the name Caro-Kann Defense. It leaves B12, a position of the same name, with 3.Nc3. Black, to move in that position, has 29 legal moves, the second-lowest count of the 10 Caro-Kann Defense codes. Lines of two other codes continue from its position, the third-widest spread of the 10 Caro-Kann Defense codes. Material is no longer level at the end of four of its lines; the widest gap, one pawn in Black’s favour, comes in Caro-Kann Defense.

Score sheet
#WhiteBlack
1e4c6
2d4d5
3Nc3

Moves only B15 plays

Same as B13 up to 2...d5, then:

  1. 3.Nc3 The knight leaves b1 for c3, opening a line for the rook on a1, guarding the pawn on e4.

Lines filed under B15

All 13 share the start 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 and then split two ways at White’s move 3.

NameAfter the shared startPliesAt the end
Caro-Kann Defense3.Nc35
Caro-Kann Defense3.Nc3 dxe46Black +1
Caro-Kann Defense: Campomanes Attack3.Nc3 Nf66
Caro-Kann Defense: Gurgenidze Counterattack3.Nc3 b56
Caro-Kann Defense: Gurgenidze System3.Nc3 g66
Caro-Kann Defense: Main Line3.Nd2 dxe4 4.Nxe47
Caro-Kann Defense: Rasa-Studier Gambit3.Nc3 dxe4 4.f37Black +1
Caro-Kann Defense: von Hennig Gambit3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Bc47Black +1
Caro-Kann Defense: Alekhine Gambit3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nf6 5.Bd39
Caro-Kann Defense: Tartakower Variation3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nf6 5.Nxf6+ exf610
Caro-Kann Defense: Alien Gambit3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nf6 5.Ng5 h6 6.Nxf711White +1
Caro-Kann Defense: Forgacs Variation3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nf6 5.Nxf6+ exf6 6.Bc411
Caro-Kann Defense: Tartakower Variation, Perlis Line3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nf6 5.Nxf6+ exf6 6.c3 Bd6 7.Bd3 O-O 8.Qc2 h616Black castled

The road to B15

  1. 1.e4 … 1...c6two earlier stops: B00, B10
  2. 2.d4B12 Caro-Kann Defense
  3. 2...d5B12 Caro-Kann Defense
  4. 3.Nc3B15

The position after 3.Nc3

White has brought out the knight on c3; Black has not yet moved a knight or bishop. Black could capture with dxe4.

WhiteBlackMaterial (pawn units)3939Minor pieces developed10Moves spent on pawns22Pawns on d4, e4, d5, e521Squares attacked in the other half94not castlednot castled

Codes that branch off from B15

The reference lines of three other codes leave B15 from the position after 4.Nxe4, each with its own moves.

CodeMovesReference line
B164...h6Caro-Kann Defense: Finnish Variation
B174...Nd7Caro-Kann Defense: Karpov Variation
B184...Bf5Caro-Kann Defense: Classical Variation

Closest boards in other codes

CodeLineDiffers on
C10French Defense: Paulsen Variationfour squares: c6, e6, c7, e7
B01Scandinavian Defensesix squares: b1, d2, c3, d4, c6, c7
B10Caro-Kann Defensesix squares: b1, d2, c3, d4, d5, d7
B11Caro-Kann Defense: Two Knights Attack, Mindeno Variationsix squares: g1, d2, f3, d4, g4, c8
B23Sicilian Defense: Closedsix squares: d2, d4, c5, d5, c6, d7
C03French Defense: Tarrasch Variationsix squares: d2, c3, c6, e6, c7, e7
C07French Defense: Tarrasch Variation, Open Systemsix squares: d2, c3, c5, c6, e6, e7

Where lines continue from here

All of them belong to the codes listed above.

Volume B

  1. 00
  2. 01
  3. 02
  4. 03
  5. 04
  6. 05
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  92. 91
  93. 92
  94. 93
  95. 94
  96. 95
  97. 96
  98. 97
  99. 98
  100. 99

Open this line in the finderAll Caro-Kann Defense codes