Caro-Kann DefenseB10
1. e4 c6. Black plays c6 to get ready for ...d5, like the French, but keeps the road open for the light bishop.
Move by move
1... c6: pawn to c 6
- White: e4, pawn to e 4.
- Black: c6, pawn to c 6.
What each side wants
⚪ White: Build a strong middle with d4 and Nc3.
⚫ Black: Play ...d5, take on e4 when it suits you, and bring the light bishop out before you play ...e6.
Black made the last move, so after this it is White's turn.
You will also hear it called the Caro-Kann.
⚠️ A checkmate on move six
2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nd7 5. Qe2 Ngf6 6. Nd6#
After 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nd7 5.Qe2, if Black plays 5...Ngf6, the white knight jumps to d6 and it is checkmate. The e7 pawn can't take the knight, because then White's queen would be checking the king.
That last move is checkmate.
Three things every opening does
The Caro-Kann Defense follows the three ideas strong players use in every opening. Get a pawn or two into the middle of the board, because pieces in the middle can reach more squares. Bring out your knights and bishops before you move the queen a lot, so she is not chased around. And castle early, so your king is tucked behind a wall of pawns and your rook joins the game. When you forget the moves, those three ideas will still help you find a good one.
Try it
Play it against Peabody on Play, then solve today's puzzle. Openings that start the same way:
- Italian Game
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 - Giuoco Piano
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 - Two Knights Defense
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 - Fried Liver Attack
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 d5 5. exd5 Nxd5 6. Nxf7 - Evans Gambit
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 - Scotch Game
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4
Name, code and moves from the Lichess openings list (CC0), checked . The words are Peabody's own, and every move on this page is checked by Peabody's chess engine.