Caissa Codex
B12

Caro-Kann Defense: Advance Variation, Van der Wiel Attack, Dreyev Defense

Chess diagram: Caro-Kann Defense: Advance Variation, Van der Wiel Attack, Dreyev Defense after 4…Qb6

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Statistics from Lichess

16,363 games: White 42.8% / Draw 5.0% / Black 52.1%

The moves played next. Pick one to see it on the board.
Next moveGamesWhite / Draw / BlackW / D / B
5,2195,219
4,9014,901
1,8461,846
889889
708708
703703
446446
395395

Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 31, 2026

Engine evaluation

+0.71 White is better

Best play: 5. g4 Bd7 6. Na4 Qc7 7. a3 e6 8. Nf3 b6 9. Nc3 a6

Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.

Overview

Caro-Kann Defense: Advance Variation, Van der Wiel Attack, Dreyev Defense (ECO B12, Semi-Open Games) is a variation of the Caro-Kann Defense: Advance Variation, Van der Wiel Attack, reached after 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. Nc3 Qb6 (4 moves).

In 16,363 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 42.8%, Black 52.1% and 5.0% were drawn. White's most played move here is 5. Nf3, in 32% of those games.

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How to play against the Caro-Kann Defense: Advance Variation, Van der Wiel Attack, Dreyev Defense

5. Na4 scores best for White: 48.5%, with White winning 45.6% and Black 48.5% of 889 games. The most played, 5. Nf3, scores 45.5% in 5,219 games, and 5. g4 scores lowest: 44.3%. Stockfish's first choice is 5. g4.

Main answers: those played in at least 5% of these games. Score: White's wins plus half the draws, in rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500. How to play against other popular openings

Other lines from the same position

Instead of 4…Qb6, the position after Caro-Kann Defense: Advance Variation, Van der Wiel Attack also goes on to:

Cite this page

Caissa Codex. “Caro-Kann Defense: Advance Variation, Van der Wiel Attack, Dreyev Defense (B12)”. Lichess data as of 31 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/caro-kann-defense-advance-variation-van-der-wiel-attack-dreyev-defense

https://chesscodex.org/openings/caro-kann-defense-advance-variation-van-der-wiel-attack-dreyev-defense