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Tree path 7 levels King's Pawn Game › Caro-Kann Defense › Caro-Kann Defense › Caro-Kann Defense › Modern Variation › Caro-Kann Defense: Main Line › Caro-Kann Defense: Classical Variation
  1. Chess Codex
  2. King's Pawn Game B00
  3. Caro-Kann Defense B10
  4. Caro-Kann Defense B12
  5. Caro-Kann Defense B12
  6. Modern Variation B12
  7. Caro-Kann Defense: Main Line B15
  8. Caro-Kann Defense: Classical Variation B18 you are here
B18

Caro-Kann Defense: Classical Variation

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Overview

Caro-Kann Defense: Classical Variation is a variation within the Semi-Open Games family, indexed as ECO B18.

The Semi-Open Games group covers semi-open games — replies to 1.e4 where Black declines the symmetrical 1…e5 in favour of an asymmetric pawn structure.

It is reached after 8 plies of play, with the move sequence 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bf5.

It is a variation of Caro-Kann Defense: Main Line, which itself descends from the root opening King's Pawn Game.

It branches into 4 notable variations — Flohr Variation, Main Line, Maróczy Attack, and others.

In total, the branch covers 8 sub-variations across all depths.

Step through the moves on the interactive board below, review the live Lichess statistics, or play this position against Stockfish at one of six difficulty levels.

ECO code
B18
Group
Semi-Open Games (B)
Plies
8
Parent
Caro-Kann Defense: Main Line
Direct variations
4
Total in subtree
8

This overview is generated automatically from the opening's metadata. Know this line well? Write a description — submissions are reviewed before publishing.

Statistics from Lichess

6,027,923 games · White 49.8% / Draw 5.9% / Black 44.3%

MovesGamesW / D / B
Ng35,053,699
Bd3286,820
Ng5186,269
f3152,152
Nc3123,813
Nc599,903
Qf352,585
Qd329,949

Source: Lichess Opening Explorer · cached 2026-09-26 01:47:39

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Variations (4)

Related variations at the same level

Sister lines that share the same parent Caro-Kann Defense: Main Line:

Show all 8 sub-variations (full subtree)

https://chesscodex.org/openings/caro-kann-defense-classical-variation