Caissa Codex
B19

Caro-Kann Defense: Classical Variation, Seirawan Variation

Chess diagram: Caro-Kann Defense: Classical Variation, Seirawan Variation after 12…Bd6

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Statistics from Lichess

105,617 games: White 53.6% / Draw 8.0% / Black 38.3%

The moves played next. Pick one to see it on the board.
Next moveGamesWhite / Draw / BlackW / D / B
74,04874K
14,60815K
3,5363,536
3,1753,175
2,5962,596
2,3672,367
2,2522,252
805805

Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 30, 2026

Engine evaluation

+0.46 White is slightly better

Best play: 13. Ne4 Bc7 14. Rde1 Nxe4 15. Qxe4 Qe7 16. a3 O-O-O 17. Kb1 Nf6

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

Overview

Caro-Kann Defense: Classical Variation, Seirawan Variation (ECO B19, Semi-Open Games) is a variation of the Caro-Kann Defense: Classical Variation, Spassky Variation, reached after 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bf5 5. Ng3 Bg6 6. h4 h6 7. Nf3 Nd7 8. h5 Bh7 9. Bd3 Bxd3 10. Qxd3 Ngf6 11. Bd2 e6 12. O-O-O Bd6 (12 moves).

In 105,617 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 53.6%, Black 38.3% and 8.0% were drawn. White's most played move here is 13. Ne4, in 70% of those games.

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How to play against the Caro-Kann Defense: Classical Variation, Seirawan Variation

The most played answer, 13. Ne4, also scores best for White: 58.8%, with White winning 54.5% and Black 36.9% of 74K games. Of the main answers, 13. Kb1 scores lowest: 56.1%. Stockfish's first choice is also 13. Ne4.

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 8…Bh7 9. Bd3 Bxd3 10. Qxd3 Ngf6 11. Bd2 e6 12. O-O-O Bd6, the position after Caro-Kann Defense: Classical Variation, Spassky Variation also goes on to:

Cite this page

Caissa Codex. “Caro-Kann Defense: Classical Variation, Seirawan Variation (B19)”. Lichess data as of 30 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/caro-kann-defense-classical-variation-seirawan-variation

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