Tree path 5 levels King's Pawn Game › Caro-Kann Defense › Caro-Kann Defense › Caro-Kann Defense › Modern Variation
- Chess Codex
- King's Pawn Game B00
- Caro-Kann Defense B10
- Caro-Kann Defense B12
- Caro-Kann Defense B12
- Modern Variation B12 you are here
Caro-Kann Defense: Modern Variation
Overview
Caro-Kann Defense: Modern Variation is a named branch in the Semi-Open Games group of chess theory, classified under ECO B12.
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 5 plies of play, with the move sequence 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2.
In the opening tree, this line branches off from Caro-Kann Defense, part of the broader King's Pawn Game system.
2 named variations grow from this line, including Caro-Kann Defense: Edinburgh Variation, Caro-Kann Defense: Main Line.
In total, the branch covers 19 sub-variations across all depths.
Use the board to walk through every move, check how the position has scored on Lichess, or take it head-to-head against Stockfish.
- ECO code
- B12
- Group
- Semi-Open Games (B)
- Plies
- 5
- Parent
- Caro-Kann Defense
- Direct variations
- 2
- Total in subtree
- 19
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
3,084,675 games · White 50.5% / Draw 6.1% / Black 43.4%
| Moves | Games | W / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| dxe4 | 2,597,184 | |
| Nf6 | 151,902 | |
| e6 | 117,074 | |
| g6 | 67,555 | |
| a6 | 54,317 | |
| h6 | 30,806 | |
| Nd7 | 15,531 | |
| c5 | 11,659 |
Source: Lichess Opening Explorer · cached 2026-09-26 01:07:09
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Variations (2)
Show all 19 sub-variations (full subtree)
- B12 Caro-Kann Defense: Edinburgh Variation 6-ply
- B15 Caro-Kann Defense: Main Line 7-ply
- B18 Caro-Kann Defense: Classical Variation 8-ply
- B16 Caro-Kann Defense: Finnish Variation 8-ply
- B17 Caro-Kann Defense: Karpov Variation 8-ply
- B18 Flohr Variation 11-ply
- B18 Main Line 11-ply
- B18 Maróczy Attack 11-ply
- B17 Modern Variation 9-ply
- B17 Smyslov Variation 14-ply
- B17 Tiviakov-Fischer Attack 12-ply
- B18 Caro-Kann Defense: Martian Gambit 13-ply
- B19 Caro-Kann Defense: Classical Variation 14-ply
- B17 Caro-Kann Defense: Karpov Variation, Modern Main Line 19-ply
- B17 Ivanchuk Defense 10-ply
- B17 Main Line 15-ply
- B19 Spassky Variation 15-ply
- B19 Caro-Kann Defense: Classical Variation, Lobron System 24-ply
- B19 Caro-Kann Defense: Classical Variation, Seirawan Variation 24-ply