Caissa Codex
B10

Caro-Kann Defense: Spike Variation

Chess diagram: Caro-Kann Defense: Spike Variation after 2. g4

Type a move and press Enter: e4, Nf3, O-O, or from and to squares like g1f3 (e7e8q to promote). The board is also played with the mouse.

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Statistics from Lichess

16,640 games: White 43.9% / Draw 3.7% / Black 52.4%

The moves played next. Pick one to see it on the board.
Next moveGamesWhite / Draw / BlackW / D / B
14,51815K
726726
373373
324324
193193
135135
5555
5353

Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 29, 2026

Engine evaluation

−0.67 Black is slightly better

Best play: 2... d5 3. h3 e5 4. d4 dxe4 5. Ne2 Be6 6. Bg2 Nd7 7. Nbc3

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

Overview

Caro-Kann Defense: Spike Variation (ECO B10, Semi-Open Games) is a variation of the Caro-Kann Defense, reached after 1. e4 c6 2. g4 (2 moves).

In 16,640 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 43.9%, Black 52.4% and 3.7% were drawn. Black's most played move here is 2…d5, in 87% of those games.

It continues into one named variation, Caro-Kann Defense: Spike Variation, Scorpion-Grob Gambit.

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Variations (1)

Other lines from the same position

Instead of 2. g4, the position after Caro-Kann Defense also goes on to:

Cite this page

Caissa Codex. “Caro-Kann Defense: Spike Variation (B10)”. Lichess data as of 29 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/caro-kann-defense-spike-variation

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