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Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...c6/2. d4

< Chess Opening Theory | 1. e4 | 1...c6
Caro-Kann defence
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Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation (FEN)

rnbqkbnr/pp1ppppp/2p5/8/3PP3/8/PPP2PPP/RNBQKBNR

Moves: 1. e4 c6 2. d4
ECO code: B10
Parent: Caro-Kann

2. d4

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White plays the principled move: if your opponent allows you to put two pawns in the centre, then put two pawns in the centre.

Black responds 2...d5. Black threatens to take on e4 if White leaves their e-pawn where it is. As d5 is supported by Black's c-pawn, Black is very happy to answer 3. exd5 (the exchange variation) with 3...cxd5: functionally having traded White's central e-pawn for Black's peripheral c-pawn, so White's most common responses are 3. e5, protecting the pawn by moving it out of harms way, or 3. Nc3, preparing to recapture it.

2...d5, because it is in accordance with the plan set in motion by 1...c6, is almost always the move here, chosen more than 95 times in 100 in serious games. On rare occasions a few other things have been tried, though often d5 follows soon after:

  • 2...g6, preparing to fianchetto, has been played.
  • 2...Na6!? is called the De Bruycker defence. The knight makes its way to c7 via a6.
  • 2...Nf6!? is called the Masi variation. This invites 3. e5!, and the knight relocates to d5 and, if kicked again with 4. c4, to c7.

Theory table

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For explanation of theory tables, see theory table and for notation, see algebraic notation.

1.e4 c6 2.d4

2
Main line ...
d5		 =
Modern Defence ...
g6		 +=

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Wikipedia has related information at Caro-Kann

References

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  • Nunn's Chess Openings. 1999. John Nunn (Editor), Graham Burgess, John Emms, Joe Gallagher. ISBN 1-8574-4221-0.


v · t · e
Chess openings quick reference
1. e4
1...e5 · Open
2. Nf3
With 2...Nc6:
Four knights: (
)
Italian game: (
)
Spanish game: (
)

With other 2nd moves:
2. Other

1...c5 · Sicilian
2. Nf3 · Open Sicilian
With 2...Nc6:

With 2...d6:

With 2...e6:

With other 2nd moves:
Anti-Sicilians
1... other
Caro-Kann
French
Other


1. d4
1...d5 · Closed
2. c4
2. Nc3
2. other
1...Nf6 · Indian
2. c4
With 2...e6:

With 2...g6:

With other 2nd moves for Black:
2. Nf3
2. other
1... other
Flank
Unorthodox
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