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

Caro-Kann defence Caro-Kann B10 2. d4 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. Therefore, 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, 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...d6 transposes to the Czech Pirc Defense. 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 1.e4 c6 2.d4 2 Main line ...d5 = Modern Defence ...g6 += Caro-Kann References