Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...c6/2. d4/2...d5/3. Nc3/3...dxe4/4. Nxe4

Caro-Kann defence B15 Caro-Kann 3. Nc3 → 3...dxe4 3. Nd2 → 3...dxe4 4. Nxe4 4. Nxe4 is an obvious recapture. This is the traditional treatment of the Caro-Kann and may arise from either the 3. Nc3 or 3. Nd2 variations. Black has three main alternatives. 4...Bf5 is the classical variation. The bishop ends up controlling the long diagonal first from g6 via the manoeuvre 5. Ng3 Bg6, then from h7 after 6. h4 h6 7. Nf3 Nd7 8. h5 Bh7. 4...Nf6, developing the knight instead, leads to 5. Nxf6+ exf6, the Tartakower variation. This is perfectly playable but Black has to accept doubling their pawns. 4...Nd7 is the Smyslov or Karpov variation. This looks slower, as the knight will have to move again before the light-square bishop can enter the game. If Black ends up trading their knight on f6, they may recapture with another knight rather than double their pawns: 5. Nf3 Ngf6 6. Nxf6 Nxf6. Otherwise, the main move is 5. Ng5. None of the other alternatives have seen significant use. 4...h6 is known as the Finnish variation. Theory table 4 5 6 7 Classical Variation Nxe4Bf5 Ng3Bg6 h4h6 Nf3Nd7 = Smyslov/Karpov Variation ...Nd7 Bc4Ngf6 Ng5e6 Qe2Nb6 = ...Nf6 Nxf6+gxf6 c3Bf5 Nf3Nd7 = ...e6 Nf3Nd7 c4Ngf6 Bg5Qb6 = ...g6 Nf3Bg7 h3Bf5 Ng3Be6 = ...h6 Nf3Bf5 Ng3Bh7 Bd3Bxd3 += ...e5 Nf3exd4 Qxd4Qxd4 Nxd4Nd7 += ...Qd5 Nc3Qa5 Nf3Nf6 Bc4Bf5 += ...Qc7 Bd3Bf5 Nf3Nd7 0-0e6 += ...f6 Nf3 += References See also Caro-Kann