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Course

Caro-Kann Defence

A complete Black repertoire vs 1.e4: Classical, Advance, Exchange, Panov, Two Knights, and Fantasy.

Lines learned

0/16 lines discovered0%

0/16 completed · 0/0 solved

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Branch map

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1

Classical

Advance

Exchange

Panov

Two Knights

Fantasy

Sideline

More ways to train

WalkthroughWatch a move, then play it back.Learn by PlayingFind the repertoire move on the board.PracticeRecall the rest of the line from memory.Opening quizTimed quiz on lines you already know.Play vs botUse the opening in a real game.

About the Caro-Kann Defence

A complete Black repertoire vs 1.e4: Classical, Advance, Exchange, Panov, Two Knights, and Fantasy.

This is a playable repertoire, not a video course. You meet each position on the board, play the move yourself, and the opponent answers with the reply club players actually choose. Lines you have seen come back on a spaced schedule so they survive past the day you learned them.

You play
Black
Level
Intermediate
Lines
16
Positions
115

Main line

Every branch in this course grows out of this opening sequence.

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bf5

What you'll learn

16 lines and 115 positions to recall.

Show all 16 lines

  1. 1. Enter the Caro-Kann

    1...c6 and ...d5. Meet Classical 3.Nc3 with ...dxe4 and ...Bf5.

  2. 2. Classical main line

    Ng3, h4-h5, Bd3 trade, then ...e6 and ...Ngf6.

  3. 3. Classical: long castle

    ...Qc7 and O-O-O against White’s queenside castle plan.

  4. 4. Classical: short castle

    Capablanca-style ...Be7 and kingside castling without early h-pawns.

  5. 5. Classical 4...Nd7

    The Korchnoi/Smyslov solid alternative to ...Bf5.

  6. 6. Classical vs 5.Nc5 ideas

    When White jumps Nc5 instead of Ng3, stay accurate.

  7. 7. Advance: ...Bf5 main

    Against 3.e5, develop ...Bf5 and build a Short-system shell.

  8. 8. Advance: deeper Short system

    ...e6, ...c5, and piece play against the Advance centre.

  9. 9. Advance: ...c5 strike

    Immediate ...c5 challenges d4 before developing the bishop.

  10. 10. Advance: ...e6 first

    A flexible move order: ...e6 before committing the light-squared bishop.

  11. 11. Exchange Variation

    After 3.exd5 cxd5, develop naturally vs Bd3/c3 setups.

  12. 12. Panov-Botvinnik Attack

    Meet 4.c4 with ...Nf6 and a solid ...e6 structure.

  13. 13. Panov: deeper IQP ideas

    Play against the isolated queen pawn with accurate piece placement.

  14. 14. Two Knights Variation

    Vs 2.Nc3 d5 3.Nf3, pin with ...Bg4 and keep the Caro structure.

  15. 15. Fantasy Variation

    Meet 3.f3 calmly with ...dxe4 and rapid development.

  16. 16. Sidelines: 2.Nf3 and 2.d3

    Practical replies when White avoids the main 2.d4.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Caro-Kann Defence course on Chessply?
A complete Black repertoire vs 1.e4: Classical, Advance, Exchange, Panov, Two Knights, and Fantasy. It covers 16 lines built from 115 positions you play move by move.
Which side do you play in the Caro-Kann Defence?
You play Black. The course opens with 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bf5 and branches by White's setup.
How do I start learning the Caro-Kann Defence?
Open the course and press Continue session. You watch the next move, play it back, and the branch map unlocks the following line. Nothing is quizzed before you have seen it.
Is the Caro-Kann Defence course free?
Yes. There is no paid plan. You can train without an account, and signing in keeps your progress in sync across devices.
How long does it take to memorise the Caro-Kann Defence?
Recall is capped at five lines a day, so a session is short and repeatable. The schedule stretches the gap between reviews each time you remember a line correctly.

Related openings

These courses start from the same first move, so what you learn here carries over.