1.e4 — the open games
Caro-Kann, Karpov Variation
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nd7ECO B17
A rock-solid Caro line favoured by Karpov: Black plays 4…Nd7 to prepare …Ngf6 without allowing the doubled pawns that 4…Nf6 invites. Ultra-sound and flexible, it aims for a healthy structure and easy development, and remains a top-level main line.
Key ideas
- …Nd7 prepares …Ngf6 (recapturing with a knight, not a pawn), keeping the structure clean.
- Black completes with …e6, …Bd6/…Be7, …O-O and …c5, reaching a solid, harmonious position.
- White tries for a space edge with Ng5/Bd3 ideas, but Black's setup is famously resilient.
Who it suits
Solid players who want a super-reliable Caro main line with a healthy structure.
Add it to your repertoire.
Drill the Caro-Kann, Karpov Variation move by move against the board until it's second nature.
Open the trainer