Endgame Variation

The Endgame Variation arises when White meets the Caro-Kann with 2. Nf3 and 3. d3, or with the Breyer Variation 2. d3 d5 3. Nf3, and Black releases the central tension with 3...dxe4. After 4. dxe4 Qxd1+ 5. Kxd1 the queens are gone and White's king has lost the right to castle. Without queens, however, the king is safe and well placed in the center, and the d-file is open for both sides' rooks. This line has drawn more attention in the 21st century, and it is often reached through the 2. Nf3 move order. Players who want to keep the queens have alternatives: White can try the tricky 4. Ng5 instead of recapturing, and Black can avoid the exchange earlier with 3...Qc7, 3...Bg4 or 3...g6.

The most frequent reply is 5...Bg4, which pins the f3-knight and develops the bishop actively. The next most common choice is 5...Nf6, which puts pressure on e4. Play revolves around development and minor-piece placement rather than direct attack. Engines rate the position as roughly balanced, and results in practice are almost evenly divided.