Theoria
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Caro-Kann Defense

Karpov Variation, Modern Main Line

B17positionalsolid

  1. 1.e4c6
  2. 2.d4d5
  3. 3.Nd2dxe4
  4. 4.Nxe4Nd7
  5. 5.Ng5Ngf6
  6. 6.Bd3e6
  7. 7.N1f3Bd6
  8. 8.Qe2h6
  9. 9.Ne4Nxe4
  10. 10.Qxe4
76 games45%47%

Main line of the Caro-Kann Karpov Variation with 5. Ng5, in which White trades knights on e4 and centralizes the queen, keeping a slight edge.

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About the Modern Main Line

The main line of the Modern Variation, 5. Ng5, runs to 10. Qxe4. White's knight provokes ...h6 and then returns to e4 to exchange. The queen lands on a central square, the d4-pawn and half-open e-file give White space, and Black's position has no structural weaknesses. 10...Nf6, hitting the queen, is the usual reply. 10...Qc7 is the main alternative. Engines give White a slight edge, and the position is rarely reached.

Popular continuations