Chess opening · ECO B12
Caro-Kann Defense: Advance Variation
With 3.e5 White closes the center and claims space. The e5 pawn takes f6 from Black's king knight and gives White a kingside edge to work with. Black's answer starts with ...Bf5, bringing the bishop out before ...e6 seals it in. After that, the main target is the base of White's chain on d4, usually hit by ...c5 even though the c-pawn then spends two moves getting there.
- Rank by weighted share
- #78 of 159
Key moves
1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5
- 3. e5The pawn gains space and fixes the center. It stops ...Nf6 and keeps Black's pieces cramped on the kingside. In return White's d4 pawn becomes the anchor of the chain, and Black will aim the c-pawn, the queen and the knights at it.
Why ...Bf5 comes before ...e6
If Black played ...e6 first, the bishop on c8 would be trapped behind its own pawns. Playing ...Bf5 first gets it outside the chain, where it covers e4, d3 and c2. Only then does ...e6 follow, giving a French-style structure with the problem piece already developed.
Hounding the bishop with pawns
Because the bishop on f5 has few retreats, White can push the g-pawn and h-pawn to chase it, often after Nc3. These lines get sharp quickly, and Black must know where the bishop goes when it is hit. A calmer White plan uses Nf3, Be2 and castling, keeping the space and building behind it.
Black's other knight route matters here too. Since f6 is covered by the e5 pawn, the g8 knight usually heads to e7, and from there to f5 or c6 when those squares are free.
A quiet development plan
3... Bf5 4. Nf3 e6 5. Be2 c5 6. Be3
White develops simply and backs up d4 with the bishop on e3. Black has the f5 bishop outside the chain and has struck at d4 with ...c5. Next come ...Nc6 and ...Qb6, adding pressure on d4 and b2.
Top replies by rating
Under 1200, e6 leads, but Bf5 tops every band from 1200 up. From 1600 up, c5 climbs into the top three.
| Rating | Top | Second | Third |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 1200 | e6 53% | Bf5 29% | f6 13% |
| 1200–1399 | Bf5 55% | e6 24% | f6 8% |
| 1400–1599 | Bf5 79% | e6 13% | f6 3% |
| 1600–1799 | Bf5 84% | e6 7% | c5 6% |
| 1800–1999 | Bf5 84% | c5 9% | e6 5% |
| 2000 and up | Bf5 79% | c5 13% | e6 3% |
Related openings
Try it on the board. The first coached game and three analyses are free.