Chess opening · ECO B18
Caro-Kann Defense: Classical Variation
After 3.Nd2 dxe4 4.Nxe4, Black plays 4...Bf5 and develops the light-squared bishop before the e-pawn moves. That way the bishop stays outside the pawn chain that ...e6 will later build. The bishop is exposed on f5, though, and White uses it as a target to gain time and space on the kingside.
- Rank by weighted share
- #154 of 159
Key moves
1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bf5
- 3... dxe4Black releases the central tension by taking on e4. White recaptures with the knight, which looks active on e4 but can be challenged by Black's minor pieces. Black keeps a pawn on c6 that guards d5.
- 4... Bf5The Classical move. The bishop comes out to f5, hits the e4 knight, and stays active after ...e6 closes the c8 to h3 diagonal behind it. White will try to chase it with gain of time.
Ng3 and the h-pawn push
The knight retreats to g3 and attacks the f5 bishop. Black usually drops the bishop back to g6. Then h4 threatens h5, after which the g6 bishop would have no safe square, because the g3 knight covers f5 and e4 and the h7 pawn blocks the retreat. Black answers with ...h6, and after h5 the bishop slides to h7.
The pawn on h5 gains space and fixes Black's kingside pawns. It also gives White a reason to castle queenside later, since the h-pawn is no longer shielding the white king.
Trading the light-squared bishops
White often plays Bd3 to swap off Black's active bishop. After the trade, the white queen recaptures on d3 and eyes Black's kingside. Black, with pawns on c6 and e6, gets a compact position and develops with ...Nd7 and ...Ngf6. The d7 knight also covers e5, so a white knight cannot settle there easily.
The main setup with h5
5. Ng3 Bg6 6. h4 h6 7. Nf3 Nd7 8. h5 Bh7 9. Bd3 Bxd3 10. Qxd3 e6 11. Bd2 Ngf6
The bishops are traded, White's h-pawn sits on h5, and Black has built a low, tidy position with pawns on c6 and e6. White's next step is often queenside castling, putting a rook on d1 behind the d4 pawn.
Top replies by rating
| Rating | Top | Second | Third |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1200–1399 | Ng3 47% | Bd3 23% | f3 20% |
| 1400–1599 | Ng3 66% | Bd3 12% | f3 10% |
| 1600–1799 | Ng3 83% | Bd3 4% | f3 4% |
| 1800–1999 | Ng3 94% | Bd3 2% | Nc3 2% |
Questions
Why does Black play ...h6 before White plays h5?
If White gets h5 in while the bishop is still on g6 and h7 is blocked by Black's own pawn, the bishop has no safe square left. The ...h6 move clears h7 as a retreat square.
Related openings
Try it on the board. The first coached game and three analyses are free.