Chess opening · ECO B10
Caro-Kann Defense: Two Knights Attack
In the Two Knights Attack White develops both knights before deciding on the d-pawn. The knight on c3 defends e4, the knight on f3 watches d4 and e5, and the d-pawn can still go to d3 or d4 later. Black has three natural replies here: take on e4, pin the f3 knight with ...Bg4, or push ...d4 to hit the c3 knight.
- Rank by weighted share
- #141 of 159
Key moves
1. e4 c6 2. Nc3 d5 3. Nf3
- 2. Nc3White guards e4 with a piece instead of answering ...c6 with d4. That keeps the c-pawn and d-pawn flexible and invites Black to commit first.
- 3. Nf3The second knight comes out and covers d4, e5 and g5. Black's bishop can go to g4 at once and pin this knight against the queen on d1, since e2 is empty.
The ...Bg4 pin and the bishop pair
After 3...Bg4 White often kicks the bishop with h3. If Black takes on f3, White recaptures with the queen and keeps both bishops, with the queen on f3 aiming down the f-file at f7. Black gets a compact center with pawns on c6, d5 and e6 and no bad bishop to worry about, since the light-squared one is already traded.
Taking on e4 or pushing ...d4
3...dxe4 4.Nxe4 gives a structure close to the main Caro-Kann lines, but White's knight on f3 has replaced the usual d4 pawn. Black can follow with ...Nf6 or ...Bf5.
3...d4 gains space with tempo, since the pawn hits the c3 knight. The knight usually drops back to e2, often heading on to g3.
Giving up the bishop on f3
3... Bg4 4. h3 Bxf3 5. Qxf3 e6
Black has traded bishop for knight and set pawns on light squares. White's queen on f3 and the two bishops give quick development, and d3 or d4 can follow next. Black's plan is ...Nf6, ...Nbd7 and short castling.
Top replies by rating
dxe4 tops each band from 1200 to 1999, with Bg4 a steady second. At 2000 and up Bg4 takes the lead.
| Rating | Top | Second | Third |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1200–1399 | dxe4 40% | Bg4 30% | Nf6 17% |
| 1400–1599 | dxe4 51% | Bg4 25% | d4 15% |
| 1600–1799 | dxe4 49% | Bg4 27% | d4 19% |
| 1800–1999 | dxe4 49% | Bg4 27% | d4 17% |
| 2000 and up | Bg4 45% | dxe4 38% | d4 9% |
Related openings
Try it on the board. The first coached game and three analyses are free.