ECO B12 · Caro-Kann Defense

Caro-Kann Defense: Advance Variation

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5

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Black to move. The arrow shows Stockfish’s best move.
Best move

3… Bf5+0.32

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Caro-Kann Defense: Advance Variation (B12), reached after 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5, Stockfish 18 recommends 3… Bf5 for Black. White is slightly better (+0.32).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.323… Bf5 4. Nf3 e6 5. c3 c5 6. Na3 Nd7 7. Be2 a6 8. O-O
  2. +0.353… c5 4. dxc5 e6 5. Bd3 Qc7 6. Nf3 Bxc5 7. Nc3 Bd7 8. Nb5
  3. +0.593… a6 4. c4 Bf5 5. Nc3 e6 6. Nge2 Ne7 7. Ng3 Bg6 8. h4

Variations

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Caro-Kann Defense: Advance Variation?
After 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 3… Bf5 for Black, continuing 4. Nf3 e6 5. c3 c5 6. Na3 Nd7 7. Be2 a6 8. O-O. White is slightly better (+0.32). The next best moves are 3… c5 (+0.35) and 3… a6 (+0.59).
Is the Caro-Kann Defense: Advance Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.32: white is slightly better. Evaluations this early in the game are small, so practical results depend far more on knowing the plans and typical structures than on the engine's number.
What is the ECO code of the Caro-Kann Defense: Advance Variation?
B12. ECO codes classify chess openings from A00 to E99; B is the volume for semi-open games (other than the French).

Opening names from the Lichess opening book (CC0). Pieces by Colin M.L. Burnett (GPLv2+).