ECO B12 · Caro-Kann Defense

Caro-Kann Defense: Advance Variation, Botvinnik-Carls Defense

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5

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

4. Nf3+0.47

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Caro-Kann Defense: Advance Variation, Botvinnik-Carls Defense (B12), reached after 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5, Stockfish 18 recommends 4. Nf3 for White. White is slightly better (+0.47).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.474. Nf3 cxd4 5. Nxd4 Nc6 6. Nxc6 bxc6 7. Bd3 Ba6 8. c4 dxc4
  2. +0.374. dxc5 e6 5. Nf3 Bxc5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. O-O Nge7 8. c3 Ng6
  3. +0.314. c3 Nc6 5. Be3 Qb6 6. Qd2 e6 7. Nf3 Bd7 8. Be2 c4

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Caro-Kann Defense: Advance Variation, Botvinnik-Carls Defense?
After 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 4. Nf3 for White, continuing cxd4 5. Nxd4 Nc6 6. Nxc6 bxc6 7. Bd3 Ba6 8. c4 dxc4. White is slightly better (+0.47). The next best moves are 4. dxc5 (+0.37) and 4. c3 (+0.31).
Is the Caro-Kann Defense: Advance Variation, Botvinnik-Carls Defense a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.47: 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, Botvinnik-Carls Defense?
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+).