ECO B19 · Caro-Kann Defense

Caro-Kann Defense: Classical Variation, Lobron System

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bf5 5. Ng3 Bg6 6. h4 h6 7. Nf3 Nd7 8. h5 Bh7 9. Bd3 Bxd3 10. Qxd3 e6 11. Bd2 Ngf6 12. O-O-O Be7

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

13. Kb1+0.32

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Caro-Kann Defense: Classical Variation, Lobron System (B19), reached after 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bf5 5. Ng3 Bg6 6. h4 h6 7. Nf3 Nd7 8. h5 Bh7 9. Bd3 Bxd3 10. Qxd3 e6 11. Bd2 Ngf6 12. O-O-O Be7, Stockfish 18 recommends 13. Kb1 for White. White is slightly better (+0.32).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.3213. Kb1 O-O 14. Ne4 Nxe4 15. Qxe4 Nf6 16. Qe2 Qd5 17. Ne5 Qe4
  2. +0.2813. Ne4 O-O 14. Kb1 Nxe4 15. Qxe4 Nf6 16. Qe2 Qd5 17. Ne5 c5
  3. +0.1313. Qe2 c5 14. dxc5 O-O 15. Ne4 Nxe4 16. Qxe4 Qc7 17. Qf4 Qxc5

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Caro-Kann Defense: Classical Variation, Lobron System?
After 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bf5 5. Ng3 Bg6 6. h4 h6 7. Nf3 Nd7 8. h5 Bh7 9. Bd3 Bxd3 10. Qxd3 e6 11. Bd2 Ngf6 12. O-O-O Be7, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 13. Kb1 for White, continuing O-O 14. Ne4 Nxe4 15. Qxe4 Nf6 16. Qe2 Qd5 17. Ne5 Qe4. White is slightly better (+0.32). The next best moves are 13. Ne4 (+0.28) and 13. Qe2 (+0.13).
Is the Caro-Kann Defense: Classical Variation, Lobron System 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: Classical Variation, Lobron System?
B19. 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+).