ECO B19 · Caro-Kann Defense

Caro-Kann Defense: Classical Variation, Seirawan Variation

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 Ngf6 11. Bd2 e6 12. O-O-O Bd6

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

13. Ne4+0.63

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Caro-Kann Defense: Classical Variation, Seirawan Variation (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 Ngf6 11. Bd2 e6 12. O-O-O Bd6, Stockfish 18 recommends 13. Ne4 for White. White is slightly better (+0.63).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.6313. Ne4 Nxe4 14. Qxe4 Bc7 15. c4 Qe7 16. Kb1 O-O-O 17. Rhe1 Rhg8
  2. +0.6213. Rde1 Bxg3 14. fxg3 O-O 15. Rh4 c5 16. g4 Nh7 17. g5 hxg5
  3. +0.5213. Kb1 O-O 14. Ne4 Be7 15. Nxf6+ Nxf6 16. Ne5 c5 17. dxc5 Qxd3

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Caro-Kann Defense: Classical Variation, Seirawan Variation?
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 Ngf6 11. Bd2 e6 12. O-O-O Bd6, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 13. Ne4 for White, continuing Nxe4 14. Qxe4 Bc7 15. c4 Qe7 16. Kb1 O-O-O 17. Rhe1 Rhg8. White is slightly better (+0.63). The next best moves are 13. Rde1 (+0.62) and 13. Kb1 (+0.52).
Is the Caro-Kann Defense: Classical Variation, Seirawan Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.63: 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, Seirawan Variation?
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+).