ECO B10 · Caro-Kann Defense

Caro-Kann Defense: Endgame Variation

1. e4 c6 2. Nf3 d5 3. d3 dxe4 4. dxe4 Qxd1+ 5. Kxd1

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

5… Nf6+0.25

The position is roughly equal. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Caro-Kann Defense: Endgame Variation (B10), reached after 1. e4 c6 2. Nf3 d5 3. d3 dxe4 4. dxe4 Qxd1+ 5. Kxd1, Stockfish 18 recommends 5… Nf6 for Black. The position is roughly equal (+0.25).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.255… Nf6 6. Nfd2 Ng4 7. Ke1 e5 8. Nc4 Bc5 9. f3 b5 10. fxg4
  2. +0.325… Nd7 6. Ne1 Nc5 7. f3 e5 8. Be3 f5 9. Nd3 Nxd3 10. Bxd3
  3. +0.345… g6 6. a4 Nd7 7. Nfd2 Bg7 8. a5 Nc5 9. Ra3 Nf6 10. f3

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Caro-Kann Defense: Endgame Variation?
After 1. e4 c6 2. Nf3 d5 3. d3 dxe4 4. dxe4 Qxd1+ 5. Kxd1, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 5… Nf6 for Black, continuing 6. Nfd2 Ng4 7. Ke1 e5 8. Nc4 Bc5 9. f3 b5 10. fxg4. The position is roughly equal (+0.25). The next best moves are 5… Nd7 (+0.32) and 5… g6 (+0.34).
Is the Caro-Kann Defense: Endgame Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.25: the position is roughly equal. 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: Endgame Variation?
B10. 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+).