Opinions on the Caro-Kann • page 1/2 • General Chess Discussion • lichess.org

What are your opinions on the Caro-Kann? I'm just asking because a friend of mine who's a beginner plays it a lot. Personally, I don't think it's that good, and that it's even worse for a beginner.

Development is slow
In the most played line the Advanced Variation, your kingside development is slow.
Variations
Not all Caro-Kann players know how to play against different variations. I'm going to use that friend from before as an example. When playing it against me, they played the main line advanced and got their bishop trapped from 3. ..Bf5 4. h4 e6. Also, when I play the exchange, I play the Panov variation (4. c4), and they take the pawn instead of playing Nf6. Finally, in the classical variation, they have lost their bishop again because of h4 h5 again.

Because of these, I don't think the Caro-Kann is good, especially for beginers, so I want to know why people play it and why do they tell beginners to play it?

What are your opinions on the Caro-Kann? I'm just asking because a friend of mine who's a beginner plays it a lot. Personally, I don't think it's that good, and that it's even worse for a beginner. 1. Development is slow In the most played line the Advanced Variation, your kingside development is slow. 2. Variations Not all Caro-Kann players know how to play against different variations. I'm going to use that friend from before as an example. When playing it against me, they played the main line advanced and got their bishop trapped from 3. ..Bf5 4. h4 e6. Also, when I play the exchange, I play the Panov variation (4. c4), and they take the pawn instead of playing Nf6. Finally, in the classical variation, they have lost their bishop again because of h4 h5 again. Because of these, I don't think the Caro-Kann is good, especially for beginers, so I want to know why people play it and why do they tell beginners to play it?

Eddie1995

#2

A strong player can make it work!

For a beginner, the Caro Kann is not a good choice. Most play it for the wrong reasons. They saw GothamChess or Alex Banzea promote it. They put all of their pieces on the wrong squares and hope for a slow, positional game. The only middle game plan they have is attacking white's central pawns. They think they are fighting for the center but basically they are afraid of just playing e5.

I am being harsh, and there are numerous exceptions (!!!), but for the most part I think I am correct. I always play e5 when white plays e4 and you won't believe the kind of nonsense people throw at me. I don't know why this is but SO MANY players on Lichess on my level play for tricks, traps and cheap attacks. I do understand people want to avoid the nonsense and look for alternatives. But the Caro Kann is not the solution.

A strong player can make it work! For a beginner, the Caro Kann is not a good choice. Most play it for the wrong reasons. They saw GothamChess or Alex Banzea promote it. They put all of their pieces on the wrong squares and hope for a slow, positional game. The only middle game plan they have is attacking white's central pawns. They think they are fighting for the center but basically they are afraid of just playing e5. I am being harsh, and there are numerous exceptions (!!!), but for the most part I think I am correct. I always play e5 when white plays e4 and you won't believe the kind of nonsense people throw at me. I don't know why this is but SO MANY players on Lichess on my level play for tricks, traps and cheap attacks. I do understand people want to avoid the nonsense and look for alternatives. But the Caro Kann is not the solution.

tpr edited

#3

#1
"What are your opinions on the Caro-Kann?" * It is a solid defense. It ranks 4th behind 1 e4 e5, 1 e4 c5, 1 e4 e6.
White players do not encounter it as often as the other 3. That gives an advantage in experience.

"I don't think it's that good" * It is. E.g. Botvinnik, Smyslov, Petrosian, Karpov played it at top level. Firouzja, Carlsen, So play it from time to time.

"that it's even worse for a beginner" * No not necessarily. A beginner can learn to play it well.

"Not all Caro-Kann players know how to play against different variations." * That goes for all openings.

"got their bishop trapped from 3. ..Bf5 4. h4 e6" * I hope they do that once only and then learned from it.

"they take the pawn instead of playing Nf6." * This is harder to see, but will be learned eventually too.

"they have lost their bishop again because of h4 h5 again" * Once only I hope.

"why people play it" * It is solid and less mainstream than 1...e5, 1...c5, 1...e6.

"why do they tell beginners to play it?" * It goes well with Slav Defense 1 d4 d5 2 c4 and London opening 1 d4 2 Bf4.

#1 "What are your opinions on the Caro-Kann?" * It is a solid defense. It ranks 4th behind 1 e4 e5, 1 e4 c5, 1 e4 e6. White players do not encounter it as often as the other 3. That gives an advantage in experience. "I don't think it's that good" * It is. E.g. Botvinnik, Smyslov, Petrosian, Karpov played it at top level. Firouzja, Carlsen, So play it from time to time. "that it's even worse for a beginner" * No not necessarily. A beginner can learn to play it well. "Not all Caro-Kann players know how to play against different variations." * That goes for all openings. "got their bishop trapped from 3. ..Bf5 4. h4 e6" * I hope they do that once only and then learned from it. "they take the pawn instead of playing Nf6." * This is harder to see, but will be learned eventually too. "they have lost their bishop again because of h4 h5 again" * Once only I hope. "why people play it" * It is solid and less mainstream than 1...e5, 1...c5, 1...e6. "why do they tell beginners to play it?" * It goes well with Slav Defense 1 d4 d5 2 c4 and London opening 1 d4 2 Bf4.

Amanda944

#4

I think the Caro-Kann is fine for beginners, but the issue you describe is very common. The opening itself is solid, but it still requires basic ideas that new players often miss.

The slow development you mention is real in the Advance line. Black has to know simple plans like ...c5 breaks, ...Nd7–f8–g6, and safe ways to place the light-squared bishop. If a player does not know these plans, the position can feel cramped fast.

The problems your friend had also show that many traps target players who push the bishop out and then forget how to keep it safe. Moves like h4–h5 punish slow reactions.

I think the Caro-Kann is fine for beginners, but the issue you describe is very common. The opening itself is solid, but it still requires basic ideas that new players often miss. The slow development you mention is real in the Advance line. Black has to know simple plans like ...c5 breaks, ...Nd7–f8–g6, and safe ways to place the light-squared bishop. If a player does not know these plans, the position can feel cramped fast. The problems your friend had also show that many traps target players who push the bishop out and then forget how to keep it safe. Moves like h4–h5 punish slow reactions.

powell2233

#5

Well! The coin has two sides. It's good for beginners in terms of being a solid and logical opening that allows black to fight for the center and provides awareness about the pawn structure without delivering early disasters.

However, it needs to be done right. Since beginners develop slowly and are likely to go in without a plan, misplacing pieces, and having cramped positions, it teaches beginners more about defensive playing. Also, it doesn't punish white's mistakes immediately, so players might not learn attacking plays with this.

Well! The coin has two sides. It's good for beginners in terms of being a solid and logical opening that allows black to fight for the center and provides awareness about the pawn structure without delivering early disasters. However, it needs to be done right. Since beginners develop slowly and are likely to go in without a plan, misplacing pieces, and having cramped positions, it teaches beginners more about defensive playing. Also, it doesn't punish white's mistakes immediately, so players might not learn attacking plays with this.

lizani

#6

The Caro-Kann is no better or no worse than other openings at this level. Your friend is making moves like 3 e5 Bf5 4 h4 e6 allowing the bishop to be trapped or losing time with 3 exd5 cxd5 4 c4 dxc4. Switching to another opening won't help if they make such fundamental mistakes. They're only a beginner so it's to be expected and you can help by analysing after each game and explaining what they did wrong in the opening.

swimmerBill edited

#7

Last year a local GM told me that it's 'under pressure''. That means at his level I guess and also that it's not dead. At club level to NM level it's popular and reliable. It's certainly true that the 3 ways I play against it I'm finding toothless these days.
Black also gets some input into the kinds of pawn sructures that arise so it's not boring to play either.

Bill

ps-- Hansen's video almost makes me wat to play it!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cpz9sqv1zLg

Last year a local GM told me that it's 'under pressure''. That means at his level I guess and also that it's not dead. At club level to NM level it's popular and reliable. It's certainly true that the 3 ways I play against it I'm finding toothless these days. Black also gets some input into the kinds of pawn sructures that arise so it's not boring to play either. - Bill ps-- Hansen's video almost makes me wat to play it! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cpz9sqv1zLg

chen-rcc

#8

i mean you can play the advanced version...@Goatmaan said in #1:

What are your opinions on the Caro-Kann? I'm just asking because a friend of mine who's a beginner plays it a lot. Personally, I don't think it's that good, and that it's even worse for a beginner.

Development is slow
In the most played line the Advanced Variation, your kingside development is slow.

Variations
Not all Caro-Kann players know how to play against different variations. I'm going to use that friend from before as an example. When playing it against me, they played the main line advanced and got their bishop trapped from 3. ..Bf5 4. h4 e6. Also, when I play the exchange, I play the Panov variation (4. c4), and they take the pawn instead of playing Nf6. Finally, in the classical variation, they have lost their bishop again because of h4 h5 again.

Because of these, I don't think the Caro-Kann is good, especially for beginers, so I want to know why people play it and why do they tell beginners to play it?

i mean you can play the advanced version...@Goatmaan said in #1: > What are your opinions on the Caro-Kann? I'm just asking because a friend of mine who's a beginner plays it a lot. Personally, I don't think it's that good, and that it's even worse for a beginner. > > 1. Development is slow > In the most played line the Advanced Variation, your kingside development is slow. > 2. Variations > Not all Caro-Kann players know how to play against different variations. I'm going to use that friend from before as an example. When playing it against me, they played the main line advanced and got their bishop trapped from 3. ..Bf5 4. h4 e6. Also, when I play the exchange, I play the Panov variation (4. c4), and they take the pawn instead of playing Nf6. Finally, in the classical variation, they have lost their bishop again because of h4 h5 again. > > Because of these, I don't think the Caro-Kann is good, especially for beginers, so I want to know why people play it and why do they tell beginners to play it?

mkubecek

#9

@tpr said in #3:

White players do not encounter it as often as the other 3.

Less than an hour ago, the yearly lichess summary told me that Panov-Botvinnik was my most frequent opening as white this year. (And as black it was Potter Scotch...)

@tpr said in #3: > White players do not encounter it as often as the other 3. Less than an hour ago, the yearly lichess summary told me that Panov-Botvinnik was my most frequent opening as white this year. (And as black it was Potter Scotch...)

scarpentus

#10

I wonder if there's a bug in that year end report. It said I played against the Sicilian the most, but in 829 games as white in 2025, all 1.e4, openingtree.com shows 348 1...e5 and 151 1...c5. (Lichess and OpeningTree agree on the 829 count. Lichess report gives 143 for the 1...c5 count..)