Caro-Kann Defense: Panov Attack

Chess opening · ECO B13 · 7 half-moves

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. c4

The Caro-Kann Defense: Panov Attack is reached after 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. c4. It is Black's move in the position shown.

It branches from the Caro-Kann Defense: Exchange Variation with 3… cxd5 4. c4.

How often it is played

The Caro-Kann Defense: Panov Attack and its variations appeared in 0.19% of games — 5,677 of 3,000,000 rated games sampled from Lichess in September 2026. That makes it number 190 of the openings listed here.

Results

White won 51%, 4.6% were drawn and Black won 45%. These are games between players of every strength and time control, so they say how the opening does in practice rather than how sound it is.

What the engine thinks

Stockfish, at depth 18, evaluates the position at +0.32 — a small edge for White. Positive numbers favour White; see reading the evaluation bar.

Similar openings

The most-played alternatives — what else could have been chosen around the move where this opening begins.

Main continuations

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