Caro-Kann Defense: Two Knights Attack
Chess opening · ECO B10 · 5 half-moves
1. e4 c6 2. Nc3 d5 3. Nf3
The Caro-Kann Defense: Two Knights Attack is reached after 1. e4 c6 2. Nc3 d5 3. Nf3. It is Black's move in the position shown.
It branches from the Caro-Kann Defense with 2. Nc3 d5 3. Nf3.
How often it is played
The Caro-Kann Defense: Two Knights Attack and its variations appeared in 0.28% of games — 8,357 of 3,000,000 rated games sampled from Lichess in September 2026. That makes it number 143 of the openings listed here.
Results
White won 50%, 4.0% were drawn and Black won 46%. 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 +0.34 — 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.
| Opening | Moves | Share of games |
|---|---|---|
| Caro-Kann Defense: Exchange Variation | 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 | 1.1% |
| Caro-Kann Defense: Advance Variation | 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 | 0.93% |
| Caro-Kann Defense: Hillbilly Attack | 1. e4 c6 2. Bc4 | 0.35% |
Main continuations
| Variation | Moves | Share of games |
|---|---|---|
| Caro-Kann Defense: Two Knights Attack, Mindeno Variation | 1. e4 c6 2. Nc3 d5 3. Nf3 Bg4 | 0.06% |
| Caro-Kann Defense: Hector Gambit | 1. e4 c6 2. Nc3 d5 3. Nf3 dxe4 4. Ng5 | 0.00% |
Check your own games
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