Caro-Kann Defense: Karpov Variation
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nd7
What Is The Karpov Variation?
The Karpov Variation rests on one idea: 4...Nd7 prepares ...Ngf6, so when White trades on f6 Black recaptures with the knight and keeps a flawless pawn structure. The sister line 4...Nf6 5.Nxf6+ concedes doubled pawns; this move order refuses the concession. The price is a cramped position, which is why White sharpens the fight with Bc4, Ng5 and sacrifices on e6 and f7 before Black castles.
Know the trap first: after 5.Qe2 the natural 5...Ngf6 loses to 6.Nd6 mate, because the e-pawn is pinned. Games are decided by whether White lands a blow on e6 or f7 early, because once Black completes ...e6, ...Be7 and ...c5 the position is sound into the endgame. Play it for Karpov's kind of chess: absorb pressure, trade the right pieces, win the long game.
How Does Play Continue From Here?
| Move | Share | Games | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nf3 | 54% | 167 | |
| Bc4 | 9% | 29 | |
| Ng5 | 8% | 26 | |
| Qe2 | 7% | 23 |
The Named Lines Of The Karpov Variation
| Line | Moves |
|---|---|
| Modern Variation | 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nd7 5.Ng5 |
| Modern Variation, Ivanchuk Defense | 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nd7 5.Ng5 Ndf6 |
| Modern Variation, Kasparov Attack | 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nd7 5.Nf3 Ngf6 6.Ng3 |
| Tiviakov-Fischer Attack | 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nd7 5.Bc4 Ngf6 6.Nxf6+ Nxf6 |
| Smyslov Variation | 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nd7 5.Bc4 Ngf6 6.Ng5 e6 7.Qe2 Nb6 |
| Smyslov Variation, Main Line | 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nd7 5.Bc4 Ngf6 6.Ng5 e6 7.Qe2 Nb6 8.Bb3 |
| Modern Main Line | 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nd7 5.Ng5 Ngf6 6.Bd3 e6 7.N1f3 Bd6 8.Qe2 h6 9.Ne4 Nxe4 10.Qxe4 |