Two Knights Variation of the Caro-Kann (B11) ⎸Chess Openings

The Two Knights Variation is a very good alternative to the main line for white. Players with black have to be well prepared to meet it properly.

I was often employed by players such as Bobby Fischer, or, more recently, Ian Nepomniachtchi. It requires a lot of theoretical preparation, but it offers great attacking opportunities for both sides.

The position occurs after the opening moves:

1. e4 c6
2. Nc3 d5
3. Nf3

From this position, black can play three moves:

3…Bg4 – This is the main line of the Two Knights Caro-Kann. Black is pinning the knight and provoking the following sequence:
4. h3 Bxf3
5. Qxf3 – In this position black is ready to close his pawn triangle with the move 5…e6. He now got rid of his “bad” light squared bishop and has a solid central structure in exchange for white being a tempo up. After 5…e6 the main line starts. White can continue with four moves:

6.d3 – The main move, slow but solid. Black is equal.
6.d4 – The most aggressive continuation, striking in the center and gaining space.
6.g3 – White is preparing to fianchetto the ksB, but it can often backfire if the h1-a8 diagonal closes down.
6.Be2 – A passive continuation for white, it doesn’t give enough opening advantage.

Alternatives to 3…Bg4 (the main line) for black are:

3…dxe4 – This line is slightly dubious for black. White stands slightly better if he plays well.
3…Nf6 – A very good line for black, which most players with white aren’t prepared for.

For alternatives to the Two Knights Variations watch these videos:

[sabbirsopnil]

This is exactly what I was looking for...Thank you so much...

[merthebow]

This channel is the best I have seen so far. It worked for a beginner like me to learn about the openings. After watching this I almost got a winning position every game but blunders are common at my level. Winning position doesn't necessarily mean winning the game :)

[himanshukulshreshtha]

This is extremely informative. One recommendation is that in the end you show us a game where this was played, preferably of famous gms. Nevertheless very good and instructive.

[danilodestropadua]

Excellent video!!! Like all the videos in your channel.
Thank you very much. From Brazil

[jujubean]

The two knights is how I deal with the Caro-Kann. I love the tears as their precious 2.d4 doesn't happen and the game suddenly becomes much more complicating. There are so many pitfalls for black in that opening. Lots of fun.

[policarpo]

I'm brazilian, I really apreciate your videos.

[fminc]

Stefan, your insight into the Caro Kann in particular is fantastic. Best theory channel. By far.

[Kylin.GD]

"Ain't it funny how the knights move." - GM Bob Seger

[ninjaclone]

Is there something wrong with 6.exd5? Seems to me that most of the time I’m in this opening that’s what the white player chooses. I usually just capture with the c pawn and play natural moves but I don’t understand why it’s not a popular variation.

[JSLigon]

In the 3... Nf6 line after 1. e4 c6 2. Nc3 d5 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e5 Ne4, white's main move is to avoid the knight exchange and also get out of the way of the c pawn with 5. Ne2. Then if 5... Bg4 (not a good move for black), white's other knight retreats too - 6. Nfg1. Looks weird, but Stockfish evaluates this as about +0.7 for white. f3 forking black's knight and bishop is immediately threatened, and these pieces will have to retreat soon enough. This is covered in Sielecki's repertoire on Chessable, "1 e4: Keep it simple" which was mentioned in another comment.

[brianethompson]

Stephan, what criteria to you use to decide when to push C5?

[seppedaniels]

What should you play if white plays
2. Nc3 d5 3. exd5

[DavidEmerling]

I think a lot of Black players do not understand the Two Knights Variation of Caro-Kann very well. When I play this as White, the most common line, which is usually fatal for Black is: 1.e4 c6 2.Nf3 d5 3.Nc3 dxe5 4.Nxe5 Bf5? 5.Ng3 Bg6 6.h4 h6 7.Ne5 Bh7? and White has a huge attack which usually proves fatal for Black. Black's Bf5 is a very common move in the Caro-Kann and a lot of players play it automatically not realizing that it doesn't work in this line.

[plumblinetalks]

I've discovered that after 3. ... dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nf6, if white plays 5. Ng3 or, even better, 5. Ng5, a wild attack can follow very quickly. White's king's bishop goes to c4 and his queen comes to e2, and white can sacrifice the g5 knight on f7. This works particularly well in speed games, but I've played it in longer over-the-board games with some success as well. It's a bit surprising, but as a Caro-Kann player with black I've learned that the f7 pawn is amazingly weak even with the king's pawn on e6, and if black does not play carefully the game will end quickly. For that reason, when playing the C-K with black I will never, ever take the e4 pawn in the opening.

[tomekduresov]

There is another line for which I dont think its bad, but a lot of people say its bad, so everybody think its bad, so after e4 c6 Nf3 d5 Nc3 Bg4 h3 black doesnt have to take on f3, he can also retreat to h5, the line has a pretty bad reputation but it scores very well, and it leads to some very interesting positions, the main line of the variation is e4 c6 Nc3 d5 Nf3 Bg4 h3 Bh5 exd5 cxd5 Bb5+ Nc6 g4 Bg6 Ne5 Rc8 d4 e6 h4 f6 Nxg6 hxg6 Qd3 and Kf7, and that position is considered as the "refutation" of this whole line, but I dont think thats true, it is a complicated position, there are some GM games in this positions, and black is not losing right out of the opening, its not everybodys cup of tea, but I think that its worth some investigation..

[seand]

When you say in the beginning that when white plays against Bg4 because this is the only good move, most of the engines prefer D4 instead of h3..

[czepesch]

Someone please explain me why d4 at 20:04 by white? what is the point?
knight is not defended by c1 bishop anyway if white decided to take on e4 with knight.
thx

[abdelmaksoudelshishiny]

I think Fisher Was play this Variation its great

[gabeop]

4) h3 Bh5 is interesting. Its a book move and actually doesnt give white much more advantage then taking, only a 10th of a pawn about. Its what I've always played. It forces them to overextend if they ever want to break the tension and if they dont push g4 then you always have the option of trading at the most convienent time or trying to preserve the bishop pair, or at least get an open rook file when you lose the bishop pair to hopefully target the weakened kingside structure. I know in the caro youre supposed to try and trade off minor pieces to mitigate your space disadvantage but i just like playing for complicated middlegames i cant help it lol

[gbadeboolukayode]

How do I reach you Sir? I have some propositions for you...

Expecting your response soonest
Thanks