Caro-Kann Defense:Classical Variation

Black develops the light-squared bishop to f5 before closing it in with ...e6 — the most traditional main line of the Caro-Kann.

It is reached after 8 moves: 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bf5. It is a line of the Caro-Kann Defense.

White is to move and has 42 legal moves. Over the next four moves — two for each side — the game can branch into 1,649,712 different games. Those games reach 528,071 different positions: most positions can be reached in more than one way, 3.1 on average.

The Lichess opening list names 8 further lines after this position, such as Main Line (5. Ng3 Bg6 6. h4) and Flohr Variation (5. Ng3 Bg6 6. Nh3).

The same moves can be played in 13 different legal orders that all reach this position. For example 1. d4 c6 2. e4 d5 3. Nd2 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bf5, which starts as the Queen's Pawn Game.