Caro-Kann structure
The solid Black setup with pawns on c6 and d5 against White's e4 pawn, often leading to a healthy pawn formation where Black can develop the light-squared bishop outside the chain.
After ...c6 and ...d5, Black challenges White's central pawn without shutting the c8 bishop behind a pawn on e6. The most common versions are the Classical (Black takes on e4 and plays ...Bf5), the Advance (Black plays ...Bf5 against a pawn on e5), and the Exchange.
The Classical version is very healthy: there are no weak pawns, Black has a free bishop, and White gets a small space edge at most. Black normally follows with ...e6 and the break ...c5 to challenge the center. The Advance version creates a chain with pawns on d4 and e5 against c6 and d5, where Black attacks the base with ...c5 and ...Qb6.
The endgames are often pleasant for Black, because pawn weaknesses are rare and the bishop is not bad. The price is some passivity, so Black must reach a good setup before White gets tactics.
When playing against it, a space advantage and a kingside attack work well, but attacking before the pieces are developed is a mistake. For Black, the common error is delaying the ...c5 break so long that the position gets cramped. Tip: develop the bishop before closing the chain with ...e6, otherwise the c8 bishop is shut in.
It sits close to French structure. The pawn chain where White has pawns on d4 and e5 against Black pawns on d5 and e6, giving White space on the kingside and Black a bad c8 bishop and counterplay against the d4 base.
Also worth reading is Semi-open defense. A semi-open defense is any Black reply to 1.e4 other than 1...e5, such as 1...c6, 1...e6, 1...d6 or 1...c5, in which Black meets White's central pawn from the side instead of facing it head-on.
Opening ideas such as "Caro-Kann structure" are easier to keep when they are tested on your own games, which is what a first lesson with George Li begins with.
Related terms
A pawn chain is a string of friendly pawns on a diagonal, each guarded by the pawn behind it, so only the rearmost pawn, the base, lacks pawn protection and becomes the usual target.
A good bishop is one whose own pawns mainly stand on the other color from the squares it travels on, so its diagonals stay open and it can reach the enemy camp.
A weak pawn is a pawn that is hard to defend with other pawns and so must be protected by pieces, making it a long-term target for the opponent.
A semi-open game starts with White's king pawn advancing two squares and Black declining to mirror it, choosing a defense such as the Sicilian, French or Caro-Kann with an uneven pawn structure.
King safety is the degree to which a king is protected from attack, as determined by its pawn cover, the defenders nearby, the open lines pointing at it and how quickly the opponent can bring attackers to the area.
The pawn chain where White has pawns on d4 and e5 against Black pawns on d5 and e6, giving White space on the kingside and Black a bad c8 bishop and counterplay against the d4 base.
Openings where it occurs
Guides that go further
Most popular chess openings and win rates
The most played openings, how often White wins, and how the numbers change with rating, computed from public games.
What to decide first, the questions to ask, what a first lesson should show and the red flags to avoid.
A game review, a read on your level and a written study plan from George Li.
Want to spot this in your own games?
A first lesson starts with your games: George reviews them and builds a study plan around what he finds.