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English Opening: Caro-Kann Defensive System

3.2M games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

Playable
Black Expected Score49.3%Range (90% confident): 49.2% – 49.3%Based on 3.2M games
0%49.3%100%
Range (90% confident): 49.2% – 49.3%
Outcome Distribution
47.0%4.5%48.5%
Win
Draw
Loss
1...c6
English Opening: Caro-Kann Defensive System
Analyzen=3.2M
Avg Length36 moves
Sharpness96%
Draw Rate4.5%

What is the English Opening: Caro-Kann Defensive System expected score for Black?

Snapshot

At all ratings, the English Opening: Caro-Kann Defensive System has a 49.3% expected score for Black (we're 90% confident it's between 49.2% and 49.3%), based on 3.2M Lichess games.

Black Win% by Rating

Declines with rating: 49% → 41%

0
1000
1200
1400
1600
1800
2000
2200
2500+

  • 0-999: 49.3% win rate (40,891 games)
  • 1000-1199: 48.0% win rate (92,590 games)
  • 1200-1399: 48.2% win rate (198,345 games)
  • 1400-1599: 48.1% win rate (372,986 games)
  • 1600-1799: 47.9% win rate (595,869 games)
  • 1800-1999: 47.3% win rate (740,651 games)
  • 2000-2199: 46.5% win rate (632,925 games)
  • 2200-2499: 44.9% win rate (438,830 games)
  • 2500+: 40.7% win rate (85,963 games)

Black Win% by Time Control

Best in UltraBullet (49%), worst in Classical (45%)

UltraBullet
Bullet
Blitz
Rapid
Classical

  • UltraBullet: 49.0% win rate (14,505 games)
  • Bullet: 47.7% win rate (1,569,987 games)
  • Blitz: 46.3% win rate (1,348,000 games)
  • Rapid: 45.8% win rate (255,464 games)
  • Classical: 44.6% win rate (11,094 games)

Black% by Rating × Time Control

Click any cell to filter. Green = above 50%, Red = below 50%.

RatingUBBulleBlitzRapidClass
0-999
1000-1199
1200-1399
1400-1599
1600-1799
1800-1999
2000-2199
2200-2499
2500+

Expected score matrix by rating bracket and time control

  • 0-999 rating, UltraBullet: 47.2% expected score (122 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Bullet: 52.2% expected score (13,920 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 50.1% expected score (19,453 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Rapid: 50.7% expected score (7,322 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Classical: 52.0% expected score (74 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, UltraBullet: 53.4% expected score (804 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 50.4% expected score (35,930 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 48.9% expected score (41,584 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 48.2% expected score (13,956 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Classical: 47.4% expected score (316 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, UltraBullet: 52.7% expected score (1,139 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 50.5% expected score (79,166 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 49.1% expected score (91,276 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 49.1% expected score (25,883 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Classical: 47.9% expected score (881 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, UltraBullet: 53.3% expected score (2,848 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 50.5% expected score (150,402 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 49.5% expected score (174,524 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 48.7% expected score (42,969 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 48.4% expected score (2,243 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, UltraBullet: 50.5% expected score (4,325 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 50.2% expected score (250,068 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 49.9% expected score (275,105 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 49.1% expected score (62,966 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 49.6% expected score (3,405 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, UltraBullet: 48.9% expected score (2,590 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 50.0% expected score (324,502 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 49.4% expected score (351,014 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 49.3% expected score (59,650 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 48.5% expected score (2,895 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, UltraBullet: 46.6% expected score (2,223 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 49.6% expected score (338,646 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 48.6% expected score (258,499 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 47.9% expected score (32,475 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 43.6% expected score (1,082 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, UltraBullet: 42.0% expected score (442 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 48.4% expected score (304,444 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 46.6% expected score (123,821 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 44.8% expected score (9,931 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Classical: 42.5% expected score (192 games)
  • 2500+ rating, UltraBullet: 46.3% expected score (12 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 44.9% expected score (72,909 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 42.1% expected score (12,724 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Rapid: 39.2% expected score (312 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Classical: 30.0% expected score (6 games)

Related Openings

Parent
English Opening
50.4%
Variations (5)
English Opening: King's English Variation
51.0%
English Opening: Agincourt Defense
50.2%
English Opening: Anglo-Scandinavian Defense
52.0%
English Opening: King's English Variation, Reversed Sicilian
52.2%
English Opening: Symmetrical Variation
50.5%
Analyze English Opening: Caro-Kann Defensive System PositionsGet move-by-move win rates with the TrueElo analyzer

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the English Opening: Caro-Kann Defensive System win rate?

The English Opening: Caro-Kann Defensive System has a 48.5% (90% CI: 48.5%-48.6%) win rate for white, based on 3.2M rated games from Lichess.

At what rating does the English Opening: Caro-Kann Defensive System perform best?

The English Opening: Caro-Kann Defensive System performs best at 2500+ Elo with a 51.8% win rate for white (86K games). Win rate tends to decline at higher ratings as opponents know the theory better.

Is the English Opening: Caro-Kann Defensive System better in blitz or rapid?

Bullet (48.7%) outperforms Classical (48.3%) by 0.4%. Choose your time control wisely.

How sharp is the English Opening: Caro-Kann Defensive System?

The English Opening: Caro-Kann Defensive System has a sharpness score of 95.5 (very decisive), meaning 95.5% of games end decisively. Average game length is 36 moves.

What is the English Opening: Caro-Kann Defensive System win rate at 0-999 Elo?

At 0-999 Elo, the English Opening: Caro-Kann Defensive System has a 47.5% (90% CI: 47.1%-47.9%) win rate for white, based on 41K Lichess games. Average game length is 27 moves with a 3.2% draw rate.

What is the English Opening: Caro-Kann Defensive System win rate at 1000-1199 Elo?

At 1000-1199 Elo, the English Opening: Caro-Kann Defensive System has a 49.2% (90% CI: 49.0%-49.5%) win rate for white, based on 93K Lichess games. Average game length is 30 moves with a 2.8% draw rate.

What is the English Opening: Caro-Kann Defensive System win rate at 1200-1399 Elo?

At 1200-1399 Elo, the English Opening: Caro-Kann Defensive System has a 48.9% (90% CI: 48.7%-49.1%) win rate for white, based on 198K Lichess games. Average game length is 31 moves with a 2.9% draw rate.

What is the English Opening: Caro-Kann Defensive System win rate at 1400-1599 Elo?

At 1400-1599 Elo, the English Opening: Caro-Kann Defensive System has a 48.5% (90% CI: 48.4%-48.7%) win rate for white, based on 373K Lichess games. Average game length is 33 moves with a 3.3% draw rate.

What is the English Opening: Caro-Kann Defensive System win rate at 1600-1799 Elo?

At 1600-1799 Elo, the English Opening: Caro-Kann Defensive System has a 48.2% (90% CI: 48.0%-48.3%) win rate for white, based on 596K Lichess games. Average game length is 35 moves with a 3.9% draw rate.

What is the English Opening: Caro-Kann Defensive System win rate at 1800-1999 Elo?

At 1800-1999 Elo, the English Opening: Caro-Kann Defensive System has a 48.1% (90% CI: 48.0%-48.2%) win rate for white, based on 741K Lichess games. Average game length is 37 moves with a 4.6% draw rate.

What is the English Opening: Caro-Kann Defensive System win rate at 2000-2199 Elo?

At 2000-2199 Elo, the English Opening: Caro-Kann Defensive System has a 48.4% (90% CI: 48.2%-48.5%) win rate for white, based on 633K Lichess games. Average game length is 38 moves with a 5.1% draw rate.

What is the English Opening: Caro-Kann Defensive System win rate at 2200-2499 Elo?

At 2200-2499 Elo, the English Opening: Caro-Kann Defensive System has a 49.3% (90% CI: 49.2%-49.5%) win rate for white, based on 439K Lichess games. Average game length is 40 moves with a 5.8% draw rate.

What is the English Opening: Caro-Kann Defensive System win rate at 2500+ Elo?

At 2500+ Elo, the English Opening: Caro-Kann Defensive System has a 51.8% (90% CI: 51.5%-52.1%) win rate for white, based on 86K Lichess games. Average game length is 43 moves with a 7.4% draw rate.

What is the English Opening: Caro-Kann Defensive System win rate in UltraBullet?

In UltraBullet games, the English Opening: Caro-Kann Defensive System has a 48.7% (90% CI: 48.0%-49.3%) win rate for white (15K Lichess games). Draw rate is 2.3%.

What is the English Opening: Caro-Kann Defensive System win rate in Bullet?

In Bullet games, the English Opening: Caro-Kann Defensive System has a 48.7% (90% CI: 48.7%-48.8%) win rate for white (1.6M Lichess games). Draw rate is 3.5%.

What is the English Opening: Caro-Kann Defensive System win rate in Blitz?

In Blitz games, the English Opening: Caro-Kann Defensive System has a 48.3% (90% CI: 48.3%-48.4%) win rate for white (1.3M Lichess games). Draw rate is 5.4%.

What is the English Opening: Caro-Kann Defensive System win rate in Rapid?

In Rapid games, the English Opening: Caro-Kann Defensive System has a 48.4% (90% CI: 48.2%-48.5%) win rate for white (255K Lichess games). Draw rate is 5.8%.

What is the English Opening: Caro-Kann Defensive System win rate in Classical?

In Classical games, the English Opening: Caro-Kann Defensive System has a 48.3% (90% CI: 47.5%-49.0%) win rate for white (11K Lichess games). Draw rate is 7.2%.

Is the English Opening: Caro-Kann Defensive System a good opening?

The English Opening: Caro-Kann Defensive System is statistically balanced with a 48.5% (90% CI: 48.5%-48.6%) win rate across all ratings. It performs best at 2500+ Elo. Your results depend on your rating, time control, and how well you know the typical plans.