Caro-Kann Defense: what to play after e6?

In the Caro-Kann Defense Advance Variation after Black develops the light-squared bishop outside the pawn chain, White must address the pin on the f3 and choose a plan for the center. While the engine narrowly prefers Be3 with an evaluation of +0.07, the most overwhelmingly popular continuation across recorded games is Be2, which breaks the pin immediately and prepares kingside castling. Either move provides a solid foundation, with choices like c3 also offering a sturdy pawn structure.

Practical Choices: Be2 and c3

The vast majority of games feature Be2, chosen in 64.3% of the 1,566,894 recorded positions (over 1.01 million games), yielding an engine evaluation of +0.02 and a 45.3% score for White. An illustrative engine continuation runs Be2 c5 c4 cxd4 Nxd4 Bxe2, leading to equal simplification. Alternatively, the solid c3 appears in 17.3% of games (271K recorded) with an evaluation of +0.02 and a 48.8% White score, where play can continue along c3 c5 dxc5 Bxf3 Qxf3 Bxc5.

The Engine Pick: Be3

Although played in only 3.4% of games (53K recorded), Be3 receives the engine's highest assessment at +0.07, leading to a 46.8% score for White. The engine continuation runs Be3 Qb6 Nbd2 c5 c4 Nc6, where White reinforces the center and rapidly mobilizes minor pieces against Black's counterplay.

Other Continuations

White can also opt for Bd3, played in 9.0% of games (140K recorded) with an engine evaluation of -0.20 and a 47.9% score, illustrated by Bd3 c5 Nbd2 Ne7 dxc5 Nec6. Finally, Nbd2 is chosen in 6.1% of games (96K recorded) with an even +0.00 evaluation and a 48.9% score, following the illustrative line Nbd2 c5 Bb5+ Nd7 c4 a6.