Caro-Kann Defense · As Black · updated November 2026
Play the Caro-Kann like Aleksandr Usov
A repertoire in the Caro-Kann built from 253 of Aleksandr Usov's public Chess.com blitz games. At every position you play the move Aleksandr Usov chose most often. Where Aleksandr Usov has fewer than 3 games, the course takes the other top-50 players' most played move, then Stockfish's. Learn a line on the board, then each position comes back in a short daily review until it sticks.
Not affiliated with or endorsed by Aleksandr Usov or Chess.com.
- Aleksandr Usov was #46 in Chess.com blitz in November 2026 (3,207) and scored 66% against opponents averaging 2,910 in these games.
- You play Aleksandr Usov's own move in 40 of 40 positions.
- The whole course is free, and it is updated monthly.
Train lines
Learn a new line move by move. Lines due for review go to your daily review first.
Free · first 5 lines need no account
Blitz rank
#46
Chess.com
Rating
3,207
as of 8 Nov 2026
Games
253
in this opening
Score
66%
in these games
Opponents
2,910
average rating
Based on 253 games, Jun 2024–Nov 2026
Lines to learn
- Next
Line 1 · 7% at top level
2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.Nf3 e6 5.Be2 a6 6.O-O Bg6
- New
Line 2 · 7% at top level
2.Nf3 d5 3.d3 g6
- New
Line 3 · 7% at top level
2.d4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.Bd3 Nc6 5.c3 g6
- New
Line 4 · 6% at top level
2.Nc3 d5 3.Nf3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nf6 5.Qe2 Nxe4 6.Qxe4 Be6
- New
Line 5 · 5% at top level
2.d3 d5 3.Nd2 g6 4.Ngf3 Bg7 5.g3 Bg4
- New
Line 6 · 5% at top level
2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bf5 5.Ng3 Bg6 6.Nf3 e6
- New
Line 7 · 5% at top level
2.Nf3 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nf6 5.Qe2 Nxe4 6.Qxe4 Be6
- New
Line 8 · 4% at top level
2.d4 d5 3.f3 Qb6 4.Nc3 dxe4
- New
Line 9 · 4% at top level
2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bf5 5.Ng3 Bg6 6.h4 h6 7.h5 Bh7 8.Nf3 e6 9.Bd3 Bxd3 10.Qxd3 Nf6 11.Bd2 c5 12.O-O-O Nc6 13.Bc3 Qd5
- New
Line 10 · 4% at top level
2.Nf3 d5 3.exd5 cxd5
- New
Line 11 · 4% at top level
2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.h4 h6 5.g4 Be4 6.f3 Bh7 7.e6 Qd6 8.exf7+ Kxf7 9.Bd3 Nd7
Ordered by how often they come up in top-level games. Learned lines join your daily review.
Aleksandr Usov's main line in the Caro-Kann, move by move
The most common line at top level: 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.Nf3 e6 5.Be2 a6 6.O-O Bg6.
- 2.d4 Reply · Aleksandr Usov's games A common reply here is 2.d4. At top level, this comes up about 64% of the time.
- 2…d5 Your move · Aleksandr Usov's games Aleksandr Usov played 2…d5 in 159 games, scoring 67%.
- 3.e5 Reply · Aleksandr Usov's games A common reply here is 3.e5. At top level, this comes up about 29% of the time.
- 3…Bf5 Your move · Aleksandr Usov's games Aleksandr Usov played 3…Bf5 in 68 games, scoring 64%.
- 4.Nf3 Reply · Aleksandr Usov's games A common reply here is 4.Nf3. At top level, this comes up about 8% of the time.
- 4…e6 Your move · Aleksandr Usov's games Aleksandr Usov played 4…e6 in 20 games, scoring 68%.
- 5.Be2 Reply · Aleksandr Usov's games A common reply here is 5.Be2. At top level, this comes up about 8% of the time.
- 5…a6 Your move · Aleksandr Usov's games Aleksandr Usov played 5…a6 in 12 games, scoring 63%.
- 6.O-O Reply · Aleksandr Usov's games A common reply here is 6.O-O. At top level, this comes up about 7% of the time.
- 6…Bg6 Your move · Aleksandr Usov's games Aleksandr Usov played 6…Bg6 in 9 games, scoring 72%.
Questions about this course
- How does Aleksandr Usov play the Caro-Kann?
- After 1.e4 c6, Aleksandr Usov's most common line is 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.Nf3 e6 5.Be2 a6 6.O-O Bg6. At top level it comes up about 7% of the time.
- Is this Aleksandr Usov's course?
- No. ChessDrills builds it automatically from Aleksandr Usov's public Chess.com blitz games.
- What is this Caro-Kann course based on?
- 253 of Aleksandr Usov's Chess.com blitz games in the Caro-Kann Defense as Black, against opponents with an average rating of 2,910. Aleksandr Usov scored 66% in them.
- How many lines does the course have?
- 11 lines covering 40 positions, ordered by how often they come up in top-level games. The first 5 lines need no account; saving your progress with an email unlocks the rest, free.
- Who is Aleksandr Usov?
- IM Aleksandr Usov was ranked number 46 on the Chess.com blitz leaderboard with a rating of 3,207 when this course was built.