Caro-Kann Defense · As Black · updated October 2026
Play the Caro-Kann like Ihor Samunenkov
A repertoire in the Caro-Kann built from 142 of Ihor Samunenkov's public Chess.com blitz games. At every position you play the move Ihor Samunenkov chose most often. Where Ihor Samunenkov 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 Ihor Samunenkov or Chess.com.
- Ihor Samunenkov was #38 in Chess.com blitz in October 2026 (3,209) and scored 58% against opponents averaging 2,866 in these games.
- You play Ihor Samunenkov'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
#38
Chess.com
Rating
3,209
Games
142
in this opening
Score
58%
in these games
Opponents
2,866
average rating
Lines to learn
- Next
Line 1 · 10% at top level
2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bf5 5.Ng3 Bg6
- New
Line 2 · 9% at top level
2.Nc3 d5
- New
Line 3 · 6% at top level
2.Nf3 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nf6 5.Qe2 Na6
- New
Line 4 · 6% at top level
2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.Nf3 e6 5.Be2 c5 6.Be3 Qb6 7.Nc3 Nc6 8.O-O Qxb2 9.Qe1 cxd4 10.Bxd4 Nxd4 11.Nxd4 Bb4 12.Rb1 Bxc3 13.Rxb2 Bxe1 14.Rxe1 b6 15.h4 h5 16.Nxf5 exf5
- New
Line 5 · 5% at top level
2.Nf3 d5 3.d3 Qc7 4.exd5 cxd5
- New
Line 6 · 5% at top level
2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bf5 5.Ng3 Bg6
- New
Line 7 · 5% at top level
2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.h4 h5 5.Bd3 Bxd3 6.Qxd3 Qa5+ 7.Nd2 e6 8.Nf3 Nh6 9.O-O Nf5 10.Nb3 Qb5 11.Qd1 c5
- New
Line 8 · 5% at top level
2.d4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.Bd3 Nc6 5.c3 Nf6 6.Bf4 Bg4 7.Qb3 Qd7 8.Nd2 e6
Ordered by how often they come up in top-level games. Learned lines join your daily review.
Ihor Samunenkov's main line in the Caro-Kann, move by move
The most common line at top level: 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bf5 5.Ng3 Bg6.
- 2.d4 Reply · Ihor Samunenkov's games A common reply here is 2.d4. At top level, this comes up about 70% of the time.
- 2…d5 Your move · Ihor Samunenkov's games Ihor Samunenkov played 2…d5 in 98 games, scoring 61%.
- 3.Nc3 Reply · Ihor Samunenkov's games A common reply here is 3.Nc3. At top level, this comes up about 11% of the time.
- 3…dxe4 Your move · Ihor Samunenkov's games Ihor Samunenkov played 3…dxe4 in 15 games, scoring 63%.
- 4.Nxe4 Reply · Ihor Samunenkov's games A common reply here is 4.Nxe4. At top level, this comes up about 10% of the time.
- 4…Bf5 Your move · Ihor Samunenkov's games Ihor Samunenkov played 4…Bf5 in 13 games, scoring 65%.
- 5.Ng3 Reply · Ihor Samunenkov's games A common reply here is 5.Ng3.
- 5…Bg6 Your move · Ihor Samunenkov's games Ihor Samunenkov played 5…Bg6 in 13 games, scoring 65%.
Questions about this course
- How does Ihor Samunenkov play the Caro-Kann?
- After 1.e4 c6, Ihor Samunenkov's most common line is 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bf5 5.Ng3 Bg6. At top level it comes up about 10% of the time.
- Is this Ihor Samunenkov's course?
- No. ChessDrills builds it automatically from Ihor Samunenkov's public Chess.com blitz games.
- What is this Caro-Kann course based on?
- 142 of Ihor Samunenkov's Chess.com blitz games in the Caro-Kann Defense as Black, against opponents with an average rating of 2,866. Ihor Samunenkov scored 58% in them.
- How many lines does the course have?
- 8 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 Ihor Samunenkov?
- GM Ihor Samunenkov was ranked number 38 on the Chess.com blitz leaderboard with a rating of 3,209 when this course was built.