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Caro-Kann Defense · As Black · updated October 2026

Play the Caro-Kann like Aleksandr Usov

A Caro-Kann repertoire built from 255 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 #36 in Chess.com blitz in October 2026 (3,216) and scored 66% against opponents averaging 2,865 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.

Free · first 5 lines need no account

Blitz rank

#36

Chess.com

Rating

3,216

Games

255

in this opening

Score

66%

in these games

Opponents

2,865

average rating

More about Aleksandr Usov

Use arrow keys to navigate the board. Press Enter to select a piece, then use arrow keys and Enter to move. Press Escape to cancel a move.
Line 1 after 10 moves

Lines to learn

  1. Line 1 · 7% at top level

    2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.Nf3 e6 5.Be2 a6 6.O-O Bg6

  2. Line 2 · 7% at top level

    2.d4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.Bd3 Nc6 5.c3 g6

  3. Line 3 · 6% at top level

    2.Nc3 d5 3.Nf3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nf6 5.Qe2 Nxe4 6.Qxe4 Be6

  4. Line 4 · 5% at top level

    2.Nf3 d5 3.d3 g6

  5. Line 5 · 5% at top level

    2.Nf3 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nf6 5.Qe2 Nxe4 6.Qxe4 Be6

  6. Line 6 · 4% at top level

    2.d4 d5 3.f3 Qb6 4.Nc3 dxe4

  7. Line 7 · 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

  8. Line 8 · 4% at top level

    2.d3 d5 3.Nd2 g6 4.Ngf3 Bg7

  9. Line 9 · 4% at top level

    2.Nf3 d5 3.exd5 cxd5

  10. Line 10 · 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 14.Kb1 Nb4 15.Qb5+ Qc6

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.

  1. 2.d4 Reply · Aleksandr Usov's games A common reply here is 2.d4. At top level, this comes up about 67% of the time.
  2. 2…d5 Your move · Aleksandr Usov's games Aleksandr Usov played 2…d5 in 165 games, scoring 66%.
  3. 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.
  4. 3…Bf5 Your move · Aleksandr Usov's games Aleksandr Usov played 3…Bf5 in 68 games, scoring 61%.
  5. 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.
  6. 4…e6 Your move · Aleksandr Usov's games Aleksandr Usov played 4…e6 in 18 games, scoring 64%.
  7. 5.Be2 Reply · Aleksandr Usov's games A common reply here is 5.Be2. At top level, this comes up about 7% of the time.
  8. 5…a6 Your move · Aleksandr Usov's games Aleksandr Usov played 5…a6 in 10 games, scoring 65%.
  9. 6.O-O Reply · Aleksandr Usov's games A common reply here is 6.O-O.
  10. 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?
255 of Aleksandr Usov's Chess.com blitz games in the Caro-Kann Defense as Black, against opponents with an average rating of 2,865. Aleksandr Usov scored 66% in them.
How many lines does the course have?
10 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 36 on the Chess.com blitz leaderboard with a rating of 3,216 when this course was built.