Caro-Kann Defense, Karpov Variation

The Caro-Kann begins with ...c6 and ...d5. Black then exchanges the d5-pawn for White's e4-pawn, and White's knight from c3 recaptures on e4. The Karpov Variation appears when Black develops the b8-knight to d7 with 4...Nd7. The main idea is to prepare ...Ngf6, meaning the knight from g8 moves to f6. If White captures it, the d7-knight may recapture on f6, allowing Black to avoid a pawn recapture.

The maneuver preserves a sound pawn structure, but it costs time and temporarily leaves fewer free squares for Black's pieces. The knight on d7 occupies the c8-bishop's diagonal, and Black develops more slowly. White can use that interval to bring out pieces, castle by moving the king and a rook in one move, and decide whether to exchange on f6 or keep more pieces on the board.

The same position can arise if White chooses 3.Nd2 instead of 3.Nc3 and the center is exchanged in the same way. This is a transposition, reaching an identical position through a different move order. The Tartakower Variation and Bronstein-Larsen Variation allow the exchange on f6 and recapture with different pawns.