Chess Openings Lab
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Caro-Kann Defense: Goldman Variation

The Goldman Variation is 2.Nc3 d5 3.Qf3, an early queen move that protects e4 a second time and eyes f7. White hopes for quick, aggressive piece play, while Black can gain time on the queen and take the center.

Moves
1.e4 c6 2.Nc3 d5 3.Qf3
ECO
B10
Engine
−0.09 · level (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
492 games in our lichess sample
White scores
58.5%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • After exd5 and dxc6, develop Bb5 and Nge2, keeping the knight off f3 since the queen sits there.
  • Use the queen on f3 with Bc4 to put pressure on f7 early.
  • If Black plays ...d4, retreat the knight to e2 and play d3 and a4, as the second engine line shows.

Black

  • Play 3...e5, a pawn offer for fast development and central control in the top engine line.
  • The space-gaining 3...d4 kicks the c3 knight and blocks White's queen from the long diagonal.
  • A fianchetto with ...g6 and ...Bg7 is also fine, recapturing pawns later with ...Nf6 and ...Nxc6.
  • Do not play ...Bg4 with the bishop undefended, because the queen on f3 takes it.

Plans and pawn structure

The early queen is both a strength and a target. Black's top choices hit the center: ...e5 gives up a pawn for development, while ...d4 grabs space and forces the c3 knight back. White's queen blocks the g1 knight from f3, so it goes to e2. Middlegame play often features White's Bc4 and Bb5 against Black's quick ...Nc6, ...Nf6 and pressure on the e-file.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position −0.09: level. Its three top choices for Black:

  1. −0.09 3...e5 4.exd5 Nf6 5.dxc6 Nxc6 6.Bb5
  2. −0.04 3...d4 4.Bc4 e6 5.Nce2 c5 6.d3
  3. 0.00 3...g6 4.exd5 Nf6 5.Bc4 Bg7 6.dxc6

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

492 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 58.5%.

under 120062.5%
1200–159955.4%
1600–199958.3%
2000 and up59.2%

Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.

How to play against it

As Black, take the center with ...e5 or ...d4, and look for moves that gain time on the queen. Do not play ...Bg4 while the queen on f3 can take it. As White, develop quickly and keep the queen safe from knight jumps to e5 or d4.

Questions

What are the moves of the Caro-Kann Defense: Goldman Variation?

The Caro-Kann Defense: Goldman Variation starts 1.e4 c6 2.Nc3 d5 3.Qf3. Its ECO code is B10.

Is the Caro-Kann Defense: Goldman Variation good for White?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position −0.09 at depth 20, which is level. In 492 lichess games from our sample, White scored 58.5%. A trappy line that scores well for White in the sample, but Black is fine with ...e5 or ...d4 and good development.

What is the main idea of the Caro-Kann Defense: Goldman Variation?

White uses the queen early to defend e4 and aim at f7. Black gets an equal game by hitting the center with ...e5 or ...d4 and developing with tempo.

What should Black play next?

The engine's first choice is e5, with d4 and g6 close behind. 3...e5 offers a pawn for fast development and central control, with the queen on f3 becoming a target.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.