Chess Openings Lab
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Caro-Kann Defense: Campomanes Attack

The Campomanes Attack arises after 3.Nc3 Nf6, when Black develops the knight instead of taking on e4. Black hopes White will trade on d5 or allow ...Nxe4, but White's best reply is 4.e5, gaining space with tempo on the knight.

Moves
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6
ECO
B15
Engine
+1.08 · a clear edge for White (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
2,151 games in our lichess sample
White scores
53.6%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • Push 4.e5 and kick the knight to d7. White gains a French-style space edge without Black's light bishop being free.
  • After ...c5, the engine line shows the sharp e6 thrust, breaking open the f7 square while Black is undeveloped.
  • Bd3 and f4 support the e5 pawn and prepare a kingside attack against a castled Black king.

Black

  • After 4.e5 retreat with ...Nfd7 and strike back at once with ...c5 to hit the d4 pawn.
  • If White plays 4.exd5, recapture ...cxd5 and you reach a sound Exchange-style structure with active pieces.
  • Against 4.Qd3, the trade ...Nxe4 and ...Qd5 gives an equal queenless position.
  • Bring the light bishop out to f5 or g4 before locking it in with ...e6.

Plans and pawn structure

The key question is whether White pushes e5. If so, Black's knight must leave f6, and the game looks like a French Defense where Black's c-pawn has taken two moves to reach c5. White then plays Bd3, Nf3 and f4, with play on the kingside, while Black hits the d4 pawn with ...c5 and ...Nc6. If White trades with exd5 instead, Black recaptures with the c-pawn and has easy development and an equal game.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +1.08: a clear edge for White. Its three top choices for White:

  1. +1.08 4.e5 Nfd7 5.Bd3 c5 6.e6 Nf6
  2. +0.11 4.Qd3 Nxe4 5.Nxe4 dxe4 6.Qxe4 Qd5
  3. +0.03 4.exd5 cxd5 5.Bf4 Bg4 6.f3 Bd7

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

2,151 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 53.6%.

under 120055.1%
1200–159953.9%
1600–199952.2%
2000 and up53.4%

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

How to play against it

As White, play 4.e5. It is the strongest move by a clear margin and the knight has no good square. Then support the pawn with Bd3 and Nf3 or f4. Do not get greedy with exd5 or Qd3, which give Black an easy game.

Questions

What are the moves of the Caro-Kann Defense: Campomanes Attack?

The Caro-Kann Defense: Campomanes Attack starts 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6. Its ECO code is B15.

Is the Caro-Kann Defense: Campomanes Attack good for Black?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +1.08 at depth 20, which is a clear edge for White. In 2,151 lichess games from our sample, White scored 53.6%. Playable for Black but inaccurate, since 4.e5 gives White an easy space edge; best for Black players who know the French-style ...c5 counterplay.

What is the main idea of the Caro-Kann Defense: Campomanes Attack?

Black develops ...Nf6 instead of ...dxe4, putting pressure on e4. The drawback is that 4.e5 kicks the knight and gives White extra space, so Black must hit back fast with ...c5.

What should White play next?

The engine's first choice is e5, with Qd3 and exd5 close behind. 4.e5 gains space with tempo, and the engine line shows e6 cracking open f7 if Black reacts slowly.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.