Chess Openings Lab
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Caro-Kann Defense: von Hennig Gambit

The von Hennig Gambit is 4.Bc4 in the Caro-Kann, giving up the e4 pawn to aim the bishop at f7 and develop fast. White plans Nge2 and Ng3 to win e4 back with active pieces, while Black tries to hold the pawn or return it on good terms.

Moves
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Bc4
ECO
B15
Engine
−0.52 · a slight edge for Black (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
670 games in our lichess sample
White scores
61.7%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • Route the king knight Nge2 and Ng3, as in the main engine line, so two knights attack the e4 pawn.
  • The bishop on c4 eyes f7. Combined with Qe2 or Qh5 ideas, it keeps Black from developing carelessly.
  • Against ...Bf5 the engine likes g4 and h4, gaining space and harassing the bishop, but White's own king gets airy.
  • A later f3 can reopen the f-file if Black keeps the e4 pawn too long.

Black

  • 4...Nf6 guards e4 and develops. After Nge2, answer with ...Bf5 to add a second defender.
  • 4...b5 gains time on the bishop: after 5.Bb3, ...b4 kicks the c3 knight away from e4.
  • Answer an early g4 with ...Bg6, and look for ...Nxg4 when White overextends with h4.
  • Keep ...e6 in reserve. It blunts the c4 bishop's pressure on f7 once e4 is secure.

Plans and pawn structure

The fight is about e4. If White wins it back with Ng3, the position looks like a normal Caro-Kann with White ahead in development. If Black keeps it with ...Nf6, ...Bf5 and ...e6, White needs open lines: f3, Qe2 and short castling to use the f-file. Black's queenside expansion with ...b5 and ...b4 is a real resource because it drives the c3 knight away from the center. Black should not rush to castle into a kingside where g4 and h4 are coming.

Where the engine's main line heads: White pawn d4, no e-pawns for White, no d-pawn for Black. White has a pawn on d4 and no e-pawn; Black has no d-pawn. White has more central space; Black's pieces are free and the d4 pawn is a target.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position −0.52: a slight edge for Black. Its three top choices for Black:

  1. −0.52 4...Nf6 5.Nge2 Bf5 6.Ng3 Bg6 7.h4
  2. −0.48 4...b5 5.Bb3 Nf6 6.Nge2 b4 7.Na4
  3. −0.29 4...Bf5 5.g4 Bg6 6.Nge2 Nf6 7.h4

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

670 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 61.7%.

1200–159955.8%
1600–199959.9%
2000 and up67.2%

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

How to play against it

As Black, take the pawn seriously but do not get greedy. Play 4...Nf6 or 4...b5, develop the light bishop to f5 or g6, and be ready to give e4 back if it costs development. White scored well in our sample, so expect early pressure on f7 and the kingside.

Questions

What are the moves of the Caro-Kann Defense: von Hennig Gambit?

The Caro-Kann Defense: von Hennig Gambit starts 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Bc4. Its ECO code is B15.

Is the Caro-Kann Defense: von Hennig Gambit good for White?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position −0.52 at depth 20, which is a slight edge for Black. In 670 lichess games from our sample, White scored 61.7%. A practical attacking choice for White players who like initiative, but it demands accurate follow-up because a calm defender keeps an edge.

What is the main idea of the Caro-Kann Defense: von Hennig Gambit?

White gives the e4 pawn for speed. The bishop on c4 targets f7, and the knight goes Nge2 and Ng3 to win e4 back, so Black must choose between holding the pawn with ...Nf6 and ...Bf5 or returning it to finish development.

What should Black play next?

The engine's first choice is Nf6, with b5 and Bf5 close behind. 4...Nf6 defends e4 and develops a kingside piece, so White still has to prove the knight route to g3 wins the pawn back.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.