About this opening
Caro-Kann Defense: Classical Variation, Seirawan Variation is an opening in the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings,
classified under code B19. ECO group B (B00–B99)
covers semi-open games (1.e4 with Black playing anything other than 1…e5), with the Sicilian, French, Caro-Kann and Pirc/Modern at its heart. This particular variation is reached
after 24 half-moves from the
starting position, with the move sequence 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bf5 5. Ng3 Bg6 6. h4 h6 7. Nf3 Nd7 8. h5 Bh7 9. Bd3 Bxd3 10. Qxd3 Ngf6 11. Bd2 e6 12. O-O-O Bd6.
It belongs to the Caro-Kann Defense family.
Within that family this is a level-2 branch (the Classical Variation → Seirawan Variation line). The immediate parent line is Caro-Kann Defense: Classical Variation, transitioned via 12…Bd6.
The opening sequence in prose form: 1.e4 c6, 2.d4 d5, 3.Nd2 dxe4, 4.Nxe4 Bf5, 5.Ng3 Bg6, 6.h4 h6. From this position the encyclopaedia records no further canonical continuations — practical play branches into unnamed transpositions or returns to the parent line for alternative ideas.