Chessy
Caro-Kann Defense: Labahn Attack, Double Gambit – White's Guide
The Labahn Attack Double Gambit (1.e4 c6 2.b4 d5 3.b5) is a sharp, offbeat way to face the Caro-Kann. You immediately sacrifice a pawn for development and space — but the engine gives -1.61, meaning Black has a clear advantage here. In the Lichess database of 1,716 games, Black wins 57.2% of the time while White only scores 39.3%. This page will show you what the engine thinks is best, which replies from Black you should hope for, and what to avoid. Use the interactive drill below to practise the critical lines.
Play the Caro-Kann Defense: Labahn Attack, Double Gambit against the engine
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The Double Gambit isn't about a forced win — it's about unbalanced, tactical play where you rely on activity to compensate for the pawn deficit. After 3.b5, you've given Black a free tempo and an extra pawn if they capture correctly. The engine evaluates this at -1.61, a near-winning edge for Black. That sounds grim, but White still scores 39.3% in practice, meaning many Black players mishandle the position. Your goal is to steer the game toward positions where Black's extra pawn comes with complications they can't handle, especially at the club level.
Black's Best Reply (And What Follows)
The engine's top choice is dxe4 (played in 1,076 of the 1,716 games, making up nearly 63% of all replies). After dxe4, the recommended continuation is a4 Nf6 Ne2. This line gives you a chance to develop your knight to e2 and push the a-pawn, trying to generate play on the queenside. Statistically, this is Black's strongest reply — White only scores 36.8% from here, the lowest win rate among the six most popular continuations. If Black plays dxe4, you're in the main line where you need accurate play to stay in the game.
The Mistakes Black Makes (And How to Punish Them)
Not all Black players find dxe4, and the statistics show you can improve your chances when they don't. The engine identifies three suboptimal replies with concrete evaluations: Nf6 is a full mistake (costs ~1.5 pawns), e6 is also a mistake (~1.1 pawns lost), and e5 is an inaccuracy (~0.8 pawns lost). In practice, these moves give you better results: White scores 45.7% after Nf6, 49.0% after e6, and 35.8% after e5. The e6 line is particularly promising — it's almost a 50-50 split for White despite the overall disadvantage. If your opponent plays Nf6 or e6, you've dodged the engine's best defence and can play with more confidence.
What to Do Against the Most Popular Replies
Here is a quick reference for the most-played responses from Black (beyond dxe4) and what the numbers say: Nf6 (151 games) — a mistake per the engine; White scores 45.7%, your best chance statistically. e5 (106 games) — only an inaccuracy, but White scores just 35.8%, so handle with care. e6 (104 games) — a mistake; White scores a solid 49.0%, the highest win rate of any continuation. cxb5 (85 games) — White scores 35.3%, tough but playable. c5 (52 games) — White scores 44.2%, a decent alternate. Focus on capitalising when Black plays Nf6 or e6 — those are your clearest opportunities to level the game.
Results across 1,716 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| dxe4 | 1,076 | 36.8% |
| Nf6 | 151 | 45.7% |
| e5 | 106 | 35.8% |
| e6 | 104 | 49.0% |
| cxb5 | 85 | 35.3% |
| c5 | 52 | 44.2% |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Caro-Kann Labahn Attack Double Gambit a good opening for White?
Objectively, no. The engine gives -1.61, meaning Black has a near-winning advantage if they play accurately. That said, White still wins 39.3% of games in practice, so it can be a fun surprise weapon against unprepared opponents.
What is the best move for Black against the Double Gambit?
The engine says dxe4 is best, which has been played in 1,076 out of 1,716 games. After dxe4, the top continuation is a4 Nf6 Ne2. White scores only 36.8% in this line, so you want Black to pick something else.
How should I play if Black plays Nf6 on move 3?
Nf6 is classified as a mistake (~1.5 pawns worse than dxe4). White scores 45.7% after Nf6 — your highest win rate among the common lines. Take the extra space and develop naturally, keeping pressure on Black's centre.
Why does White play 2.b4 and 3.b5 in the Caro-Kann?
The idea is to sacrifice a pawn very early to gain queenside space and disrupt Black's normal Caro-Kann setup. It leads to sharp, unbalanced positions where club players often outplay each other, even if the engine prefers Black by -1.61.