Caro-kann is ok if you are playing for a draw...You have big chance to earn it. But otherwise, it is to passive. White get's huge activity. So you cannot play it for a win successfully. I think the french is the best among positional openings against e4. The owen's opening is not so bad either.

Good to know, xxvalakixx, that my choice of opening when I want to win as Black is too passive. I will give up on the Caro, which frequently leads to sharp opposite side castling, and play the French, where I get either a slightly worse Caro or a drawable ending, or the Owen's where I have almost no chance to win at all.

Yeah I'd have to check but I don't think I've drawn with the Caro. It's only passive if you don't achieve your goals, which is true with the QGD and a lot of other openings.

Yes you can. There's an entire CK repertoire you can build around fighting for the win instead of playing the drawing lines. Refer to GM Shankland's video series on this specific repertoire of the CK (you'll need diamond membership to view the videos).

Caro-Kann.

Maybe e5, fianchetto, knights, queen's pawn gambit, yeah:)

Woa, so many Caro players here !

I always thought I was in minority playing that...

Yes, the CK is a try for a win. Thinking it is "passive" just proves not to have studied it much. Certainly it is less "tactical" though - but those are two different concepts.

Caro-Kann is a great opening.

An alternative would be the French.  It looks passive, but some lines (especially the Winawer) are quite sharp and aggressive.

It looks passive ?

You mean before move 2 ?

Black's philosophy in the French is mainly to keep harassing White to compensate for his light-squared bishop.