e5 (with Nf3 and Be2) is probably best and most played. Nc3 is respectable to and probably slightly less played.
exd5 is probably worst of the 3 even the panov that has the reputation of being strong is not very dangerous against a prepared black player
Thank you moonie that was helpful.
I don't entirely trust the chess.com database, but are you sure about that Moonnie? The database has white winning 8% more than black with the Panov attack; I'll go check my other database.
Nc3 is the most common reply, though e5 is gaining in popularity so that may not hold true forever. There is nothing wrong with exd5 either. Plenty of Grandmaster games with that move.
Not saying that exd5 is wrong just that the main line kind forced leads to endgames where black has practically equalized.
" I usually do well " is not proof that it's a good move in GM level.
BTW: 2.d4 need not necessarily be assumed: I usually do well with the Accelerated Panov 2. c4.
Ditto as far as 2. d4 not being de riguer -- another viable system is 2. Nf3 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. Ne5
This isn't even a remotely serious line. 3.Nd2 is best according to Kasparov.
EcoCodeG02 wrote:
Arloest wrote:
BTW: 2.d4 need not necessarily be assumed: I usually do well with the Accelerated Panov 2. c4.
Ditto as far as 2. d4 not being de riguer -- another viable system is 2. Nf3 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. Ne5
I''l stick to e5, I haven't seen good reasons to believe anything else.
So, kasparov considers 3Nd2 the best? Does this move have good statistics on GM level?
2. f4 is also playable
I have been told the Caro-Kann defense is a good solid response for black against the Queens gambit, does everyone here agree?
As for your question, I think e5 is the most playable move! I asked a titled player in live chess 
How can Caro kann be a response to QG? Caro-Kann is a response to e4. I never play Caro Kann as black, but I do play e4, and I have to be prepared for c6.
According to my research, the best response to QG is QGD orthodox line as far as you can go. (in other words, moves like Nf6, e6, d5, Be7, h6, b6, Bb7, O-O, c5, (Nd7?), not necessarily in this order. better study the GM database.
In GM Play, 3.e5 has definitely gained the most popularity. 3.Nc3 used to be the main line, and is still dubbed the "Main Line", but it's popularity is waining, as is the case with other main lines. For example, after 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 c5 4.exd5 exd5 5.Ngf3, 5...Nc6 was the old main line, but nobody plays that any more because all Black does then is fight to try to draw, and so 5...Nf6 has gained far more popularity.
The same can be said for the advance Caro-Kann. Probably the "most popular" is the Short Variation (4.Nf3). Not many play 4.Nc3 any more now that Black has figured out what to do.
One line that saw it's "birth" around the turn of the century is 4.Be3 and 5.Nd2 intending 6.Nb3, basically trying to outright stop c5 by Black.
Like the others have said, the Exchange lines (and the Fantasy Variation, 3.f3), definitely deserve less respect than 3.e5 or 3.Nc3.
Rather than going for the popularity contest, I would study both 3.e5 and 3.Nc3, and go with the one that better suits your own style of play amongst those 2.
Thank you Thriller Fan.
What you said about French defense:
1 e4 e6
2 d4 d5
3 Nd2? Isn't Nc3 the best?
But which is the best for the white's third move? The most popular in GM level?
Nc3? Nd2? e5?
Until now I thought it was Nc3.
Nc3 and Nd2 lead to the same positions so they can basically be added together as 'mainline Caro-Kann.' Kasparov said 3.Nd2 is more accurate, probably because it makes 3...g6 less desirable.
3.e5 has been gaining popularity recently, so it depends on what slice of time you want to look at in a database. If you look at all GM games, 3.Nc3 is by far the most popular move. If you look at GM games in the last 5 years, 3.e5 might edge out 3.Nc3 (but is probably not more popular than 3.Nc3 and 3.Nd2 combined...would have to check)
In any event, it's completly irrelevant to anything you would need to know. What is the basis for this question? First off, you are using this word 'best' and defining it in a very strange way.
1 e4 c6
2 d4 d5
3: What's the best move for white? e5? exd5? Nc3?
When I say the best I mean most played between GMs.