Lately I have been useing alekine's defence for about 50% of my games as black in response to e5. I have never tried the caro-kann, but I do know the first move.
Caro-Kann and Alekhine Def.
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Let's see...I played the Caro for a bit before I decided to opt for French instead. I also played Alekhines for a bit, and enjoyed it as well. I think the main reason I stopped playing these openings is that one's developement is slowed as a result of moving pieces multiple times, and that doesn't really fit with my style.
Feb 8, 2011
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#4
Caro-Kann is actually quite popular at master level, although Silican is obviously preferred. I love the Caro-Kann.
Alekine's is not so popular because it gives away space for no meaningful return.
Mar 9, 2021
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#5
According to me, the openings you select should choose your style.
In Caro kann:
The position is quite solid and provides few aggressive shots.
Although Sicilian:
This opening is used as it creates imbalance and plays for win
Alekhine:
This opening is generally not used as black position becomes cramped. A lot of maneuvering takes place here.
But, if your style chooses to operate in only 3 files and looks for valid pawn breaks go for Alekhine by all means. I like playing it myself 
Caro - kann is very good but it is not played so much at high levels due to advance variation:
This variation just gives white a lot of space, especially tal variation where lot of aggressive lines are there.
Hope this helped
Alekhine defense is great to me. It's a perfect counterattack weapon against people who think it's bullshit, who tend to overextend. Lately I've started playing 1...Nc6 with success after reading the new book about it by GM Bauer.
MJStallard wrote:
I learned to play chess in the East Block while my parents lived there (Caro-Kann and Alekhine's Def. was what I saw played against e4 in about 40% of the games in non-tournament play)
Boy ain't that the truth. I love the Caro-Kann and I've had a lot of success with it, even against much higher rated opponents. It's very solid and the ideas are more or less the same across all variations with similiar positions. The Alekheine defense is a little tricky, I just use it in bullet and sometimes 3 min blitz games.
Two of my all time favorite defenses is the Caro-Kann and the Alekhine
Caro-Kann
However, it seems that few enjoy then except at the more advanced levels. I learned to play chess in the East Block while my parents lived there (Caro-Kann and Alekhine's Def. was what I saw played against e4 in about 40% of the games in non-tournament play) and I was wondering if anyone else uses these regularly. If not, what is it specifically that you don't like about them. I enjoy closed positions which I can get easily with either and I know you move a minor piece repeatedly (King's Knight in Alekhine and the Queen's Bishop in Caro-Kann as the play continues), other than that (and I know that that is MORE than enough for most).
Just a curiousity question.