Sicilian or Caro-Kann Defense?

Would you rather play the Sicilian or Caro-Kann Defense, and why? Which one would you recommend for a beginner/intermediate against any specific level of player? Also, which would you want to avoid playing against?

I personally play the caro-kann, I find it a lot simpler to learn and remember. The Sicilian has so many lines, which I think would make it harder to learn, though I haven't actually learned it. Both are really good refutations to 1. e4 though, as white I'd avoid them equally

indeed. I dont know why players of your guyses gen ask these types of questions. I'm obviously an older player (been playin for 30+ years) and I'm totally jealous of all the resources you players have now a days. It's not like the openings changed overnight for you guys. Quite the opposite, you newbies are right here n now in the forefront of current trends in any opening. Opening Explorer, Chess.com. Chessable etc. Look, it's not like you're going up against a world beater everytime you play...just learn some moves to beat your neighborhood bully or club or online opponent. Study tactics, endgame, mating attacks stuff like that. Learn the openings gradually by playing them (and not talking about them) everyday, every game...through experience n playing. And playin's always the thing with me. Best wishes 🤙🏼

 

NEITHER!  I'd rather move the e-pawn, preferably 1 square, though I have occasionally been known to move it 2 squares.

Caro-Kann is much easier and i think a better one to start for beginners.

I love the Caro-Kann, it's very reliable and solid. It teaches you a lot about positional play. 

The Caro-Kann becomes a crutch for beginners, and causes them to stagnate at a lower level than the Sicilian.  So if I had to choose between the two (and I did way back when), the Sicilian is the way to go.

The weakness of the Caro-Kann in the center means that players who know how to attack with pawns (and you'll see these as soon as a 1200 rating) will roll you under every time.  The Sicilian counterattacks the center, so this doesn't become a problem.  The issue with the Sicilian is that it is studied to great depth, so if you encounter someone with deeper memory of the lines, they'll destroy you, but this you won't see until you're around 1600 or so (this is where I had to give up the Sicilian).

Yes, the Caro-Kann is harder to lose quickly with, but what do you learn by getting picked apart in game after game, or else winning because the opponent hanged a piece?  At least in the Sicilian, you will learn positional and middlegame dynamics, and this will make you a better player in the long run.

I suppose the question is, what do you want as a beginner?  Do you want to play lengthy games against people over a wide range of skill levels, or do you want to become a better player faster?  The Caro-Kann might be more pleasant to play for a beginner, but the Sicilian will better prepare you to take the next step into the ranks of mid-amateurs.

The Caro-Kann is all pawns and no hope. 

But seriously, I play the Sicilian Defence. It doesn't commit any central pawns, and you can be more flexible, while in the Caro-Kann Advanced Variation, the c-pawn blocks the b-knight from developing to a good square.

Isn't every generation at the forefront of theory at the time?  

OP, why not both... I have always been interested in the Taimanov but for the longest time I just tinkered with it since I had better results/ intuitive understanding of other openings.  Over the years I eventually gained experience with it as a side project and now it is my best scoring defense.  Play the Caro now, and have fun with your chosen sicilian on the side.

Sicilian is better

Have you tried both openings in your games? If so which one do you seem more comfortable with?

From my experience as black I have always played the Sicilian. I like the positions I get and feel like I am fighting from the start.

Playing as white, I find the Sicilian to be more tactical than the Caro-Kann but that is also a matter of the lines you choose and your opponent chooses. Now the Caro-Kann is a solid defense, and I have known a couple personally good friends to play it and they love it.

To finish this up, I think you should try both openings. For example, play 10 games with the Caro-Kann then 10 games with the Sicilian. Then see which one you get better results with. Also let me know which one you decided to go with and why. I would be curious to know.

The Caro-Kann is all pawns and no hope. Play the Sicilian.

Caro is more "beginner friendly". I played it for years. There are lot of insights you can gain from playing with the specific structures that it leads to.

Though, I've moved onto the Sicilian since then, as I find it gives Black more of a fighting chance.

Caro tends to be more popular among lower-rated players, whereas the Sicilian is more popular among higher-rated players.

The drawback to the Sicilian is that it's sharper, tactically, and considerably more difficult to learn.