user15478: [fen ""]
1. e4 c6 2. Nc3 d5 3. Qe2 d4 4. Nd1

I find this variation very interesting and would like to know whether it has a name, is in some books, or maybe just annotated games. It is played mostly by Russian players: Aleksei Pridorozhni, Vadim Zvjaginsev, Semen Dvoirys are listed with the most games and very convincing scores.

user24647: The Chess Tempo website has an opening explorer database. It has a number of follow ons at from numerous master level+ games, with win and draw percentages for each variation.  According to its data, 4... e3 looks  better for Black than d4. EDIT  clearly that should be e6 as noted by B Swan  ]
Fun fact: Tartakover used to play Nf3 instead of Qe2.

user19861: I have several Caro-Kann books and none mention this line.
In general, http://www.kenilworthchessclub.org/, and https://www.chessgames.com/ are good opening resources.
When you're analyzing rarely played lines it's best to just use a database and an engine. That's all I really use anymore anyway. Occasionally, I'll look at book if I don't understand a particular move but mostly it's database and engine.
White is getting crushed in this line. After 4. Nd1, e5, black is at least equal. I don't know why you'd want to play it.  Something like the 2 knights or the KIA would lead to similar positions but are better openings.

15478: <pre><code>[fen &quot;&quot;]
1. e4 c6 2. Nc3 d5 3. Qe2 d4 4. Nd1
</code></pre>
<p>I find this variation very interesting and would like to know whether it has a name, is in some books, or maybe just annotated games. It is played mostly by Russian players: Aleksei Pridorozhni, Vadim Zvjaginsev, Semen Dvoirys are listed with the most games and very convincing scores.</p>
 24647: <p>The Chess Tempo website has an <a href="https://old.chesstempo.com/game-database.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">opening explorer</a> database. It has a number of follow ons at from numerous master level+ games, with win and draw percentages for each variation.  According to its data, <strong>4... e3</strong> looks  better for Black than d4. EDIT  clearly that should be e6 as noted by B Swan  ]</p>
<p>Fun fact: Tartakover used to play Nf3 instead of Qe2.</p>
 19861: <p>I have several Caro-Kann books and none mention this line.</p>
<p>In general, <a href="http://www.kenilworthchessclub.org/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">http://www.kenilworthchessclub.org/</a>, and <a href="https://www.chessgames.com/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://www.chessgames.com/</a> are good opening resources.</p>
<p>When you're analyzing rarely played lines it's best to just use a database and an engine. That's all I really use anymore anyway. Occasionally, I'll look at book if I don't understand a particular move but mostly it's database and engine.</p>
<p>White is getting crushed in this line. After 4. Nd1, e5, black is at least equal. I don't know why you'd want to play it.  Something like the 2 knights or the KIA would lead to similar positions but are better openings.</p>
