Great blog Greenpawn. I am a relatively recent convert to the Caro Kann, and I've fallen into Ng5, Nxe6 / Nxf7 traps countless times in blitz games! Another one I often fall into is Ng5 and then other knight to e5, hitting f7 before I get a chance to castle.
I'll be looking more closely at other games where this move is played. It still doesn't come anywhere near the pleasure of the Trazler variation, but it does seem like more fun than anything I've played before.
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 d5 5. exd5 Nxd5 6. O-O {This is the e-pawn chase line.} 6... Bg4 7. Re1 {Slipping in the move 7.h3 makes a lot of difference. (see next game.)} 7... Bc5 8. Nxe5 {A very plausible and tempting line even in OTB play. If now 8…Bxd1 9.Nxc6+ and Nxd8 White comes out of it a piece up. Easy to see therefore easy to fall for.} 8... Bxf2+ {This Bishop has to be taken. If not Black can go into the above line with Bxd1 meeting the discovered check with Bf2xe1.} 9. Kxf2 Qh4+ 10. Kf1 Bxd1 11. Nxc6+ Kf8 12. Ne5 Nf4 {This looks like the trickiest to meet.} 13. Rxd1 {Note 13.Nf3 Bxf3 and Black is clearly on top.} 13... Qxh2 14. Bxf4 Qxf4+ 15. Nf3 {Stopping here. Black's plan is to throw the h-pawn at White and keeping pushing it. Looks good.}
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 d5 5. exd5 Nxd5 6. O-O Bg4 7. h3 Bh5 8. Re1 {Back to the pawn chase line.} 8... Bc5 {And now not Estrin’s recommendation of 9.d4! (exclam his) from his book on the Two Knights. It's OK. But much better is:} 9. Nxe5 {With the pawn on h3 this now works in White's favour.} 9... Bxf2+ 10. Kxf2 Qh4+ 11. g3 {Now we see the difference. If the h-pawn was on h2 then Black has Qxh2+ here. Now Black is in trouble.} 11... Qxh3 12. Nf3+ {Blocking the attack on the Queen and stopping Qh2+ all with a tempo gaining check.} 12... Nde7 13. Bg5 f6 14. Bf4 {Not liking this for Black. The Bg5-f4 jaunt has stopped Black from castling. Rh1 is coming and Black is already a piece down. Can Black go Queenside. No, I'll show why as it's a very common error in blitz and OTB.} 14... O-O-O {One does not spot the danger pattern till after the move is made. The King and Queen are sitting on the same diagonal.} 15. Be6+ {Wins the Queen. So look out for that one. On 7.h3 play (after you have investigated it....don't trust me...don't trust anyone..) 7...Bh5 8.Re1 Qd6.}
Eagle Cheats + Caro Kann Traps
04 Feb '15 01:19
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