Should I have

I was reviewing this game. I wondered if 4. ...Nxe4 should have been my move? Seems like I struggled from there on? I am black.
Thanks,
Eric


Game 6561413

Originally posted by Eric LeFavour
I was reviewing this game. I wondered if 4. ...Nxe4 should have been my move? Seems like I struggled from there on? I am black.
Thanks,
Eric


Game 6561413

In Caro-Cann you play dxe4. I'm not an expert, so I wouldn't know for sure myself. However, on this issue I can refer to a lecture by Jesse Kraai on chesslecture.com

Originally posted by Eric LeFavour
I was reviewing this game. I wondered if 4. ...Nxe4 should have been my move? Seems like I struggled from there on? I am black.
Thanks,
Eric


Game 6561413

Yes,you should've captured.Capturing with the pawn,4....,dxe4,kicks the knight so that may be best.

Probably you can't keep the pawn but White may have to allow a weakening somewhere in order to get it back.

Originally posted by Winston Smith
Yes,you should've captured.Capturing with the pawn,4....,dxe4,kicks the knight so that may be best.

Probably you can't keep the pawn but White may have to allow a weakening somewhere in order to get it back.

Agreed. In the opening, blacks aim should be to equalise development.
h3 is a poor and passive move for white on move 4. Don't move pawns unless you have to - they can't go back again, and in this case weaken the Kings future refuge. White shouldn't be worrying about black moves - he should be forcing the issue himself!
With dxe4 you remove a key central pawn of whites (challenging this pawn is a key objective in blacks opening) and you force him to move a piece for a second time - away from its ideal square.
You dont have to worry about holding onto your pawn - the point is to regain tempo to develop another of your pieces. Let him waste time recapturing it, while you get on with mobilisation.
This way you also retain the very useful ..e5! at some point, grabbing a chunk of the centre and restricting his.

Originally posted by Policestate
Agreed. In the opening, blacks aim should be to equalise development.
h3 is a poor and passive move for white on move 4. Don't move pawns unless you have to - they can't go back again, and in this case weaken the Kings future refuge. White shouldn't be worrying about black moves - he should be forcing the issue himself!
With dxe4 you remove a key cent ...[text shortened]... tain the very useful ..e5! at some point, grabbing a chunk of the centre and restricting his.

PS I prefer this to Nxe4 as the f6 knight is always a key defender of the black kingside. It is by no means clear it is wise to exchange it at this point, and white no doubt wouldn't want to ignore the knight if it did capture!
That said, this may be a debatable point as every exchange tends to favour black in the opening, as it helps take the sting out of whites (usual) better development and frees up blacks (often) cramped position.
As always, every guideline is there to be broken dependent on taste and the specifics of the position. I'd have gone for pawn takes...

Thanks for all of the advice. It all helps and is why I ask the questions.
Eric