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The default way I respond to the Caro-Kann Defense now is the von Hennig Gambit (1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Bc4). It is a gambit, so you give up a point of material [-0.5] and it’s objectively worse. However, I’ve found that I get a major advantage over Black in the middlegame, and there’s even the possibility of an “oh now my queen” trap which can give an instant win in the opening!

In this game, Black played the most common move on move 6, a blunder (6… Bg4), but didn’t fall for the queen trap which makes use of the knight + bishop opening checkmate pattern (https://adventuresofachessnoob.com/2023/08/04/knight-bishop-checkmate-quick-wins-46/). Nonetheless, we entered the middlegame on move 9 with a major development advantage [+1.5].

We have a bit of a middlegame battle with opposite side castling and neither of us play the most accurately. However, I never lost my advantage from the opening despite being a pawn down, which I regain on move 16. On move 23, Black makes a mistake [+6.3] with (23… Rf8). The move makes sense, but in prioritising their attack, they lost sight of a principle in chess which is that the first priority is always king safety! My queen infiltrates with (24. Qd7+) and Black finds their king caught in a mating net. I miss checkmate on move 28, capturing Black’s queen instead, but give forced mate four moves later. GG!

The big takeaway from this game is to consider the von Hennig Gambit against the Caro-Kann Defense. It’s a fun gambit that is very winning!

Game on chess.com: https://www.chess.com/game/live/84850979829

[Event "Live Chess"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2023.08.04"]
[Round "-"]
[White "vitualis"]
[Black "Odejlope"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Timezone "UTC"]
[ECO "B15"]
[ECOUrl "https://www.chess.com/openings/Caro-Kann-Defense-von-Hennig-Gambit"]
[UTCDate "2023.08.04"]
[UTCTime "01:19:25"]
[WhiteElo "1392"]
[BlackElo "1367"]
[TimeControl "900+10"]
[Termination "vitualis won by checkmate"]
[StartTime "01:19:25"]
[EndDate "2023.08.04"]
[EndTime "01:42:28"]
[Link "https://www.chess.com/game/live/84850979829"]
[WhiteUrl "https://images.chesscomfiles.com/uploads/v1/user/3711094.f52a0759.50x50o.ab18600a8723.png"]
[WhiteCountry "17"]
[WhiteTitle ""]
[BlackUrl "https://images.chesscomfiles.com/uploads/v1/user/98669508.53464d21.50x50o.0fcc124c3777.jpg"]
[BlackCountry "34"]
[BlackTitle ""]

1. e4 {[%clk 0:15:08.8]} 1... c6 {[%clk 0:15:06.7]} 2. d4 {[%clk 0:15:15.3]}
2... d5 {[%clk 0:15:11.6]} 3. Nc3 {[%clk 0:15:23]} 3... dxe4 {[%clk 0:15:17.9]}
4. Bc4 $5 {[%clk 0:15:31][%c_effect
c4;square;c4;type;Interesting;persistent;true] Caro-Kann Defense: von Hennig
Gambit [-0.5]} 4... Nf6 {[%clk 0:15:05.1]} 5. f3 {[%clk 0:15:39.9]} 5... exf3
{[%clk 0:15:02.2]} 6. Nxf3 {[%clk 0:15:48.8]} 6... Bg4 $4 {[%clk
0:15:06][%c_effect g4;square;g4;type;Blunder;persistent;true][%c_arrow
c8f5;keyPressed;none;from;c8;opacity;0.8;to;f5;persistent;false][%c_highlight
f5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f5;persistent;false] A blunder [+1.7] as
the \"oh no my queen\" checkmate trap is now available $1} 7. Ne5 {[%clk
0:15:55.9]} 7... Be6 {[%clk 0:13:44.3]} 8. Bxe6 $1 {[%clk 0:16:02.8][%c_effect
e6;square;e6;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} 8... fxe6 {[%clk 0:13:27.9]} 9.
O-O {[%clk 0:16:11.6] And we castle in a pleasant position with a major
development advantage over Black for the cost of one pawn [+1.5]} 9... Qc7 $2
{[%clk 0:13:13.2][%c_arrow
g7g6;keyPressed;none;from;g7;opacity;0.8;to;g6;persistent;false][%c_highlight
g6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;g6;persistent;false][%c_effect
c7;square;c7;type;Mistake;persistent;true] A mistake, but it's a difficult
position for Black to play [+3.5]} 10. Ng4 $2 {[%clk 0:15:31.9][%c_arrow
d1e2;keyPressed;none;from;d1;opacity;0.8;to;e2;persistent;false][%c_highlight
e2;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e2;persistent;false][%c_effect
g4;square;g4;type;Mistake;persistent;true] I wanted to potentially rotate the
knight to another position, but Stockfish didn't agree with this approach to
trade knights to develop the queen [+1.4]} 10... Nbd7 {[%clk 0:13:10.1]} 11. Bf4
{[%clk 0:15:28.6]} 11... Qb6 {[%clk 0:12:41.7]} 12. Na4 $6 {[%clk
0:13:59][%c_arrow
g4e5;keyPressed;none;from;g4;opacity;0.8;to;e5;persistent;false][%c_highlight
e5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e5;persistent;false][%c_effect
a4;square;a4;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] Stockfish didn't agree with this
approach [+0.4]} 12... Qb5 $6 {[%clk 0:11:54.8][%c_arrow
b6a5;keyPressed;none;from;b6;opacity;0.8;to;a5;persistent;false][%c_highlight
a5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;a5;persistent;false][%c_effect
b5;square;b5;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] Somewhat complicated position
[+1]} 13. b3 {[%clk 0:13:31.4]} 13... O-O-O {[%clk 0:11:39.2]} 14. c4 $6 {[%clk
0:13:17.2][%c_arrow
g4e5;keyPressed;none;from;g4;opacity;0.8;to;e5;persistent;false][%c_highlight
e5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e5;persistent;false][%c_effect
c4;square;c4;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] No the most accurate, but I'm
hemming in the mobility of the queen [+0.5]} 14... Qa6 $2 {[%clk
0:11:17.5][%c_arrow
b5h5;keyPressed;none;from;b5;opacity;0.8;to;h5;persistent;false][%c_highlight
h5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;h5;persistent;false][%c_effect
a6;square;a6;type;Mistake;persistent;true] And my approach worked, with Black
not finding Qh5, rotating the queen to the other side of the board [+3.1]} 15.
Qe2 {[%clk 0:12:38.4]} 15... b5 $2 {[%clk 0:11:04.9][%c_effect
b5;square;b5;type;Mistake;persistent;true][%c_arrow
g7g5;keyPressed;none;from;g7;opacity;0.8;to;g5;persistent;false][%c_highlight
g5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;g5;persistent;false] Black making an
aggressive attack, but is a mistake as it weakens the king's defences [+5.7]}
16. cxb5 $2 {[%clk 0:12:09.2][%c_arrow
a4c5;keyPressed;none;from;a4;opacity;0.8;to;c5;persistent;false][%c_highlight
c5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;c5;persistent;false][%c_effect
b5;square;b5;type;Mistake;persistent;true] Apparently this was a mistake, but
I'm still ahead [2.3]} 16... Qxb5 {[%clk 0:11:05]} 17. Qxe6 {[%clk 0:11:52.5]}
17... Nxg4 $2 {[%clk 0:10:17.5][%c_arrow
b5d5;keyPressed;none;from;b5;opacity;0.8;to;d5;persistent;false][%c_highlight
d5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d5;persistent;false][%c_effect
g4;square;g4;type;Mistake;persistent;true] A mistake with Black losing their
active piece and any hope of an attack [+5.6]} 18. Qxg4 $2 {[%clk
0:11:57][%c_arrow
a1c1;keyPressed;none;from;a1;opacity;0.8;to;c1;persistent;false,c1c6;keyPressed;none;from;c1;opacity;0.8;to;c6;persistent;false,c6c8;keyPressed;none;from;c6;opacity;0.8;to;c8;persistent;false,b5c6;keyPressed;none;from;b5;opacity;0.8;to;c6;persistent;false][%c_highlight
c1;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;c1;persistent;false,c6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;c6;persistent;false][%c_effect
g4;square;g4;type;Mistake;persistent;true] A mistake [+2.7] as I missed Rac1,
potentially wins the queen} 18... Kb7 {[%clk 0:10:01.4]} 19. Be3 {[%clk
0:11:06.7]} 19... g6 $2 {[%clk 0:09:54.8][%c_effect
g6;square;g6;type;Mistake;persistent;true][%c_arrow
b7a8;keyPressed;none;from;b7;opacity;0.8;to;a8;persistent;false][%c_highlight
a8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;a8;persistent;false] A waiting move that
was a mistake [+5.3]} 20. Nc5+ {[%clk 0:11:11.5][%c_arrow
d4d5;keyPressed;none;from;d4;opacity;0.8;to;d5;persistent;false][%c_highlight
d5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d5;persistent;false] Trying to find an
attack, but this wasn't the best approach [+1.1]} 20... Nxc5 {[%clk 0:09:41]}
21. dxc5 {[%clk 0:11:19.8]} 21... Bg7 {[%clk 0:09:39.8]} 22. Rad1 {[%clk
0:10:52.8]} 22... Rxd1 $6 {[%clk 0:08:46.6][%c_arrow
g7e5;keyPressed;none;from;g7;opacity;0.8;to;e5;persistent;false][%c_highlight
e5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e5;persistent;false][%c_effect
d1;square;d1;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] A mistake, as Black loses control
of the d-file [2.8]} 23. Rxd1 {[%clk 0:10:57.3]} 23... Rf8 $4 {[%clk
0:08:34.4][%c_effect f8;square;f8;type;Blunder;persistent;true] A blunder [+6.3]
as the queen now infiltrates on d7} 24. Qd7+ $1 {[%clk 0:10:59.3][%c_effect
d7;square;d7;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} 24... Ka6 $4 {[%clk
0:08:27.5][%c_arrow
b7a8;keyPressed;none;from;b7;opacity;0.8;to;a8;persistent;false][%c_highlight
a8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;a8;persistent;false][%c_effect
a6;square;a6;type;Blunder;persistent;true] The king escapes to the wrong square
and is now caught in a mating net [+M13]} 25. a4 {[%clk 0:10:51]} 25... Qxb3
{[%clk 0:07:15.7]} 26. Qxc6+ {[%clk 0:10:53.2]} 26... Ka5 {[%clk 0:07:20]} 27.
Bd2+ {[%clk 0:10:22.9]} 27... Qb4 {[%clk 0:07:07.1]} 28. Bxb4+ {[%clk
0:10:29.8][%c_arrow
c6b5;keyPressed;none;from;c6;opacity;0.8;to;b5;persistent;false][%c_highlight
b5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;b5;persistent;false] Whoops, missed
checkmate $1} (28. Qb5# {[%c_arrow
d2b4;keyPressed;none;from;d2;opacity;0.8;to;b4;persistent;false,b4a5;keyPressed;none;from;b4;opacity;0.8;to;a5;persistent;false][%c_highlight
b4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;b4;persistent;false] This is checkmate
with the Black queen pinned.}) 28... Kxb4 {[%clk 0:07:15.7]} 29. Qb5+ {[%clk
0:10:30]} 29... Kc3 {[%clk 0:07:14.2]} 30. Rd3+ {[%clk 0:10:22.4]} 30... Kc2
{[%clk 0:07:11]} 31. Qb3+ {[%clk 0:10:20.3]} 31... Kc1 {[%clk 0:07:14.1]} 32.
Rd1# {[%clk 0:10:29.1][%c_effect
g1;square;g1;type;Winner,c1;square;c1;type;CheckmateBlack] GG $1} 1-0