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One of the best approaches against the Caro-Kann Defense (which is one of the best responses by Black against 1. e4, and @GothamChess IM Levy Rozman’s signature opening) is the von Hennig Gambit (1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Bc4!?). If the line progress as hoped to the critical position (4… Nf6 5. f3 exf3 6. Nxf3 Bg4??), historically, I’ve played the romantic “oh no, my queen!” trap with (7. Ne5!?). The logic here is if Black is unwilling to resist the hanging queen (7… Bxd1), then we have a beautiful checkmate (8. Ne5#) – the classic von Hennig Gambit 8-move checkmate trap line which I first described on this blog and channel 2 years ago!

However, in this game, I decided to not play the trap line, but rather the “grown up” line beginning with the bishop sacrifice (7. Bxf7+!!). The problem with the trap line is that if Black sees it and plays the optimal move (7. Ne5!? Be6), White is still completely good, but the position ends up being “clunky” to play for White. The middlegame is complicated and Black has the opportunity to consolidate, equalise, and even gain an advantage.

Brief historical note:
I’ve previously covered some of the fascinating historical information about Konteradmiral Heinrich (Heinz) von Hennig (1883-1947), a German U-boat commander and chess master a couple of months ago. The very first game of this “grown up” line in competitive games in the massive LumbrasGigabase with (7. Bxf7+!!) is quite contemporary with (Zickelbein — Vaut, 1989, Hamburg Germany) though the position had been transposed to from other openings earlier, especially from (1. d4 d5) openings.

Although you don’t get the opportunity for the instant quick win with (7. Bxf7+!!), the transformation after the capture sequence with the knight advance with an absolute fork (7… Kxf7! 8. Ke8 9. Nxg4 Nxg4 10. Qxg4) is that White has a very very nice position at the end of the opening! White is well developed, while Black has no development, no immediate counterplay, had lost the right to castle, and their king is exposed from the hole on f7! Although material is technically equal, Stockfish evaluates the position at [+3]!

The middlegame is also easy for White to play, with the good/best moves being sensible and intuitive to find. I managed to overwhelm Black by launching an attack, winning a pawn, then a bishop, and then a knight, each time without having to give away a concession. On move 19, we moved practically into an endgame where it was 3 vs 1 pieces. Black valiantly attempted to play on, but on move 22, it became obvious that all hope was lost and resigned. Black had no forward movement possible and were on the verge of losing more pawns. Emotional damage, good game, GG!

The big takeaway from this game is to try the von Hennig Gambit against the Caro-Kann Defense. Whether you play the “oh no, my queen!” trap or the “grown up” Bxf7+, you’re likely to have a good time and a fun game!

Game: https://www.chess.com/game/live/116222976497

[Event "Live Chess"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2024.07.31"]
[Round "?"]
[White "vitualis"]
[Black "LureSan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B15"]
[WhiteElo "1271"]
[BlackElo "1124"]
[TimeControl "900+10"]
[EndTime "20:49:13 PDT"]
[Termination "vitualis won by resignation"]
[WhiteUrl "https://images.chesscomfiles.com/uploads/v1/user/3711094.f52a0759.50x50o.ab18600a8723@2x.png"]
[WhiteCountry "17"]
[WhiteTitle ""]
[BlackUrl "https://images.chesscomfiles.com/uploads/v1/user/159036305.b4462ab2.50x50o.1306523221ae@2x.jpg"]
[BlackCountry "27"]
[BlackTitle ""]

1. e4 {[%clk 0:15:08.9][%timestamp 11]} 1... c6 {[%clk 0:15:09][%timestamp 10]}
2. d4 {[%clk 0:15:14.9][%timestamp 40]} 2... d5 {[%clk 0:15:18.1][%timestamp 9]}
3. Nc3 {[%clk 0:15:23.2][%timestamp 17]} 3... dxe4 {[%clk 0:15:26.4][%timestamp
17]} 4. Bc4 $5 {[%clk 0:15:32.3][%timestamp 9][%c_effect
c4;square;c4;type;Interesting;persistent;true] Caro-Kann Defense: von Hennig
Gambit} 4... Nf6 {[%clk 0:15:30.8][%timestamp 56]} 5. f3 {[%clk
0:15:41.3][%timestamp 10]} 5... exf3 {[%clk 0:15:37.8][%timestamp 30]} 6. Nxf3
{[%clk 0:15:50.1][%timestamp 12]} 6... Bg4 $4 {[%clk 0:15:45.8][%timestamp
20][%c_arrow
c8f5;keyPressed;none;from;c8;opacity;0.8;to;f5;persistent;false,b7b5;keyPressed;none;from;b7;opacity;0.8;to;b5;persistent;false][%c_highlight
f5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f5;persistent;false,b5;keyPressed;shift;opacity;0.8;square;b5;persistent;false,g4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;g4;persistent;false][%c_effect
g4;square;g4;type;Blunder;persistent;true] A very natural blunder $1} 7. Bxf7+ $3
{[%clk 0:15:54.3][%timestamp 58][%c_effect
f7;square;f7;type;Brilliant;persistent;true][%c_highlight
f7;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;f7;persistent;false] Ne5 $5 creates the
devious, \"oh no, my queen $1\" trap as Bxd1 Ne5# $1 However, if Black sees the trap
and responds with Be6, their best move, the position ends up being a bit clunky
to play for White, despite the computer evaluation being good. The \"grown up\"
move is the brilliant bishop sacrifice, which unpins the f3-knight $1} 7... Kxf7
{[%clk 0:15:53.3][%timestamp 25]} 8. Ne5+ $1 {[%clk 0:16:03.2][%timestamp
11][%c_highlight
e5;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;e5;persistent;false,f7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f7;persistent;false,g4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;g4;persistent;false][%c_arrow
e5f7;keyPressed;none;from;e5;opacity;0.8;to;f7;persistent;false,e5g4;keyPressed;none;from;e5;opacity;0.8;to;g4;persistent;false][%c_effect
e5;square;e5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] Absolute fork of the king and
bishop $1} 8... Ke8 {[%clk 0:15:45][%timestamp 183]} 9. Nxg4 {[%clk
0:16:12.3][%timestamp 9]} 9... Nxg4 {[%clk 0:15:42.9][%timestamp 121]} 10. Qxg4
{[%clk 0:16:20.3][%timestamp 20] And at the end of the opening, White is well
developed, while Black has no development, no immediate counterplay, lost the
right to castle, with the king exposed from the hole on f7 $1 [+3].} 10... e6 $2
{[%clk 0:15:46.5][%timestamp 64][%c_effect
e6;square;e6;type;Mistake;persistent;true][%c_arrow
b8d7;keyPressed;none;from;b8;opacity;0.8;to;d7;persistent;false][%c_highlight
d7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d7;persistent;false] The difficulty for
Black in finding a good move results in this move which immediately worsens
their position $1 It's somewhat understandable as Black wants to develop their
king's bishop, but it's also clearly a developing move that compromises king
safety $1 [+5.5]} 11. O-O {[%clk 0:16:07.8][%timestamp 225]} 11... Bd6 {[%clk
0:15:11.3][%timestamp 452]} 12. Qxe6+ {[%clk 0:16:09.8][%timestamp 80]} 12...
Qe7 $4 {[%clk 0:15:19.1][%timestamp 22][%c_highlight
e7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e7;persistent;false][%c_effect
e7;square;e7;type;Blunder;persistent;true] Black offers to trade queens, which
isn't a bad idea necessarily. It's ostensibly a blunder as this actually results
in a forced checkmate of no more than 12 moves $1} 13. Qxe7+ $2 {[%clk
0:16:14.7][%timestamp 51][%c_arrow
e6c8;keyPressed;none;from;e6;opacity;0.8;to;c8;persistent;false][%c_highlight
c8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;c8;persistent;false][%c_effect
e7;square;e7;type;Mistake;persistent;true] In the game, I decided to \"keep it
simple\". Stockfish rates this as a mistake as Qc8+ is the next step along the
forced checkmate line. However, I can't see [+M12] $1 My intuition was that
despite the relative similarity in material, my massive advantage in development
meant that trading down in this case was still good. Stockfish agrees where as
the revaluation remains [+3].} 13... Bxe7 {[%clk 0:15:27.4][%timestamp 17]} 14.
Bf4 {[%clk 0:16:04.3][%timestamp 204]} 14... Rf8 $6 {[%clk 0:15:34.6][%timestamp
28][%c_arrow
b8a6;keyPressed;none;from;b8;opacity;0.8;to;a6;persistent;false][%c_highlight
a6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;a6;persistent;false][%c_effect
f8;square;f8;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] Perhaps a natural looking move,
but it doesn't really work as the bishop isn't really pinned to the rook.
[+4.5]} 15. Rae1 {[%clk 0:16:07.2][%timestamp 71] Pin the bishop to the king $1
One of the great things with this line is that the moves are all fairly easy to
find $1} 15... Nd7 $6 {[%clk 0:15:35.9][%timestamp 87][%c_arrow
e8d8;keyPressed;none;from;e8;opacity;0.8;to;d8;persistent;false][%c_highlight
d8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d8;persistent;false][%c_effect
d7;square;d7;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] An intuitive move, but inaccurate $1
Move the king so that the bishop is no longer pinned is better [+6]} 16. Bd6
{[%clk 0:16:12.7][%timestamp 45][%c_arrow
d6e7;keyPressed;none;from;d6;opacity;0.8;to;e7;persistent;false,e1e8;keyPressed;none;from;e1;opacity;0.8;to;e8;persistent;false][%c_highlight
e7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e7;persistent;false,e8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e8;persistent;false]
Place pressure on the pinned piece $1} 16... Rxf1+ {[%clk 0:15:31][%timestamp
149]} 17. Kxf1 {[%clk 0:16:20.4][%timestamp 23] Which effectively forces a
simplification $1} 17... Kf7 $2 {[%clk 0:15:24.2][%timestamp 168][%c_arrow
d7f6;keyPressed;none;from;d7;opacity;0.8;to;f6;persistent;false][%c_highlight
f6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f6;persistent;false][%c_effect
f7;square;f7;type;Mistake;persistent;true] This is arguably a mistake/blunder as
it loses the knight. However, the position is already lost $1} 18. Rxe7+ {[%clk
0:16:27.4][%timestamp 30][%c_arrow
e7f7;keyPressed;none;from;e7;opacity;0.8;to;f7;persistent;false,e7d7;keyPressed;none;from;e7;opacity;0.8;to;d7;persistent;false][%c_highlight
f7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f7;persistent;false,d7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d7;persistent;false]
Absolute fork $1} 18... Kf6 {[%clk 0:15:30.9][%timestamp 33]} 19. Rxd7 {[%clk
0:16:33][%timestamp 44] And we're basically approaching an endgame of 3 vs 1
piece.} 19... Re8 {[%clk 0:15:37.5][%timestamp 34] Black attempts to play on
valiantly...} 20. Be5+ {[%clk 0:16:23.1][%timestamp 199]} 20... Ke6 {[%clk
0:15:35][%timestamp 125]} 21. Rxg7 {[%clk 0:15:51.1][%timestamp 420]} 21... Rf8+
{[%clk 0:15:40.2][%timestamp 48]} 22. Ke2 {[%clk 0:15:56.5][%timestamp
46][%c_effect e2;square;e2;type;Winner,e6;square;e6;type;ResignBlack] But at
this point, all hope is lost and Black resigns. Good game, GG $1} 1-0