Caro Kann, advance variation

The Caro Kann defense, favored by Capablanca in the start of the 21st century, explored by Botvinnik in the middle years, and well-used by Karpov towards the end, can provide black with an answer to white's initiative at the start.  The main line, 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bf5, serves black the goal of wresting back some control of center squares, frees black's dark square bishop without the locked-in, inhibition of the French defense.  The defense's many attributes includes a perceived ability to equalize position in middle game and a superior position in precise end game.

That is why I favor the advance variation, 3. e5 especially in blitz games.  It keeps unbroken pressure on black's center with the hope of bearing down on the ever vulnerable f7 should black castle king-side, via for example that oft deadly 7th rank.  Here black pursued the usual queen development to b6, threatening white's vulnerable light square, g1 a7 diagonal, where white castled king side.  In the main line, by comparison, castling is often white king side, black queen side with a freer movement for black on the queen side.  

13. Na4 was an inflection point, pushing the black queen from her b6 perch, and providing an ultimate entree for white's queen and rook to the 7th rank.  At move 27. Nxf7 white has achieved his hope of exerting pressure on that vulnerable square, f7.   Black's knight seems oddly misplaced at g6, blocking the white square bishop from protecting f7. 

 I had my heart in my mouth at black's riposte: 27. ... Qe2, threatening mate at e1.  Blitz games can crush your spirits, all that planning, to fall apart at a seemingly isolated queen move.  But black's position cannot hold, and at 28. Nh6+ black must either take the knight, 28. ... gxh3, resulting in mate, 29. Qxh7#, or black's other fatal choice,  28. ... kh8 29. Qxg7#.  Black chose the latter.

I hope you enjoyed my latest sally, with white keeping up the pressure in the Caro Kann, advance variation.