Annotated chess game

It isn't dangerous if black didn't try to keep the pawn. e.g. 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 c5 etc..

Personally, I like the subtle 3.e3, inviting black to enter an IQP position with 3...e5 4.Bxc4 exd4 5.exd4. I find that white usually gets good play in these kinds of positions, which can also arise from the exchange French or Panov-Botvinnik variation of the Caro-Kann.

I think more 'standard', is something like 3.Nf3, though either e-pawn advance is playable.

I prefer 3.Nf3 more than 3.e3 e5! 4.Bxc4 exd4 5.exd4 with an isolated d pawn.

Of course not 4.Bxc4?! Qxd4

I suppose 4. d5 is also playable. Will black defend the e5 pawn with Bd6, Qd6 or Nd7?

Wow, i rarely see this position. Very sharp.

If you see it as a Petrof scheme, but without d3 by white... anyway, it seems playable, but I wasn't participating in the game at this point, and I don't have theory about it.

An interesting move here is 5.Nxe5, Where white develops a dangerous initiative after 5...Nxe4 6.Bxc4 (OK, so my preference for IQP positions is showing  ), and 5...Bb4+ 6.Nc3 b5 (not 6...Nxe4? 7.Qa4+!) 7.f3 gives white great central control.

The thing with IQP positions is that some prefer to have the isolated d-pawn, others prefer their opponents to have it. The latter see the isolated pawn as a weakness - owing to the lack of friendly pawns to help him out. In a 'pure' pawn ending, the IQP is likely to become a liability. Those who like the IQP, are aggressive, attacking types. They figure that the d-pawn's control over e5 (and the c5-square comes in handy sometimes, too), and the plenty of room behind the pawn allowing for quick development and easy piece play, gives them fine chances early on. You will always, I think, have a hung jury on this case.

This seems inaccurate, as it will allow white to cover e4. Instead, it looks like black will equalize after the immediate 5...exd4 5.e5 (5.Nxd4 Bc5; 5.Qb3 Qe7 6.Ng5 Qb4+) 5...Ne4 6.O-O (6.Qxd4 Qxd4 7.Nxd4 Bc5) 6...Nc6 7.Nbd2 Nxd2 (7...Nc5!? is also good) followed by 8...Be6.

In fact, as the game proves, this only helps white to defend e4 with tempo. The difference is just that the developed bishop won't be kept, leaving white with three minor pieces playing, and black without a key bishop and only a knight developed.

Yes, it leaves the d4 pawn but white can play 8.e5! with advantage.

Unfortunately this is probably black's best move, as O-O or Nc6 simply drops the e pawn. The difference between this position and taking exd4 on move 5 is that now after 8.e5, black cannot play 8...Ne4. This is why I thought that 5...Bb5+ was an inaccuracy (see my previous comment).

Before black plays this variation, he (we) had to know exactly where to go with the knight, and found some advantage for it. We didn't.

8...Nh5, aiming for ...Nf4, is probably the best try. There's no DSB, so the f4 square looks like a promising outpost, as white can't really get away with playing g3 to control it.

I agree with hityerclock, 8...Nh5 looks better.

Agreed. Even Nd5 whorts a try, maybe. If Nxd4, Qg5, attacking g2 and e5 at the same time. And it becomes all tactics, suddenly.

Foreseeable one.

Retiring here the knight must have been foreseen since exd4.

White clearly has a big advantage here. it's interesting how one inaccurate move can wreak havoc on your position, especially against a strong player.

Black can't afford to neglect development at this point. 10...Nc6 or 10...O-O are both preferable. The extra pawn won't help if you don't survive the middle-game.

10...c5? i think this is mistake. Best is 10...O-O.

Well, I can agree. But I prefer to be told why, exactly. Of course developement is necessary, but how to counter white after Nxd4 (either)?