Opening Theory looking for advice

[DiggertheDog]

Hero is Black.

Obviously I am not completely sure about this opening as I have not got carried down every side alley of the Caro (?).

Black to move.

1.e4c6
2.Bc4d5
3.exd5cxd5
4.Bb3e5
5.Nf3Nc6
6.d4e4
7.Ne5Nf6
8.c4Be6
9.Qc2Nxd4
10.Qc3


My gut feeling tells me that I think white has misstepped here. And I have been calculating some lines but they appear to liquidate alot of pieces and I am kinda hoping to see what you guys think of a plan for black.
Any other thoughts or mistakes in the opening is welcome!

I kinda don't like Nxb3 even though I swap knight for a bishop he retakes with a bit of a tempo given the weakness on b7.
I dont like bc5 as I am not sure I like my position if bf3 follows.
So I am tossing up Nf5 or dxc4.


Hero tries hard at chess but is obviously just a patzer so go easy

[Hackdeath]

dxc4 looks good, white must play Nxc4 (since if Bxc4 Bb4!) and now black can play Rc8 with a nice position. Another possible move is Qb6 immediately here, and white finds it uncomfortable to deal with the Bb4 threat.

[wlrs]

Seems to me White should reply to 1.-dxc4 with 2.Ba4+ b5 3.Be3, otherwise he is just losing. There should be something good for Black after 3.Be3 as well but not sure what is the best option

[Hackdeath]

Good point, originally I thought dxc4 Ba4+ b5 Be3 could be met by Bc5 Bxd4 Bxd4 Bxb5+ Kf8, but I missed Qb4+, and actually after Kf8 Nc6! crushes for white (if Qb6, Ne7+ and smothered mate follows!).

Black may have to settle for bxa4 after Be3 instead of Bc5, but vs 80% of opponents I always still play dxc4 without much calculation as I hope that they won't find a clever resource, and even if they do I have a reasonable looking contingency plan in bxa4. Against the other 20%, I expect them to find a clever resource, so I guess I'd better find out what it is first before making a decisive call in dxc4, and settling for a potentially worse line.

[DiggertheDog]

Yes it was not so much - what move vs this opponent that I sought given it is a friend who is even less able than I.
But I thought the position has some tension that I am not fully aware of....I am slightly concerned about my position optimally.

[Vempele]

Originally Posted by Hackdeath

Black may have to settle for bxa4 after Be3 instead of Bc5, but vs 80% of opponents I always still play dxc4 without much calculation as I hope that they won't find a clever resource, and even if they do I have a reasonable looking contingency plan in bxa4.

Why, are 80% of your opponents much weaker than you? I expect an opponent of equal strength to calculate his next move significantly better than I do, seeing as his starting point will be a half-move deeper than mine. Even against a weaker player I'd like to play the best chess I possibly can. Basing your play on the assumption your opponent is a fish makes sense in poker, not so much in chess...

White's knight on e5 is stuck, there could be a way to force him to make some concessions to save it. 10...Nxb3 11. Qxb3 Qc7 seems to win a second pawn without destroying your structure and you can force a trade of queens in the lines where White tries to keep your king in the centre. I'd play 11...Bd6 or 10...dxc4 in blitz, though.