The Caveman Caro-Kann (1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.h4) is a great offbeat way to spice up what could be a boring game following 1.e4 c6. Many players don't seem to know how to handle it - I haven;t had the same response twice yet from Black!

Here's an interesting 4|0 game where a 1700 blitz player is overrun by pawns.

Tell me what ya think ;-)

4...Nd7? 4...h6 or ...h5 is standard.

25.Qxh8+ is even more devastating.

h5 is best. h6 is what I normally see - Nd7 isn't really good but then you see what I mean when I say people handle it badly.

25.Qxh8+ I saw straight after I moved, it is indeed devastating!

Here is another game making the case for the Caveman/Tal Varation: A 2100-ish player resigns in 16 moves?!

More Caveman madness:

Interesting variation. I play the Caro Kann; maybe I should be ready for this.

Haha We could call that first game The Steamroller!

The h4 push is a very common line that experienced CK players are prepared for. The games posted are black failing miserably at a lack of preparation for it. You try that line with me as black and you had best know the theory behind it...

I believe the flavour of the line is not something most Caro-Kann players enjoy though; it can get very sharp! FirebrandX, I'd be interested to know if you've had it played much, and how you've fared, OTB.

Here's another game where Black gets into a middlegame, but falls to a kingside attack:

It's true that 7...Qa6! removes the sharpness somewhat, and gives Black easy equality. I've faced it once (and didn't manage to win). However, it's a difficult idea to find if you don't know it I think. I've had excellent results with the 5.Bg5 idea (although it would probably be for the best if I gradually came round to playing 5.c4 instead, which I intend to). Still, I think the idea is unusual, and deadly in a lot of lines.

I looked up the Anand game (amazing recollection for that one, even if it was just last year) and yeah, Shirov doesn't do too well. But I still think there could be ideas there. Chesstempo database extended to all games only gives 3 games in the Qa6 line, 2 draws and Shirov's loss.

Yeah that Bd7 variation is weird, but strong. I never worked out why 4...h6 is played there? Since the bishop has to come back to d7 and not h7. It's interesting to know you play 4.h4, have you made any brilliancies with it?