In the position after 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.f3 e6 4.Nc3 Bb4 5.Be3 Qh4+, I would go 6.g3 Bxc3+ 7.bxc3 Qe7 8.Nh3 (better than 9.Bd3 c5 with an equal game) 8...Nf6 9.Bg2 O-O 10.O-O Nbd7 11.e5 with a small edge for White. Black's move 5...Qh4+ is a slight inaccuracy, so it's fitting that White can get a slightly better game against it.
Black should have considered 5...dxe4 6.fxe4 Qh4+. You have to respond with 7.g3! Qxe4 8.Qd2 and now Black should avoid 8...Qxh1? 9.Bg2 Qxh2 10.Bxc6+ which wins the Queen. Instead Black plays 8...Qd5 9.Bg2 Qd8 when White does have some compensation for the pawn - you can judge whether you like it or not. After 5...dxe4 I'm not impressed by 6.a3 Bxc3+ 7.bxc3 Qa5 8.Bd2 Nf6 when I don't feel that White gets very much back in exchange for the pawn.
On the fifth move you could play 5.Ne2 or 5.Qd3 instead of your move Be3. These would put you in a better position if Black tries to go for the idea of ...dxe4 followed by Qh4+. For example 5.Ne2 dxe4 6.fxe4 Qh4+ 7.Ng3 Nf6 8.Qf3 and White is at least equal. Or 5.Qd3 b6 6.Ne2 Ba6 7.Qe3 Ne7 8.a3 Bd6 9.Qf2 is at least equal. Eventually White will probably castle queenside in either of these lines.
I ran into trouble trying to play against the caro-kahn...or maybe it's not trouble, but it certainly feels that way...
After 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. f3 e6 4. Nc3 Bb4 i played 5. Be3 and black responded Qh4 to take away White's ability to castle.
My plan after Be3 was Qe2 and Castle queen-side...now I'm not sure what do for counter-play.
This player does this frequently, and I generally take precaution against leaving my king vulnerable, but forgot as this was following a line in something I wanted to try....I was just wondering if there's a reason why this move doesn't usually come up in the main line of any attacks I've been reading about (attacking and retreating the queen I mean...)
Essentially he's giving up a move in order to disallow my castling. Is it worth it for black to do this? If not, what can I do to exploit the wasted move?
Any recommendations for this position? Everything becomes a little muddled now that i can't castle queen side, so my whole strategy is kind of out the window...