What's the point?

Here is a position from a game I played today:

A few a few moves earlier, the dB says cxd5.

During the computer assisted part of my post-game, StockFish, for several moves was pushing for cxd5.

What would be the reason for playing cxd5 in this type of position?

NOTE: For people just joining this thread. I made a mistake in my notation, so the next few messages you read may look strange.

That's the great thing about computers. It will tell you exactly what it had it mind. What did it say?

(Presumably, it gave a variation, an evaluation, etc.)

I think to open the e file later and bring the rook to h3.

My policy about using an engine to aid in analysis is that if I cannot understand the move, I just let it go as something either over my head or something that only an engine might see.

However, in this case, it caught my attention for 2 reasons: 1) The opening dB I used said the same move several moves earlier and 2) StockFish kept pushing cxd5 for several moves.

So, those 2 things together lead me to believe there is some significient reason for cxd5.

I did follow a couple of the variations, but they don't do much for theory, just the computers idea of best play.

How would it lead to opening the e file?

I tried to recreate the position and I think you gave black an extra move.

What happened to white's 11th? (You say it is black's move.)

I think it was Be2, then Bd3. #Notmtwain.

cxd4 gives black a semi-open c-file. With that, black's bishop can open up and create counterplay on the queenside.

The normal move is Bd3. While it is possible to do it in 2 moves,  it then becomes a position that gives black an extra move over the normal position.

The point of both cxd5 and ...cxd4 is to leave the opponent with an isolani. Assuming it's Black's turn in the position given by kleelof, he can simply go for 1...cxd4 2.exd4 dxc4 3.Bxc4 Nxd4 4.Nxd4 Qxc4, which will leave him a clean pawn up and with the bishop pair.

Thanks. But I am really not sure what you are getting at. In the position I posted, it is White's 11th move.

Or does it say... 'Up to this point White has been following well-known analysis. But now he makes a fatal error: he begins to use his own head.' ?? :D

It is White's move. I don't see 11. cxd5 leaving black with an isolated pawn. In fact, he has to recapture with the e pawn. And all his pawns are connected.

Synaphai looks correct. Waiting for approval or refutation.

Your first post says: 

A few a few moves earlier, the dB says cxd4.

During the computer assisted part of my post-game, StockFish, for several moves was pushing for cxd4.

What would be the reason for playing cxd4 in this type of position?

If the suggested move is "cxd4". That would be a move by black.

/ Did you mean "cxd5"  ? That changes everything.

Jezus Pezus.....You're right. I messed-up.

kleelof wrote:

Synaphai wrote:

The point of both cxd5 and ...cxd4 is to leave the opponent with an isolani. Assuming it's Black's turn in the position given by kleelof, he can simply go for 1...cxd4 2.exd4 dxc4 3.Bxc4 Nxd4 4.Nxd4 Qxc4, which will leave him a clean pawn up and with the bishop pair.

It is White's move. I don't see 11. cxd5 leaving black with an isolated pawn. In fact, he has to recapture with the e pawn. And all his pawns are connected.

And then dxc4.

Sorry everyone who has contributed so far. I put in the wrong move. It was cxd5, not cxd4. So sorry about that.

You're really messy. Think again.