It's just a Caro-Kann structure or the "Rubenstein structure." The big point is that White has a knight on c3 and it's not well placed there. On the other hand the queen on a5 doesn't do much either. Black typically wants to get rid of the opponent's pawn on the fourth rank and ...c5 and ...e5 are the ways to do that. Then it just depends on who's pieces are more active. White obviously doesn't want to allow these breaks and has ideas like d5 for himself, or if for some reason Black just can't play ...c5 or ...e5 then a kingside attack.
Anyway as far as I can tell 6.Ne5 is playing against the move...Bg4 and threatening 7.Bc4 when Black would be forced to play ...e6 locking in his light-squared bishop. A Rubenstein structure with the bishop outside the chain can be really good for Black and if he can achieve this without any trouble he could be ok.
6...Bf5 looks obvious but allows a typical White attack after 7.Bc4 e6 8.g4 Bg6 9.h4. It's a little risky to play this with Black. I figure if Black gets the bishop out then White will at least attack it or make trouble for it. But I don't know for sure.
6..Be6 was the move Anand chose against Kasparov in their match. The downside is that f4-f5 could come with tempo or threaten to win bishop if it's stuck in front of a knight on d7.
6..e6 is playable but passive.
6...Nbd7 threatens trades which are good for Black but White gets a small victory in that Black has blocked in his light-squared bishop. After 7.Nc4 Qc7 Black will have to move this knight again to get out his bishop and that means a loss of tempo. So White can try to get a development advantage with 8.Qf3 threatening 9.Bf4 (sometimes happens in ...Qd6 positions too) with more development or maybe 8.g3 just making trouble on the queenside and giving you Bf4.
Black played ...e6 anyway in your game and this is almost always better for White. Black doesn't lose any more tempi but he'll have to work to get the light-squared bishop out. This is Black's problem piece and he could've avoided this but I guess it's not losing or anything. 8..b5 9.Ne3 e5 is not what you want to see.
I don't see how Black is better here. 13.Bxc4 e5 14.Re1 ed 15.Qxd4 Rd8 16.Qe3 and White's pieces will be more active so Black can't break out yet.
The following pawn structure is one that occurs quite often in many openings, but it's one I've never really understood how to play against.
What are the general ideas for white in this structure, as well as the most effective positions for white's pieces? I want to retain good chances for a dynamic position as white against these structures.
I don't want to keep getting a disadvantage as white against the Scandinavian by not knowing how to deal with it.