A recurring theme in the Caro-Kann Short Variation

This was from a game I played in a recent tournament (Tenzing Shaw – David Askin, Mechanics’ Bedjanian TNM, December 2018). I was white, and decided to sacrifice on f5. This example is somewhat more straightforward, since white doesn’t need to follow up the exchange sacrifice with a pawn sacrifice as in the first example, and white actually gets a pawn for the exchange in most lines.

What does white have for the exchange here?

1. One pawn (it’s tough for black to defend f5)
2. Two bishops (and they have lots of potential)
3. All of black’s pawns are isolated and are potential targets. White’s pawn-structure is very solid, in contrast.
4. White has some great squares for his knights, including f5, which he is about to occupy.
5. White’s king is safer than black’s

All of these factors add up to a serious edge for white. Black needed to castle here, but instead the game ended

Let’s move on to the third example.