hi all i post this in the hope someone finds this technique useful to make long story short, here is a snippet: template<typename t> //tag deducing util struct base_tag { typedef decltype(get_tag((t*)42)) type; }; template<typename type, typename tag = typename base_tag<type>::type> struct Base //crtp base class { friend tag get_tag(type*); //helper declaration, never defined }; template<typename type> //no mention of tag void f(const Base<type>&) //tag is deduced automatically {} struct Foo : Base<Foo, void> //derived type {}; int main() { Foo foo; f(foo); } the idea is that if we have an associated type (or types) along with the "real" type in the crtp pattern we can make that associated type deduced automatically and even pretend there is no such tag leaving it e.g. for advanced usage more on this here: http://programmizm.sourceforge.net/blog/2012/because-we-can -- Pavel P.S. if you notice a grammar mistake or weird phrasing in my message please point it out