---

I love playing the Vienna Gambit and it isn’t often I actually get to play the Main Line. The Vienna Game Main Line starts when the player with the black pieces declines the Vienna Gambit with d5, which is the best theoretical move, and arguably, the only good move. This often results in a fun dynamic game. This game shows some of the ideas from the Main Line.

In the Vienna Main Line, a decision often needs to be made in the opening on whether to capture the opponent’s knight with the b- or d-pawn. Capturing with the b-pawn opened up the file for the rook, which ended up being very strong in the middle game, and critical in the checkmate. My opponent made a strategic error in castling queenside given that I already had the advantage in attacking on that side of the board.

I hope you found this video interesting, and thanks for watching!

Game on chess.com: https://www.chess.com/game/live/38354707487

[Event "Live Chess"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2022.02.11"]
[Round "?"]
[White "vitualis"]
[Black "sinai1729"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C29"]
[WhiteElo "1289"]
[BlackElo "1322"]
[TimeControl "1800"]
[EndTime "14:12:10 PST"]
[Termination "vitualis won by checkmate"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. f4 d5 4. fxe5 Nxe4 5. Nf3 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Be6 7. d4 h6 8. Rb1 b6 9. a4 c5 10. Bb5+ Nd7 11. Be3 c4 12. O-O Qc7 13. Nh4 O-O-O 14. Ba6+ Kb8 15. a5 Ka8 16. axb6 Nxb6 17. Nf5 Na4 18. Bb7+ Kb8 19. Bd2 Nb6 20. Nd6 Bxd6 21. exd6 Rxd6 22. Ba6 g5 23. h4 f6 24. Rxf6 Bg4 25. Qf1 Rxf6 26. Qxf6 Qd8 27. Qe5+ Ka8 28. hxg5 hxg5 29. Bb5 Bd7 30. Bxg5 Qe8 31. Bxd7 Nxd7 32. Qxd5# 1-0