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The Vienna Gambit is my favourite opening in chess, and I’m always happy when the opponent declines the gambit with Nc6. This is a straight up mistake according to Stockfish, with a +2 evaluation favouring White. Not bad on move 3, especially given that it’s a completely sensible looking move!

However, although I’m usually completely dominating in the opening in the Nc3-declined lines of the Vienna Gambit, the middle game is often tricky for White. White is a bit overextended and unless it can take advantage of its superior development, Black can make a comeback.

In this game, like some others that I’ve played, I find my advantage slipping away and often, losing the advantage in the middle game. One of the themes of the Vienna Gambit down this line is that White potentially piles on the pressure down the semi-open f-file, and that’s what I tried to do as well. This eventually worked for me, but what is interesting is a line seen by the engine!

This is an incredible line where Stockfish sacrifices three pieces – the first is a “best move”, with the next two being rated as “brilliant”! One move 10, Stockfish recommends sacrificing the bishop with a capture of the pawn on f7, opening the file completely, exposing the King, and denying it an opportunity to castle. It’s now stuck on this side of the board. Then, another knight sacrifice, opening the position for the queen to form a battery with the rook. And lastly, a potential bishop sacrifice and another brilliant move. The opponent at the end of this line must choose between losing their queen, or immediately losing the game with checkmate. Crushing!

In the actual game, I thought I was very clever with a prospective rook sacrifice that was poisoned, but we are all humbled by the machine!

Game on chess.com: https://www.chess.com/game/live/51844187633

[Event "Live Chess"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2022.07.18"]
[Round "-"]
[White "vitualis"]
[Black "Ronaldo1618"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Timezone "UTC"]
[ECO "C28"]
[ECOUrl "https://www.chess.com/openings/Vienna-Game-Falkbeer-Vienna-Gambit"]
[UTCDate "2022.07.18"]
[UTCTime "00:46:59"]
[WhiteElo "1226"]
[BlackElo "1272"]
[TimeControl "1800"]
[Termination "vitualis won by resignation"]
[StartTime "00:46:59"]
[EndDate "2022.07.18"]
[EndTime "01:09:13"]
[Link "https://www.chess.com/game/live/51844187633"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. f4 Nc6 4. fxe5 Nxe5 5. d4 Nc6 6. e5 Ng8 7. Nf3 Bb4 8. Bc4 Bxc3+ 9. bxc3 h6 10. O-O (10. Bxf7+ Kxf7 11. O-O Ke8 12. Ng5 hxg5 13. Qf3 Qe7 14. Bxg5) 10... d6 11. Be3 Nge7 12. d5 Na5 13. Bb5+ Bd7 14. Bxd7+ Qxd7 15. Rb1 b6 16. Nh4 Nc4 17. Rxf7 Nxe3 18. Qf3 dxe5 19. Ng6 Rg8 20. Rxe7+ Qxe7 21. Nxe7 Kxe7 22. Qxe3 Kd6 23. c4 Rgf8 24. Rf1 Rxf1+ 25. Kxf1 Rf8+ 26. Kg1 Rf4 27. Qa3+ Kd7 28. Qd3 Kd6 29. g3 Rf7 30. Qg6+ Ke7 31. Qe6+ Kf8 32. Qc8+ Ke7 33. Qxc7+ Kf6 34. Qd6+ Kf5 35. Qe6+ 1-0