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This was a rather fun game against one of my subscribers who like me, loves the Vienna Game! I’d previously lost a match against them in the Vienna Game Main Line, mostly by playing overly aggressive moves in the opening. So, this was a rematch to regain my dignity!

I had the Black pieces, and we entered the Vienna Game: Main Line (1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. f4 d5 4. fxe5 Nxe4 5. d3). The Main Line, in a certain sense, is the Achilles’ heel of the Vienna as Black has no disadvantage, is objectively better (at around [-0.2] according to Stockfish 15.1 NNUE at reasonably high depth) and gets some good attacking chances.

White played the Modern Variation (5. d3) which is entirely fine but is probably not the easiest to play. The Paulsen Attack (5. Qf3) would be my recommendation. The problem with the Modern Variation is that Black has an obvious way of immediately simplifying the tension in the centre in a way that is good [-0.9] – exchange knights and damage White’s queenside pawn structure (5… Nxc3 6. bxc3). White does get some compensation in that they potentially control the centre with their pawns.

As we move into the middle game, I actually make a few mistakes such that White is ahead at almost [+3]. However, this was somewhat theoretical as White didn’t see the error and the tactic. Later in the middle game, I managed to set a trap for White. It was successful – the apparent hanging pawn on f7 was poisoned as the fully opened f-file allowed me to pin White’s greedy bishop to the king, and it was lost (16. Bxf7 Rhf8).

With the trap sprung, the evaluation dropped to [-7]. A few moves later, I had infiltrated with both of my rooks onto the second rank and White resigned. GG!

Game on chess.com: https://www.chess.com/game/daily/466921471

[Event "Let's Play!"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2023.01.19"]
[Round "-"]
[White "the_nut_job"]
[Black "vitualis"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Timezone "UTC"]
[ECO "C29"]
[ECOUrl "https://www.chess.com/openings/Vienna-Game-Main-Line-Modern-Variation"]
[UTCDate "2023.01.19"]
[UTCTime "04:50:39"]
[WhiteElo "869"]
[BlackElo "1181"]
[TimeControl "1/604800"]
[Termination "vitualis won by resignation"]
[StartTime "04:50:39"]
[EndDate "2023.01.19"]
[EndTime "23:14:22"]
[Link "https://www.chess.com/game/daily/466921471"]
[WhiteUrl "https://images.chesscomfiles.com/uploads/v1/user/199491106.43968df8.78x78o.05eeb7aa1244@3x.png"]
[WhiteCountry "102"]
[WhiteTitle ""]
[BlackUrl "https://images.chesscomfiles.com/uploads/v1/user/3711094.82046355.78x78o.ebd68214df6f@3x.jpg"]
[BlackCountry "17"]
[BlackTitle ""]

1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. f4 d5 {Vienna Game: Main Line. This is probably the
\"Achilles' heel\" of the Vienna, in a sense. Simply, the Main Line gives Black
excellent attacking chances and Black is objectively better at around [-0.2]} 4.
fxe5 Nxe4 5. d3 {[%c_arrow
d1f3;keyPressed;none;from;d1;opacity;0.8;to;f3;persistent;false][%c_highlight
f3;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f3;persistent;false] The \"Modern
Variation\" of the Vienna Game Main Line is not easy to play for White. I
recommend instead (5. Qf3), the Paulsen Attack.} 5... Nxc3 {The challenge for
White is that this knight exchange is definitely good for Black and White ends
up with a damaged pawn structure [-0.9]} 6. bxc3 Nc6 7. Nf3 Bg4 $6 {[%c_effect
g4;square;g4;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true][%c_arrow
d5d4;keyPressed;none;from;d5;opacity;0.8;to;d4;persistent;false][%c_highlight
d4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d4;persistent;false] An inaccuracy [+0.4]
as it gives White a chance to consolidate the centre with d4. It would have been
better for me to take d4 myself.} 8. h3 $6 {[%c_effect
h3;square;h3;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true][%c_arrow
d3d4;keyPressed;none;from;d3;opacity;0.8;to;d4;persistent;false][%c_highlight
d4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d4;persistent;false] This was an
inaccuracy [-0.6]} 8... Bh5 9. Be2 Bxf3 10. Bxf3 Nxe5 {[%c_arrow
d8h4;keyPressed;none;from;d8;opacity;0.8;to;h4;persistent;false][%c_highlight
h4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;h4;persistent;false] Although this was
fine [+0.4] (10... Qh4+) is much better} 11. Qe2 Bd6 $2 {[%c_effect
d6;square;d6;type;Mistake;persistent;true][%c_arrow
d8e7;keyPressed;none;from;d8;opacity;0.8;to;e7;persistent;false][%c_highlight
e7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e7;persistent;false] A mistake [+2.8] as
White can place pressure on the pinned piece, the knight, with d4} 12. Bxd5 $2 $9
{[%c_effect d5;square;d5;type;Mistake;persistent;true] However, White misses the
tactic [-0.1]} 12... Qh4+ 13. Kf1 $6 {[%c_effect
f1;square;f1;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true]} 13... O-O-O 14. Qf2 $4 {[%c_effect
f2;square;f2;type;Blunder;persistent;true] A serious blunder [-5.7] as this
exchange is highly disadvantageous for White} 14... Qxf2+ $1 {[%c_effect
f2;square;f2;type;GreatFind;keyPressed;undefined;persistent;true]} 15. Kxf2 Ng6 $2
{[%c_effect g6;square;g6;type;Mistake;persistent;true] Stockfish calls this a
mistake [+0.2] but this was a trap. I suspected that my opponent would capture
the apparently hanging f7 pawn.} ({This is arguably the best move, a discovered
attack on the bishop which will win a pawn} 15... Bc5+ {[%c_arrow
c5f2;keyPressed;none;from;c5;opacity;0.8;to;f2;persistent;false,d8d5;keyPressed;none;from;d8;opacity;0.8;to;d5;persistent;false]}
16. d4 Rxd5 17. dxc5 Rxc5 {and chess continues...}) 16. Bxf7 $4 {[%c_effect
f7;square;f7;type;Blunder;persistent;true] And they did $1 This blunders the
bishop [-7.1]} 16... Rhf8 $1 {[%c_effect
f8;square;f8;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} 17. Ke2 Rxf7 18. Bg5 Re8+ 19. Kd2
Bf4+ $2 {[%c_effect f4;square;f4;type;Mistake;persistent;true] Again, Stockfish
calls this a \"mistake\" [from -11 to -6], but forcing the trading of pieces
simplifies the game.} 20. Bxf4 Rxf4 21. g3 $6 {[%c_effect
g3;square;g3;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true]} 21... Rf2+ 22. Kc1 Ree2
{[%c_effect c8;square;c8;type;Winner,c1;square;c1;type;ResignWhite] With both my
rooks on the second rank, White resigns} 0-1