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If you’re a regular viewer of my channel, you’d know that my favourite opening in chess with White is the very lovely, Vienna Gambit, the Mozart of chess openings (https://adventuresofachessnoob.com/2023/01/28/vienna-gambit-the-mozart-of-gambits/).

However, what should you do if someone uses the Vienna Gambit against you when you have the Black pieces? Recently, I introduced the Bardeleben Variation in the Main Line: https://adventuresofachessnoob.com/2023/02/20/vienna-game-main-line-win-with-black-against-the-paulsen-attack/ . Although it feels almost heretical to write this, luring the Vienna Gambit player into the Main Line, and then down the Bardeleben Variation (1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. f4 d5 4. fxe5 Nxe4. 5. Qf3 f5) is the tactic to CRUSH the Vienna Gambit!

Part of this is about psychology. At the beginner-intermediate level, someone who chooses to play the Vienna (1. e4 e5 2. Nc3) will probably play the Vienna Gambit against the Falkbeer (2… Nf4 3. f4). This is almost a given. If they chose to play something else at this level, they probably never intended to actually play the Vienna in the first place, and the game will most likely transpose into some sort of Italian Game.

As Black, we now get to force the next few moves with (3… d5) entering the Vienna Game Main Line as White as their options are limited and the best moves are obvious (4. fxe5 Nxe4). At this point, the best move for White is the Paulsen Attack (5. Qf3) – it’s the most common choice according to the Lichess community database, it’s not difficult to find, and some big-name chess YouTubers have recommended the Paulsen in their content on the Vienna Main Line. That’s what you’ll probably see.

In this game, my opponent rated at around 1300 wasn’t familiar with the Main Line. After d5, they spent about two minutes deciding their next move, and as expected, found the usual Main Line sequence. Then on move 5, found the Paulsen Attack after about 30 seconds. These moves are “logical”! However, after (5… f5), things start to get tricky for White, especially if they aren’t familiar with the position!

My opponent still found the best next couple of moves, but their position is not easy to play. Black can (and I do) force a damaging of White’s queenside pawn structure, and on move 8, White makes the first move that deviates from theory, even though it seems to make sense.

As the game progresses the structural problems with White’s damaged pawn structure, and potentially weak dark squares reveal themselves – I manage to force White’s king to stay in the centre and gain a lead in development, castling, and getting my rooks into the centre files. White attempts some counterplay with their queen, but I’m relatively too well defended, and White’s queen cannot launch a successful attack on her own. Moreover, her foray into my territory left White’s king underdefended against my coordinated attack and on move 22, White’s attempt to make a fortress was a blunder with Stockfish finding a forced checkmate line in 22 moves! I found the initiation of that line, a rook sacrifice that smashed the d-pawn in front of White’s king, cracking open the fortress by blowing up the front gate! White didn’t quite play with the machine precision, and I had checkmate 3 moves later! GG!

Game on chess.com: https://www.chess.com/game/live/73264611495

[Event "Live Chess"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2023.03.22"]
[Round "-"]
[White "Beeru100"]
[Black "vitualis"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Timezone "UTC"]
[ECO "C29"]
[ECOUrl "https://www.chess.com/openings/Vienna-Game-Main-Line-Paulsen-Bardeleben-Variation"]
[UTCDate "2023.03.22"]
[UTCTime "22:54:27"]
[WhiteElo "1297"]
[BlackElo "1413"]
[TimeControl "1800"]
[Termination "vitualis won by checkmate"]
[StartTime "22:54:27"]
[EndDate "2023.03.22"]
[EndTime "23:26:58"]
[Link "https://www.chess.com/game/live/73264611495"]
[WhiteUrl "https://images.chesscomfiles.com/uploads/v1/user/192845953.f62d39e5.50x50o.14dfd0430a88.jpg"]
[WhiteCountry "3"]
[WhiteTitle ""]
[BlackUrl "https://images.chesscomfiles.com/uploads/v1/user/3711094.82046355.50x50o.c8c8e6b7296c.jpg"]
[BlackCountry "17"]
[BlackTitle ""]

1. e4 {[%clk 0:30:00]} 1... e5 {[%clk 0:29:57.6]} 2. Nc3 {[%clk 0:29:59.3]} 2...
Nf6 {[%clk 0:29:49]} 3. f4 {[%clk 0:29:55.4]} 3... d5 {[%clk 0:29:47.6]} 4. fxe5
{[%clk 0:27:43.9]} 4... Nxe4 {[%clk 0:29:44.5]} 5. Qf3 {[%clk 0:27:16]} 5... f5
{[%clk 0:29:41.3] Vienna Game: Main Line, Paulsen Attack, Bardeleben Variation}
6. d3 {[%clk 0:21:52.4]} 6... Nxc3 {[%clk 0:29:38.1]} 7. bxc3 {[%clk 0:21:33.6]}
7... d4 {[%clk 0:29:35.5]} 8. Qg3 {[%clk 0:21:00.6] White, who was not familiar
with the Main Line, does very well and doesn't actually deviate from theory
until this move, which is a bit suboptimal} 8... Nc6 {[%clk 0:28:38.8]} 9. Be2
{[%clk 0:20:36.1]} 9... Qd5 $6 {[%clk 0:26:25.8][%c_arrow
c8e6;keyPressed;none;from;c8;opacity;0.8;to;e6;persistent;false][%c_highlight
e6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e6;persistent;false][%c_effect
d5;square;d5;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] An inaccuracy [+0.4] as White can
kick the queen with c4} 10. Nf3 $2 {[%clk 0:18:58.5][%c_arrow
c3c4;keyPressed;none;from;c3;opacity;0.8;to;c4;persistent;false][%c_highlight
c4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;c4;persistent;false][%c_effect
f3;square;f3;type;Mistake;persistent;true] The chess.com analytic engine calls
this a blunder, which is perhaps a bit harsh as the evaluation is only [-1.5] -
I've rated this a \"mistake\" rather than blunder} 10... Be6 $2 {[%clk
0:25:29.3][%c_arrow
d4c3;keyPressed;none;from;d4;opacity;0.8;to;c3;persistent;false][%c_highlight
c3;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;c3;persistent;false][%c_effect
e6;square;e6;type;Mistake;persistent;true] A relative mistake [+0.2] in a
somewhat complex position. Stockfish thinks that dxc3 is the best move.} 11.
cxd4 $2 {[%clk 0:18:35.3][%c_arrow
c3c4;keyPressed;none;from;c3;opacity;0.8;to;c4;persistent;false][%c_highlight
c4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;c4;persistent;false][%c_effect
d4;square;d4;type;Mistake;persistent;true] However, this ended up in my favour
as White \"releasing the tension\" was good for me [-1.5]} 11... Nxd4 {[%clk
0:25:11.8]} 12. Nxd4 {[%clk 0:18:08.5]} 12... Qxd4 {[%clk 0:24:48.1]} 13. Rb1
{[%clk 0:17:57]} 13... O-O-O {[%clk 0:23:38.1]} 14. Bb2 $2 {[%clk
0:17:22][%c_effect b2;square;b2;type;Mistake;persistent;true] A mistake [-5.4]
though the best move isn't obvious} 14... Bb4+ $2 {[%clk 0:22:43.4][%c_arrow
d4b6;keyPressed;none;from;d4;opacity;0.8;to;b6;persistent;false][%c_highlight
b6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;b6;persistent;false][%c_effect
b4;square;b4;type;Mistake;persistent;true] A relative mistake [-2]. Stockfish
thinks that pinning White's light square bishop to the rook was best as it
allows for capture of the a2 pawn by the light square bishop, which then force a
capture of their the rook or bishop.} ({Very tricky tactical line that I didn't
see...} 14... Qb6 {[%c_arrow
b6b2;keyPressed;none;from;b6;opacity;0.8;to;b2;persistent;false,b2b1;keyPressed;none;from;b2;opacity;0.8;to;b1;persistent;false][%c_highlight
b2;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;b2;persistent;false]} 15. d4 Bxa2
{[%c_arrow
a2b1;keyPressed;none;from;a2;opacity;0.8;to;b1;persistent;false,b6b2;keyPressed;none;from;b6;opacity;0.8;to;b2;persistent;false,b2b1;keyPressed;none;from;b2;opacity;0.8;to;b1;persistent;false][%c_highlight
b1;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;b1;persistent;false,b2;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;b2;persistent;false]})
15. Kd1 {[%clk 0:16:53.8]} 15... Bc3 $6 {[%clk 0:22:24.8][%c_arrow
d4c5;keyPressed;none;from;d4;opacity;0.8;to;c5;persistent;false][%c_highlight
c5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;c5;persistent;false][%c_effect
c3;square;c3;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] [-1.5]} 16. Bxc3 {[%clk
0:16:48.5]} 16... Qxc3 {[%clk 0:22:20.9]} 17. a4 $2 {[%clk 0:16:14.6][%c_effect
a4;square;a4;type;Mistake;persistent;true][%c_arrow
g3e1;keyPressed;none;from;g3;opacity;0.8;to;e1;persistent;false][%c_highlight
e1;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e1;persistent;false] A mistake [-6].
Stockfish recommends for White to either trade queens/bring the queen to the
queenside} 17... Ba2 {[%clk 0:21:28.8]} 18. Rc1 {[%clk 0:15:51.9]} 18... g6
{[%clk 0:19:53.3]} 19. Qe3 {[%clk 0:15:40.7]} 19... Rhe8 {[%clk 0:19:34.8]} 20.
e6 {[%clk 0:15:34.5]} 20... Rxe6 {[%clk 0:18:57.2]} 21. Qxa7 {[%clk 0:14:57.4]
White attempts some counterplay by launching an attack, however, there is
limited risk as the queen isn't supported by any other pieces [-11]} 21... Qe5 $6
{[%clk 0:17:34.3][%c_arrow
c7c5;keyPressed;none;from;c7;opacity;0.8;to;c5;persistent;false][%c_highlight
c5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;c5;persistent;false][%c_effect
e5;square;e5;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] Stockfish calls this an inaccuracy
[-7] but it's still a powerful move. Stockfish at high depth finds the
extraordinary move c5 which borderline traps/neutralises White's queen $1} 22.
Re1 $4 {[%clk 0:14:44.1][%c_arrow
a7f2;keyPressed;none;from;a7;opacity;0.8;to;f2;persistent;false][%c_effect
e1;square;e1;type;Blunder;persistent;true] A mistake as White needs their queen
for defence. At high depth (more than 50), Stockfish finds forced checkmate
lines [-M22]} 22... Rxd3+ $3 {[%clk 0:16:09.9][%c_effect
d3;square;d3;type;Brilliant;persistent;true] Brilliant rook sacrifice $1} 23. cxd3
{[%clk 0:14:01]} 23... Bb3+ {[%clk 0:16:05.7]} 24. Kd2 $2 {[%clk
0:11:53.6][%c_effect d2;square;d2;type;Mistake;persistent;true][%c_arrow
c1c2;keyPressed;none;from;c1;opacity;0.8;to;c2;persistent;false][%c_highlight
c2;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;c2;persistent;false] To avoid [-M2] White
needed to block the check with rook, but this is difficult to see} 24... Qb2+
{[%clk 0:15:56]} 25. Rc2 {[%clk 0:11:47.4]} 25... Qxc2# {[%clk
0:15:54.5][%c_effect c8;square;c8;type;Winner,d2;square;d2;type;CheckmateWhite]
GG $1} 0-1