One of the strategic ideas of the Vienna Game is that it potentially allows for a massive attack on Black’s kingside, especially if they castle short. This was an instructive game. According to Stockfish, many of my moves were suboptimal or inaccurate. However, the strategic plan from the beginning of setting up the attack on the kingside was successful, with checkmate on move 19!
We began with the Max Lange Defense (1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6). Black continues with plays one of the most solid lines (3. Bc4 Nf6) and on move 5, I play a provocative move (5. Be3). Black either needs to move the bishop a second time, losing tempo, or will need to trade bishops, which is their best move. However, this gives me the opportunity to open the f-file, which fits with the theme of creating an opportunity of an early kingside attack.
Black opted to retreat their bishop (5… Bb6) and so I played yet another provocative move (Nd5) with the goal of coaxing Black to trade off their knight on f6, moving that piece away from the defence of the kingside. A few moves later, Black has castled kingside, the knight on f6 traded itself away. Stockfish consistently gives the advantage to Black, or equality, but I have to potential attacking initiative!
Move 12, I castle queenside – opposite side castling. So now, the opportunity to pawn storm! Move 14, I manage to coax a queen trade, which further opens my h-file. Stockfish reckons it’s even [0.00], but that requires accurate play by Black. Move 18, I form a powerful rook battery with (18. Rdh1) down the h-file and unfortunately for Black, they blunder against the pressure. Several moves ago, Black played (15… Kh8), unpinning their f7 pawn from my light square bishop. However, they forgot that the bishop exerts pressure regardless of the pin. Black lashes out with (18… f5), I suspect thinking that that allowed an escape square for their king. However, g8 is covered by the bishop and thus, they created a [+M1] opportunity – (19. Rxh7#)! GG!
Game on chess.com: https://www.chess.com/game/daily/508723361
Adventures of a Chess Noob 