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This was another Vienna Game, 2… d6, what I’ve dubbed the “Philidor-ish Defense” (https://adventuresofachessnoob.com/2023/05/22/vienna-game-2-d6-tricky-game-review-13/). The game play in this match was a bit “messy” and undisciplined by me, but a win is a win!

After the usual trade in the centre in the opening, Black played an interested move (4… c5) rather than the expected (4… Nc6) to chase away my queen.  I knew that this move couldn’t possibly be good as Black has weakened their light squares around the king.  The question, however, was how do I exploit this before Black consolidates?

I decided to make a risky and perhaps intemperate forward advance with my queen (5. Qd5). Stockfish thought this was inaccurate, but it worked! Next move, (6. Bb5+) and Black blundered by blocking the check with their own bishop.  I end up winning a pawn, but then start to feel a bit uncomfortable as I was worried that my queen will end up being trapped in her adventures in Black’s territory.  However, by letting go of the pressure, I lose much of my advantage as Black consolidated and managed to get a lead in development.

By move 13, however, I was happy again. After a few messy moves, I managed to extricate my queen, and had rotated it ready to launch a kingside attack. Wanting a spicy game, I opposite side castled.  In the early middle game, Black made only one somewhat slow move, and I captured the initiative.  On move 17, Black miscalculated. Although their bishop on f6 was indeed defended twice to my two attackers, it held the advantage as the end of the capture sequence would force Black to double their pawns on the f-file, and open the g-file, cracking open their king’s defence.  Two moves later, (19. Qg3+), “well hello there!”

Black’s king was now trapped behind a wall of their own pawns, cut off from their other pieces.  On move 22, facing an impending checkmate, Black’s best move was to defer the inevitable and trade their queen for my rook and enter a losing endgame. Suffering emotional damage, they resigned. GG!

The big takeaway from this game is that the Philidor-ish Defense isn’t good against the Vienna Game, but you need to immediately take the centre with the second pawn and be careful to not overextend.

Game on chess.com: https://www.chess.com/game/live/83939447061

[Event "Live Chess"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2023.07.24"]
[Round "-"]
[White "vitualis"]
[Black "ugostar1977"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Timezone "UTC"]
[ECO "C25"]
[ECOUrl "https://www.chess.com/openings/Vienna-Game-2...d6"]
[UTCDate "2023.07.24"]
[UTCTime "12:08:23"]
[WhiteElo "1419"]
[BlackElo "1386"]
[TimeControl "900+10"]
[Termination "vitualis won by resignation"]
[StartTime "12:08:23"]
[EndDate "2023.07.24"]
[EndTime "12:23:35"]
[Link "https://www.chess.com/game/live/83939447061"]
[WhiteUrl "https://images.chesscomfiles.com/uploads/v1/user/3711094.f52a0759.50x50o.ab18600a8723.png"]
[WhiteCountry "17"]
[WhiteTitle ""]
[BlackUrl "https://www.chess.com/bundles/web/images/noavatar_l.84a92436.gif"]
[BlackCountry "204"]
[BlackTitle ""]

1. e4 {[%clk 0:15:10]} 1... e5 {[%clk 0:15:09.7]} 2. Nc3 {[%clk 0:15:16.4]} 2...
d6 {[%clk 0:15:18.1] Vienna Game, 2... d6 aka dubbed by me as the \"Philidor-ish
Defense\" [+0.5]} 3. d4 {[%clk 0:15:24.4]} 3... exd4 {[%clk 0:15:26.4]} 4. Qxd4
{[%clk 0:15:33.6]} 4... c5 $6 {[%clk 0:15:32.5][%c_arrow
b8c6;keyPressed;none;from;b8;opacity;0.8;to;c6;persistent;false][%c_highlight
c6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;c6;persistent;false][%c_effect
c5;square;c5;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] An interesting move $1 This is an
inaccuracy as it significantly weakens the light squares [+1.2], but how to
exploit... $2} 5. Qd5 {[%clk 0:15:08.2][%c_arrow
d4d3;keyPressed;none;from;d4;opacity;0.8;to;d3;persistent;false][%c_highlight
d3;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d3;persistent;false] I decided to step
forward (foolishly and inaccurately [+0.6]) $1} 5... Nf6 {[%clk 0:15:35.5]} 6.
Bb5+ {[%clk 0:14:58.3]} 6... Bd7 $4 {[%clk 0:15:39.3][%c_effect
d7;square;d7;type;Blunder;persistent;true][%c_arrow
b8d7;keyPressed;none;from;b8;opacity;0.8;to;d7;persistent;false][%c_highlight
d7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d7;persistent;false] A blunder [+2.8]} 7.
Qxb7 {[%clk 0:15:01.4]} 7... Bxb5 $6 {[%clk 0:15:06.5][%c_effect
b5;square;b5;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] Although this does clarify and end
the attack, Black suffers a catastrophic loss of material [+4.5]} 8. Qxb5+ $2
{[%clk 0:15:05.2][%c_effect b5;square;b5;type;Mistake;persistent;true][%c_arrow
c3b5;keyPressed;none;from;c3;opacity;0.8;to;b5;persistent;false][%c_highlight
b5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;b5;persistent;false] Stockfish calls this
a mistake and recommended that I double down and capture with a forward knight
move [+2.1]. I was worried of potentially getting my queen trapped, but
Stockfish was unafraid.} 8... Nbd7 {[%clk 0:15:14.6]} 9. Bg5 $6 {[%clk
0:14:27.8][%c_arrow
g1h3;keyPressed;none;from;g1;opacity;0.8;to;h3;persistent;false][%c_highlight
h3;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;h3;persistent;false][%c_effect
g5;square;g5;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] Stockfish's preferred move is hard
to understand, but it rates my move as an inaccuracy [+1.6]} 9... Be7 {[%clk
0:15:21.4]} 10. Qc6 $2 {[%clk 0:13:26.4][%c_arrow
b5d3;keyPressed;none;from;b5;opacity;0.8;to;d3;persistent;false][%c_highlight
d3;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d3;persistent;false][%c_effect
c6;square;c6;type;Mistake;persistent;true] Defending the e4 pawn, but Qd3 is
better [+0.6]} 10... O-O $6 {[%clk 0:15:18.4][%c_arrow
a8b8;keyPressed;none;from;a8;opacity;0.8;to;b8;persistent;false][%c_highlight
b8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;b8;persistent;false][%c_effect
g8;square;g8;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] A complicated position means that
it's difficult to find the best move [+1]} 11. O-O-O $6 {[%clk
0:13:25.8][%c_arrow
g1e2;keyPressed;none;from;g1;opacity;0.8;to;e2;persistent;false][%c_highlight
e2;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e2;persistent;false][%c_effect
c1;square;c1;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] Stockfish didn't like this [+0.3],
but I often find opposite-side castling games spicy and fun $1} 11... Ne5 $2 {[%clk
0:15:03.7][%c_arrow
a8c8;keyPressed;none;from;a8;opacity;0.8;to;c8;persistent;false][%c_highlight
c8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;c8;persistent;false][%c_effect
e5;square;e5;type;Mistake;persistent;true] A mistake [+1.7]} 12. Qb5 $2 {[%clk
0:12:59.8][%c_arrow
c6a6;keyPressed;none;from;c6;opacity;0.8;to;a6;persistent;false][%c_highlight
a6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;a6;persistent;false][%c_effect
b5;square;b5;type;Mistake;persistent;true] A mistake [-0.4] as this allows the
queen to be attacked by the rook on a8 with tempo} 12... a6 $2 {[%clk
0:14:58.7][%c_effect a6;square;a6;type;Mistake;persistent;true] A complicated
position means mistakes are easy [+0.9] $1} 13. Qe2 {[%clk 0:12:42.5] And I get my
queen out of the weeds and can now prepare for a kingside attack $1} 13... a5 $2
{[%clk 0:14:48.2][%c_effect a5;square;a5;type;Mistake;persistent;true][%c_arrow
d8a5;keyPressed;none;from;d8;opacity;0.8;to;a5;persistent;false][%c_highlight
a5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;a5;persistent;false] Too slow [+3]} 14.
Nf3 $6 {[%clk 0:12:11.1][%c_arrow
f2f4;keyPressed;none;from;f2;opacity;0.8;to;f4;persistent;false][%c_highlight
f4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f4;persistent;false][%c_effect
f3;square;f3;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] Too slow [+1.9]} 14... Nxf3 {[%clk
0:14:31.4]} 15. Qxf3 {[%clk 0:12:19.6]} 15... h6 $6 {[%clk 0:14:20.3][%c_arrow
d8b6;keyPressed;none;from;d8;opacity;0.8;to;b6;persistent;false][%c_highlight
b6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;b6;persistent;false][%c_effect
h6;square;h6;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] The engine recommends for Black to
counterattack my king rather than threaten my attackers [+2.5]} 16. Bxf6 {[%clk
0:11:31.6]} 16... Bxf6 {[%clk 0:14:27.4]} 17. Nd5 $1 {[%clk 0:11:38.2][%c_effect
d5;square;d5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} 17... Rb8 $2 {[%clk
0:14:22.4][%c_effect b8;square;b8;type;Mistake;persistent;true][%c_arrow
f6g5;keyPressed;none;from;f6;opacity;0.8;to;g5;persistent;false][%c_highlight
g5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;g5;persistent;false] A mistake [+4.9] as I
can now trade equal pieces, but force Black to damage the defences around their
king} 18. Nxf6+ {[%clk 0:10:47.3]} 18... gxf6 {[%clk 0:14:07.7]} 19. Qg3+ {[%clk
0:10:29.5] Well hello there $1} 19... Kh7 {[%clk 0:14:15.6]} 20. Rxd6 {[%clk
0:09:54.3]} 20... Qe7 {[%clk 0:14:20.3]} 21. Qf4 {[%clk 0:09:22.8]} 21... Rg8 $6
{[%clk 0:14:01.5][%c_arrow
h7g7;keyPressed;none;from;h7;opacity;0.8;to;g7;persistent;false][%c_highlight
g7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;g7;persistent;false][%c_effect
g8;square;g8;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] Black needed to defend the f6
pawn} 22. Rxf6 {[%clk 0:09:21.8][%c_arrow
f4h6;keyPressed;none;from;f4;opacity;0.8;to;h6;persistent;false,f6f7;keyPressed;none;from;f6;opacity;0.8;to;f7;persistent;false,f7e7;keyPressed;none;from;f7;opacity;0.8;to;e7;persistent;false,f7h7;keyPressed;none;from;f7;opacity;0.8;to;h7;persistent;false][%c_highlight
h6;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;h6;persistent;false,f7;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;f7;persistent;false,h7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;h7;persistent;false,e7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e7;persistent;false]
Black resigns as their best next move is to trade their queen for my rook and
moving into a losing endgame. GG $1} 1-0