---

Rumpus’ Adventure (Amazon): US | UK | CA | AU

This was just about a perfect game of the Vienna Gambit and it’s a reminder of just how venomous and awesome it is! Those of you who play the Vienna will smile, and those of you who might be only curious or new to the Vienna might be intrigued to give it a go!

In this game, we had the Vienna Gambit where Black, wary of the gambit, declines by developing their other knight (1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. f4 Nc6). This is quite a common response at the beginner-intermediate level as it takes advantage of a usual opening principle which is normally good – to develop your knights before bishops, “when you can”.

It isn’t immediately obvious that this is a mistake, but a mistake it is!

Simply, the Vienna Gambit is not dependent on Black taking our gambit pawn. We can take their pawn as well! The immediate sequence out of the opening creates an excellent position for White out of the opening. Firstly, we have a semi-open f-file, which a tactical resource that we will try to take advantage of. Secondly, we control the centre, meaning that even if Black now plays perfectly, we are well defended. Thirdly, we gain significant tempo over Black, which creates the opportunity for a devastating attack very early.

And all that was required was one further slightly slow move by Black – on move 8, they played (8… h6), looking at defending the g5 square, ostensibly to prevent a forward attack by my pieces. However, this passive move was a mistake [+4].

After I castle, I now have a devastating attack down the f-file, three pieces (bishop, knight, and rook) with a potential double-check. A very thematic tactical pattern on move 10 – (10. Bxf7+) – a brilliant [+5] capture and potential sacrifice of the bishop with check. This forces the Black king to move, trapping it in the centre and potentially the now fully open f-file controlled by my rook!

Black avoids the double-check, but perhaps surprisingly, accepting the terrible looking attack and capturing my bishop with their king is the best move! By avoiding it, my bishop survives, and Black loses another piece [+7]. On move 12, I play h3, asking the question of Black’s only developed piece, their bishop, on what it was doing in my territory. Black, suffering emotional damage, resigns. GG!

The big takeaway from this game is to try the Vienna Game and the Vienna Gambit! It’s a lovely and fun system to play!

Game on Lichess: https://lichess.org/WGTjN5CT

[Event "Rated Rapid game"]
[Site "https://lichess.org/WGTjN5CT"]
[Date "2023.08.31"]
[Round "?"]
[White "vitualis"]
[Black "wellking"]
[Result "1-0"]
[UTCDate "2023.08.31"]
[UTCTime "02:59:41"]
[WhiteElo "1571"]
[BlackElo "1614"]
[WhiteRatingDiff "+19"]
[BlackRatingDiff "-6"]
[TimeControl "600+5"]
[ECO "C29"]
[Opening "Vienna Game: Vienna Gambit"]
[Termination "Normal"]
[Annotator "lichess.org"]
[WhiteUrl "https://images.chesscomfiles.com/uploads/v1/user/3711094.f52a0759.50x50o.ab18600a8723.png"]
[WhiteCountry "17"]
[WhiteTitle ""]
[BlackUrl "https://adventuresofachessnoob.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/lichess.png"]
[BlackCountry "69"]
[BlackTitle ""]

1. e4 {[%clk 0:10:00]} 1... e5 {[%clk 0:10:00]} 2. Nc3 {[%clk 0:10:04]} 2... Nf6
{[%clk 0:09:58]} 3. f4 {[%clk 0:10:07]} 3... Nc6 $2 {[%clk 0:09:18][%c_effect
c6;square;c6;type;Mistake;persistent;true][%c_arrow
d7d5;keyPressed;none;from;d7;opacity;0.8;to;d5;persistent;false][%c_highlight
d5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d5;persistent;false] Vienna Gambit,
Declined Nc6 is a mistake [+1.5]} 4. fxe5 {[%clk 0:10:10]} 4... Nxe5 {[%clk
0:09:19]} 5. d4 $1 {[%clk 0:10:13][%c_effect
d4;square;d4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} 5... Ng6 {[%clk 0:08:43]} 6. e5 $1
{[%clk 0:10:17][%c_effect e5;square;e5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} 6... Ng8
{[%clk 0:08:30]} 7. Nf3 {[%clk 0:10:20] Defends against Qh4+} 7... d6 {[%clk
0:08:29]} 8. Bc4 {[%clk 0:10:15]} 8... h6 $2 {[%clk 0:07:47][%c_effect
h6;square;h6;type;Mistake;persistent;true][%c_arrow
d6e5;keyPressed;none;from;d6;opacity;0.8;to;e5;persistent;false][%c_highlight
e5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e5;persistent;false] This seems like a
logical move that defends the g5 square, but as we shall see, it doesn't work
[+4]...} 9. O-O {[%clk 0:10:06] Note the potential attack on f7 by the bishop on
c4, the knight currently on f3, and the rook on f1...} 9... Bg4 {[%clk 0:07:35]}
10. Bxf7+ $3 {[%clk 0:09:57][%c_effect
f7;square;f7;type;Brilliant;persistent;true] A very thematic brilliant [+5]
bishop sacrifice by capturing the f-pawn, creating a fully open-file and forcing
the king to be stuck} 10... Kd7 $6 {[%clk 0:06:49][%c_arrow
e8f7;keyPressed;none;from;e8;opacity;0.8;to;f7;persistent;false][%c_highlight
f7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f7;persistent;false][%c_effect
d7;square;d7;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] Black doesn't want to be hit with
the double check, but them capturing the bishop was their least worst option
[+7]} 11. Bxg6 {[%clk 0:09:48]} 11... Kc8 {[%clk 0:06:39]} 12. h3 {[%clk
0:09:11][%c_effect g1;square;g1;type;Winner] And with this move, Black suffers
emotional damage and resigns. GG $1} 1-0