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Currently, I’m rated almost 1300 ELO in rapid, but have previously been in the mid-1400s. I’ve come to terms with this, as I know that my loss of rating has been in part due to playing questionable moves for curiosity’s sake and for fun, and in part due to playing when tired or impatient! 😅 However, at this beginner-intermediate level, there is still much to learn!

This game demonstrates sparks of brilliance but surrounded by a decidedly underbaked shell! Let’s begin…

I had the White pieces, and my opponent brought me into the Vienna Game Main Line (1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. f4 d5), but then immediately went down a line that I knew was inaccurate (3. fxe5 Ng4?). I knew that this was very likely a mistake (and it was – Stockfish evaluates it at [+3]), but even after staring at the position for a minute, I wasn’t sure how to punish it. A risk in the Vienna Game Main Line for White is always with the spectre of Qh4+. I thought I was fine, but I couldn’t shake a sense of doubt. Typically for White, it’s good to try to bolster/take control of the centre with pawns, so d4 looked right… But my mind turned back to Qh4+… What to do?

Eventually, I chickened out from d4 (Stockfish’s preferred move) and played the timid and conservative (5. Nf3) to defend the h4 square. White is still ahead, but it placed me in the wrong mindset. Black continues the attack (5… d4) and having been spooked, I compound my mistake by playing another conservative and defensive move with a backwards knight move to bunker down (6. Ne2?). Black was now ahead [-0.7] but needed to consolidate rather than continue the attack.

Luckily for me, their further intemperate (6… d3?) justified my “bunkered down” defence [-0.7 → +2.6]. For Black, their d-pawn is now simply offside and impossible to defend. We trade pawns and Black’s queen comes out to play but is immediately forced home with me gaining tempo and development (7. cxd3 Qxd3? 8. Nc3 Qd8).

At the end of move 10, we both short castle and enter the middlegame. I’m now comfortably ahead with better development, and up a point of material. Nice!

Everything was going well up to move 14. I force trade one of my knights for Black’s bishop, giving me the advantage of the bishop pair. But on move 15 (and 16), I miss a tactic that Black had. One of the consequences of moving the f-pawn in the Vienna Gambit lines, is that after short castling, the king is potentially exposed along the dark square diagonal. It’s something to keep an eye on, and one area of improvement identified in my “year in review” is I’m not so great with my vision of diagonals!

Black finds a killer move (16… Qc5+!) with an absolute fork of my king and bishop. 😖 Ouch!

However, I felt that I still had chances. Firstly, I played (18. e7!?). My logic is that my passed pawn was my greatest asset, and pushing it forward took it out immediate capture, and onto the seventh rank. The engine thinks that this was a mistake as in very accurate play by Black, the pawn cannot promote. However, I think this was the correct human move. As expected, Black blocks the promotion with (18… Re8). I expected this and played (18. Ba3), defending the pawn and Black now plays (19… Nc6??) to develop their knight and add pressure on the pawn. But a blunder! Why?

Here, I find a brilliant move (20. Ne5), but my brilliance was underbaked! The move is brilliant as the knight move opens the f-file for my rook, and f8+ will force a back rank checkmate-in-2 line! However, the knight on e5 simultaneously attacks Black’s queen. Black cannot avoid mate and save their queen at the same time!

However, the almost three minutes I took thinking about this move was encumbered by my problem with vision down diagonals! Although I saw the very strong Rf8+ move, in my mind’s eye, I didn’t grasp that after the pawn promotes to queen on the f8 square, this is still defended by the a3-bishop along the dark square diagonal! So, I had created an extra convolution of deflecting Black’s king on g8 to the defence of the f8 square through a queen sacrifice! I thought myself clever, but this was unnecessary and kind of dumb… 😅

Black hunts my king with knight and queen for several moves as both of us miss this tactic. However, after (25… Qh6??), I saw the beautiful simplicity of the attack. With Black’s queen on the h6 square, my queen sacrifice on h7 idea was impossible, and so I recalculated the position anew with fresh eyes. GG!

The big takeaway from this game is that brilliant attacks don’t come from nowhere. A position with longer term tactical attacking chances, even if initially speculative, e.g., my bishop along the dark square diagonal, the semi-open f-file, creates the opportunities for a winning attack!

Game: https://www.chess.com/game/live/99463950865

[Event "Live Chess"]

[Site "Chess.com"]

[Date "2024.01.20"]

[Round "-"]

[White "vitualis"]

[Black "rwlhenry"]

[Result "1-0"]

[Timezone "UTC"]

[ECO "C29"]

[ECOUrl "https://www.chess.com/openings/Vienna-Game-Main-Line-4.fxe5"]

[UTCDate "2024.01.20"]

[UTCTime "04:31:55"]

[WhiteElo "1283"]

[BlackElo "1301"]

[TimeControl "900+10"]

[Termination "vitualis won by resignation"]

[StartTime "04:31:55"]

[EndDate "2024.01.20"]

[EndTime "04:57:49"]

[Link "https://www.chess.com/game/live/99463950865"]

[WhiteUrl "https://images.chesscomfiles.com/uploads/v1/user/3711094.f52a0759.50x50o.ab18600a8723.png"]

[WhiteCountry "17"]

[WhiteTitle ""]

[BlackUrl "https://images.chesscomfiles.com/uploads/v1/user/4794716.4fc8162e.50x50o.001e8746e582.jpeg"]

[BlackCountry "137"]

[BlackTitle ""]



1. e4 {[%clk 0:15:10]} 1... e5 {[%clk 0:15:01.2]} 2. Nc3 {[%clk 0:15:17.5]} 2...

Nf6 {[%clk 0:15:06.7]} 3. f4 {[%clk 0:15:26.1]} 3... d5 {[%clk 0:15:07] Vienna

Game: Main Line is Black's best response against the Vienna Gambit and

conventional wisdom is that Black has a slightly advantage. However, at very

high depth analysis using Stockfish 16 NNE, the evaluation of the position is

equal [0.00].} 4. fxe5 {[%clk 0:15:34.1]} 4... Ng4 $2 {[%clk 0:15:05.2][%c_effect

g4;square;g4;type;Mistake;persistent;true]  I knew that this was a mistake [+3]

but annoyingly in the game, I couldn't convince myself to play d4 (the correct

move), as I was worried about Qh4+.} 5. Nf3 $2 {[%clk 0:14:33.9][%c_effect

f3;square;f3;type;Mistake;persistent;true][%c_arrow

d2d4;keyPressed;none;from;d2;opacity;0.8;to;d4;persistent;false][%c_highlight

d4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d4;persistent;false] I'm still ahead in

this position, but this timid move was not correct [+1.3]} 5... d4 {[%clk

0:15:01.1]} 6. Ne2 $2 {[%clk 0:14:08.7][%c_arrow

c3d5;keyPressed;none;from;c3;opacity;0.8;to;d5;persistent;false][%c_highlight

d5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d5;persistent;false][%c_effect

e2;square;e2;type;Mistake;persistent;true] The self-doubt resulted in me playing

a conservative and defensive move, which was a mistake [-0.7]} 6... d3 $2 {[%clk

0:14:46][%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

d3;square;d3;type;Mistake;persistent;true] Luckily , Black's ongoing forward

push was a mistake [-0.7 $37 +2.6]. Without backup, Black's d-pawn is simply

offside and impossible to defend.} 7. cxd3 {[%clk 0:13:12.5]} 7... Qxd3 $2 {[%clk

0:14:38.8][%c_arrow

f7f5;keyPressed;none;from;f7;opacity;0.8;to;f5;persistent;false][%c_highlight

f5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f5;persistent;false][%c_effect

d3;square;d3;type;Mistake;persistent;true] A compounded mistake [+4.2]. The

consequence of White having \"bunkered down\" is that White's defences are now

solid, and now Black's queen is offside, and thus, will lose tempo.} 8. Nc3

{[%clk 0:13:14.9]} 8... Qd8 {[%clk 0:13:52.2]} 9. Bc4 {[%clk 0:13:21.5]} 9...

Bb4 {[%clk 0:13:19.5]} 10. O-O {[%clk 0:12:59.5]} 10... O-O {[%clk 0:13:11.1]}

11. Nd5 {[%clk 0:12:36.3]} 11... Ba5 {[%clk 0:11:43.3][%c_arrow

c8e6;keyPressed;none;from;c8;opacity;0.8;to;e6;persistent;false][%c_highlight

e6;keyPressed;shift;opacity;0.8;square;e6;persistent;false] A bit inaccurate

[+5] as the bishop will be trapped, and in doing so, allows Black to gain

development and tempo} 12. b4 {[%clk 0:12:42.4]} 12... c6 {[%clk 0:11:28.4]} 13.

bxa5 {[%clk 0:12:46.3]} 13... cxd5 {[%clk 0:11:29.7]} 14. exd5 {[%clk

0:12:37.8]} 14... Qxa5 {[%clk 0:11:20.9]} 15. e6 $2 {[%clk 0:12:15.8][%c_effect

e6;square;e6;type;Mistake;persistent;true][%c_arrow

d2d4;keyPressed;none;from;d2;opacity;0.8;to;d4;persistent;false][%c_highlight

d4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d4;persistent;false] A mistake [+2.9]

though White still has great attacking chances. I miss the impending king-bishop

fork by Black's queen.} 15... fxe6 $6 {[%clk 0:11:13.1][%c_effect

e6;square;e6;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true][%c_arrow

a5c5;keyPressed;none;from;a5;opacity;0.8;to;c5;persistent;false][%c_highlight

c5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;c5;persistent;false]} 16. dxe6 $4 {[%clk

0:12:19.5][%c_effect e6;square;e6;type;Blunder;persistent;true][%c_arrow

d1b3;keyPressed;none;from;d1;opacity;0.8;to;b3;persistent;false][%c_highlight

b3;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;b3;persistent;false] This is now a blunder

[-0.5]...} 16... Qc5+ $1 {[%clk 0:11:13.7][%c_arrow

c5c4;keyPressed;none;from;c5;opacity;0.8;to;c4;persistent;false,c5g1;keyPressed;none;from;c5;opacity;0.8;to;g1;persistent;false][%c_highlight

c4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;c4;persistent;false,g1;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;g1;persistent;false,c5;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;c5;persistent;false][%c_effect

c5;square;c5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] As soon as Black played this, I

knew that I had stuffed up and was in a losing position $1 My planned attack down

the light square diagonal seemed lost...} 17. Kh1 $6 {[%clk 0:12:04.4][%c_effect

h1;square;h1;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true][%c_arrow

d2d4;keyPressed;none;from;d2;opacity;0.8;to;d4;persistent;false][%c_highlight

d4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d4;persistent;false] d4 is arguably better

as it pushes a pawn into the centre, and opens the diagonal for the dark square

bishop... Hence, this was an inaccuracy, but I was admittedly a bit rattled

[-1].} 17... Qxc4 {[%clk 0:11:13.1]} 18. e7 $5 {[%clk 0:11:11.1][%c_effect

e7;square;e7;type;Interesting;persistent;true][%c_arrow

c1a3;keyPressed;none;from;c1;opacity;0.8;to;a3;persistent;false][%c_highlight

a3;keyPressed;shift;opacity;0.8;square;a3;persistent;false] I now considered my

e-pawn my greatest asset so wanted to preserve it by pushing it forward, one

square towards promotion and also out of immediate attack. Curiously, the engine

considers this move inaccurate [-1.0 $37 -2.3], but in the game, it's the winning

tactical approach.} 18... Re8 {[%clk 0:11:10.1]} 19. Ba3 {[%clk 0:10:03.7]}

19... Nc6 $4 {[%clk 0:11:00.4][%c_effect

c6;square;c6;type;Blunder;persistent;true][%c_arrow

b8d7;keyPressed;none;from;b8;opacity;0.8;to;d7;persistent;false,g4f6;keyPressed;none;from;g4;opacity;0.8;to;f6;persistent;false][%c_highlight

d7;keyPressed;shift;opacity;0.8;square;d7;persistent;false,f6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f6;persistent;false]

This move actually blunders Black to lose their queen, or checkmate... $1} 20.

Ne5 $3 {[%clk 0:07:21.1][%c_highlight

e5;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;e5;persistent;false][%c_effect

e5;square;e5;type;Brilliant;keyPressed;undefined;persistent;true] And here we

have the titular move - my UNDERBAKED BRILLIANCE $1 Thinking through the position

for almost 3 minutes, I find the winning brilliant idea $1 Black must close the

f-file or it's checkmate, but it cannot do so without losing their queen $1

However, in my head, I had overcomplicated the idea with an additional queen

sacrifice notion, and so didn't actually see the elegance of the idea $1 Hence,

underbaked... 😅} 20... Ncxe5 $4 {[%clk 0:10:18.6][%c_effect

e5;square;e5;type;Blunder;keyPressed;undefined;persistent;true] This now

blunders [+M2]} 21. Qb1 $4 {[%clk 0:06:51.8][%c_effect

b1;square;b1;type;Blunder;persistent;true][%c_arrow

f1f8;keyPressed;none;from;f1;opacity;0.8;to;f8;persistent;false][%c_highlight

f8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f8;persistent;false] A blunder on my part,

though I suspect that Black didn't see the elegant checkmate either. In my head,

didn't visualise that my dark square bishop on the diagonal defended the f8

square after the pawn promotes to queen. Thus, my intuition was that the Black

king on g8 would capture the queen at the end of the sequence, and to avoid

this, I would sacrifice my queen with Qxh7+ to deflect the king from the defence

of the f8 square. 🤦‍♂️} (21. Rf8+ $1 {[%c_effect

f8;square;f8;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] The line I didn't see at this point

of the game by undercalculating/overcomplicating the idea in my head...} 21...

Rxf8 22. exf8=Q# {[%c_arrow

a3f8;keyPressed;none;from;a3;opacity;0.8;to;f8;persistent;false,f8f7;keyPressed;none;from;f8;opacity;0.8;to;f7;persistent;false,f8h8;keyPressed;none;from;f8;opacity;0.8;to;h8;persistent;false][%c_highlight

f8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f8;persistent;false,g8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;g8;persistent;false,f7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f7;persistent;false,h8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;h8;persistent;false]

It's never too late to hang back rank mate $1}) 21... Qd4 $4 {[%clk

0:09:54.9][%c_effect d4;square;d4;type;Blunder;persistent;true][%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] This blunders [+M2]

again...} 22. h3 $4 {[%clk 0:05:51.8][%c_effect

h3;square;h3;type;Blunder;persistent;true][%c_arrow

f1f8;keyPressed;none;from;f1;opacity;0.8;to;f8;persistent;false][%c_highlight

f8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f8;persistent;false] This blunders a

losing position again...} 22... Nf2+ $1 {[%clk 0:09:45.9][%c_effect

f2;square;f2;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} 23. Kh2 {[%clk 0:05:42.9]} 23...

Qf4+ {[%clk 0:09:43]} 24. Kg1 {[%clk 0:05:18.3]} 24... Nxh3+ {[%clk 0:09:33.9]}

25. Kh1 {[%clk 0:05:04.8]} 25... Qh6 $4 {[%clk 0:09:15.2][%c_effect

h6;square;h6;type;Blunder;persistent;true][%c_arrow

h3f2;keyPressed;none;from;h3;opacity;0.8;to;f2;persistent;false][%c_highlight

f2;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f2;persistent;false] Black attempts to go

in for the kill, but hangs my looming checkmate threat again...} 26. Rf8+ $1

{[%clk 0:03:53.1][%c_effect

f8;square;f8;type;GreatFind;persistent;true,h1;square;h1;type;Winner,g8;square;g8;type;ResignBlack][%c_highlight

f8;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;f8;persistent;false][%c_arrow

f1f8;keyPressed;none;from;f1;opacity;0.8;to;f8;persistent;false] And curiously,

with Black closing off all possibility of deflecting the king with Qxh7+ and

re-examining the position, I found the mate by recalculating the position and

seeing the dark square diagonal covered by the bishop on a3 with fresh eyes $1 I

found the move after thinking for about a minute, and Black resigned almost

immediately. GG $1} 1-0