---

Those of you who follow my channel will know that I love the Vienna Game and the Vienna Gambit, and that recently, I’ve been playing the Vienna Gambit in the Max Lange Defense (1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. f4) as well. Historically, I’ve followed the advice of the big YouTubers like Levi Rozman and have played (3. Bc4) against the Max Lange Defense. The logic here is if Black plays the “copycat variation” with (3… Bc5), you get a fantastically fun and winning game with (4. Qg4), and potentially entering the Meitner-Mieses Gambit one of my absolute favourite lines in chess!

However, at the intermediate level, more often than not Black will avoid the “copycat” and enter the Bishop’s Opening: Berlin-Vienna Hybrid positions and I simply didn’t really like playing those lines.

It seems that few chess YouTubers explore the Max Lange Vienna Gambit, but I can strongly recommend it for Vienna lovers. It a romantic line that will typically result in bombastic, tactical, and interesting games! According to Lichess, the line is great with White winning at (54%) to Black (43%), and that’s maintained with all of Black’s responses! The Falkbeer Vienna Gambit has a better overall win ratio, but with an Achilles heel; if Black enters the Main Line, the win ratio is equalised.

One of the things about the Max Lange Vienna Gambit is that at the intermediate level, Black will often be completely unfamiliar with it. In this game, my mid-1300s rated opponent immediately made a mistake with (4… f6). American GM Ben Finegold’s admonition applies here; you should never play f6 in the opening! I could see what they were trying to do; double defend the g5 square to prepare for g5, but that’s a mistake. Black’s logic is that they’ll push g5 with the goal of trapping White’s king’s knight.

However, the counterattack that White had (and you should know this if you play the Max Lange Vienna Gambit), is that the king’s knight can be sacrificed to damage to Black’s kingside defences, especially along the light square diagonal to the king on the f7 square. This is almost always good for White, even with the loss of material!

Two moves later, I sacrifice my knight with (6. Nxg5!!). I was really gratified to see that the chess.com analytic engine rated this a brilliancy! Black got spooked by the move and opted to not capture my knight (6… f5??), a blunder! In fact, there was a [+M5], though I didn’t realise this in the game.

The killer move now is (7. Qh5+) and Black’s troubles can be easily understood. The black king is completely exposed with the forward movements of their e-, f-, and g-pawns. Their investment in pawn moves in the opening meant that they had no piece development. White now has the opportunity to chase Black’s king with checks and weave a checkmate net.

I didn’t find the quickest checkmate, as I wasn’t sure that there was one. I ended up playing unnecessarily conservatively; in the game, I was worried that I would end up trapping my queen if I didn’t give it mobility to escape. Nonetheless, I drag Black’s king into the centre of the board, and it makes a merry journey in front of his army, and then seemingly manages to escape and hides back on the back rank on their queenside. However, Black’s spirit was broken, and they couldn’t resist a second knight sacrifice, falling into a trap! Some double and discovered checks later, I grab a very nice checkmate on move 24. Fascinatingly, FOUR of Black’s pieces never had the opportunity to leave their starting square, GG!

The big takeaway from this game is to consider and try the Max Lange Vienna Gambit, if you are a Vienna Game player! Although the big YouTubers don’t promote it, it’s a very winning opening gambit that is easily as fun as the more mainstream Falkbeer Vienna Gambit!

Game: https://www.chess.com/game/live/104726431041

[Event "Live Chess"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2024.03.21"]
[Round "-"]
[White "vitualis"]
[Black "vujce2000"]
[Result "1-0"]
[CurrentPosition "rk3b1r/p1QR3p/B6n/3p2N1/3PP3/4B3/1PP3PP/4K2R b K -"]
[Timezone "UTC"]
[ECO "C25"]
[ECOUrl "https://www.chess.com/openings/Vienna-Game-Max-Lange-Vienna-Gambit-Knight-Variation"]
[UTCDate "2024.03.21"]
[UTCTime "02:18:24"]
[WhiteElo "1308"]
[BlackElo "1345"]
[TimeControl "900+10"]
[Termination "vitualis won by checkmate"]
[StartTime "02:18:24"]
[EndDate "2024.03.21"]
[EndTime "02:34:33"]
[Link "https://www.chess.com/game/live/104726431041"]
[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 "2"]
[BlackTitle ""]

1. e4 {[%clk 0:15:08.7]} 1... e5 {[%clk 0:15:04]} 2. Nc3 {[%clk 0:15:16.3]} 2...
Nc6 {[%clk 0:15:06.6]} 3. f4 {[%clk 0:15:24.6] Vienna Game: Max Lange Defense,
Vienna Gambit. Stockfish doesn't like this, giving it an evaluation of [-0.5].
However, in this position, the win ratio is already White (54\%) vs Black
(43\%) $1} 3... exf4 {[%clk 0:15:12.8] Accepted; the best move for Black} 4. Nf3
{[%clk 0:15:33.1][%c_arrow
d2d4;keyPressed;none;from;d2;opacity;0.8;to;d4;persistent;false][%c_highlight
d4;keyPressed;shift;opacity;0.8;square;d4;persistent;false] I usually suggest
Nf3, but the engine actually recommends fireworks with d4 $1 The problem is that
after Qh4+, White is forced to bongcloud to Ke2 and it isn't really clear why we
should be playing this way $1} 4... f6 $2 {[%clk 0:15:17.9][%c_effect
f6;square;f6;type;Mistake;persistent;true][%c_arrow
g8f6;keyPressed;none;from;g8;opacity;0.8;to;f6;persistent;false][%c_highlight
f6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f6;persistent;false] I can understand the
intent from Black; they want to play g5 which looks like it could trap White's
king's knight, but they want to give extra defence to the g5 square. However,
American GM Ben Finegold's admonition that you should never play f6 in the
opening is correct here $1 This is a mistake that seriously weakens the light
square diagonal to Black's king along the f7 square. This is a serious mistake
[+1.5].} 5. d3 $6 {[%clk 0:15:18.6][%c_effect
d3;square;d3;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] In the game, I kind
of knew that d4 was probably better, but I opted to play more conservatively. d4
is better as it doesn't close the diagonal for the light square bishop. However,
my mental calculus was that I wanted Black to play g5 and didn't want to play
something that would distract them for their plan $1} 5... g5 $2 {[%clk
0:15:23][%c_effect g5;square;g5;type;Mistake;persistent;true][%c_arrow
f8b4;keyPressed;none;from;f8;opacity;0.8;to;b4;persistent;false][%c_highlight
b4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;b4;persistent;false] Black has now
critically weakened that light square diagonal to their king $1 This is a mistake;
their plan to \"trap\" White's king's knight will fundamentally not work as one
of White's approaches in the Max Lange Vienna Gambit is to sacrifice that knight
to damage Black's kingside defenses $1} 6. Nxg5 $3 {[%clk 0:14:29.7][%c_highlight
g5;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;g5;persistent;false][%c_effect
g5;square;g5;type;Brilliant;keyPressed;undefined;persistent;true] Knight
sacrifice $1 Brilliant move $1} 6... f5 $4 {[%clk 0:14:31.5][%c_effect
f5;square;f5;type;Blunder;persistent;true][%c_highlight
f5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f5;persistent;false,g5;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;g5;persistent;false][%c_arrow
f6g5;keyPressed;none;from;f6;opacity;0.8;to;g5;persistent;false] Black got
spooked, and opted to not capture the knight, which blunders [+M5]} 7. Qh5+ $1
{[%clk 0:14:32.8][%c_highlight
h5;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;h5;persistent;false,e8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e8;persistent;false][%c_effect
h5;square;h5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true][%c_arrow
h5e8;keyPressed;none;from;h5;opacity;0.8;to;e8;persistent;false] And Black is
lost; their light squares are completely exposed, and Black has insufficient
development to defend their king $1} 7... Ke7 {[%clk 0:14:29.2][%c_arrow
g5e6;keyPressed;none;from;g5;opacity;0.8;to;e6;persistent;false,h5e8;keyPressed;none;from;h5;opacity;0.8;to;e8;persistent;false][%c_highlight
f7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f7;persistent;false,e6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e6;persistent;false,e8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e8;persistent;false]}
8. Qf7+ {[%clk 0:14:09.7][%c_arrow
f7e6;keyPressed;none;from;f7;opacity;0.8;to;e6;persistent;false,f7f6;keyPressed;none;from;f7;opacity;0.8;to;f6;persistent;false,g5f7;keyPressed;none;from;g5;opacity;0.8;to;f7;persistent;false,f7e8;keyPressed;none;from;f7;opacity;0.8;to;e8;persistent;false,f7e7;keyPressed;none;from;f7;opacity;0.8;to;e7;persistent;false][%c_highlight
f6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f6;persistent;false,e7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e7;persistent;false,f7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f7;persistent;false,e8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e8;persistent;false,e6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e6;persistent;false]}
8... Kd6 {[%clk 0:14:33.4][%c_arrow
f7d5;keyPressed;none;from;f7;opacity;0.8;to;d5;persistent;false,f7e8;keyPressed;none;from;f7;opacity;0.8;to;e8;persistent;false,f7e7;keyPressed;none;from;f7;opacity;0.8;to;e7;persistent;false][%c_highlight
d5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d5;persistent;false,e8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e8;persistent;false,e7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e7;persistent;false,e6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e6;persistent;false]}
9. Qd5+ {[%clk 0:14:12.5][%c_arrow
c1f4;keyPressed;none;from;c1;opacity;0.8;to;f4;persistent;false,d5d6;keyPressed;none;from;d5;opacity;0.8;to;d6;persistent;false,d5e6;keyPressed;none;from;d5;opacity;0.8;to;e6;persistent;false,d5c5;keyPressed;none;from;d5;opacity;0.8;to;c5;persistent;false,d5e5;keyPressed;none;from;d5;opacity;0.8;to;e5;persistent;false,e4d5;keyPressed;none;from;e4;opacity;0.8;to;d5;persistent;false][%c_highlight
f4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f4;persistent;false,d6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d6;persistent;false,c5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;c5;persistent;false,e5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e5;persistent;false,e6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e6;persistent;false,d5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d5;persistent;false]
Here, Bxf4+ is best. The goal in this position is to chase Black's king into
checkmate. However, I wasn't sure in my mind that there was a checkmate yet, and
was worried about the possibility of trapping my queen...} (9. Bxf4+ {[%c_arrow
f7e7;keyPressed;none;from;f7;opacity;0.8;to;e7;persistent;false,f7e6;keyPressed;none;from;f7;opacity;0.8;to;e6;persistent;false,f4d6;keyPressed;none;from;f4;opacity;0.8;to;d6;persistent;false,e4d5;keyPressed;none;from;e4;opacity;0.8;to;d5;persistent;false][%c_highlight
e7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e7;persistent;false,e6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e6;persistent;false,e5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e5;persistent;false,d6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d6;persistent;false,d5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d5;persistent;false]
This is the best sequence of moves; principle: adding more pieces into the
attack is usually good $1} 9... Kc5 {[%c_arrow
e4d5;keyPressed;none;from;e4;opacity;0.8;to;d5;persistent;false,c3b5;keyPressed;none;from;c3;opacity;0.8;to;b5;persistent;false,f4d6;keyPressed;none;from;f4;opacity;0.8;to;d6;persistent;false,d3c4;keyPressed;none;from;d3;opacity;0.8;to;c4;persistent;false][%c_highlight
d5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d5;persistent;false,d6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d6;persistent;false,b5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;b5;persistent;false,c4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;c4;persistent;false]}
10. Qc4+ {[%c_arrow
f4d6;keyPressed;none;from;f4;opacity;0.8;to;d6;persistent;false,c4d5;keyPressed;none;from;c4;opacity;0.8;to;d5;persistent;false,c4b5;keyPressed;none;from;c4;opacity;0.8;to;b5;persistent;false,c4d4;keyPressed;none;from;c4;opacity;0.8;to;d4;persistent;false,c4b4;keyPressed;none;from;c4;opacity;0.8;to;b4;persistent;false,d3c4;keyPressed;none;from;d3;opacity;0.8;to;c4;persistent;false,c4c5;keyPressed;none;from;c4;opacity;0.8;to;c5;persistent;false][%c_highlight
d6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d6;persistent;false,d5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d5;persistent;false,d4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d4;persistent;false,b4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;b4;persistent;false,c4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;c4;persistent;false,b5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;b5;persistent;false,c5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;c5;persistent;false]}
10... Kb6 {[%c_arrow
c4a6;keyPressed;none;from;c4;opacity;0.8;to;a6;persistent;false,c4c5;keyPressed;none;from;c4;opacity;0.8;to;c5;persistent;false][%c_highlight
a6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;a6;persistent;false,b5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;b5;persistent;false,c5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;c5;persistent;false]}
11. Qb5# {[%c_arrow
b5a6;keyPressed;none;from;b5;opacity;0.8;to;a6;persistent;false,b5b6;keyPressed;none;from;b5;opacity;0.8;to;b6;persistent;false,b5c5;keyPressed;none;from;b5;opacity;0.8;to;c5;persistent;false,b5a5;keyPressed;none;from;b5;opacity;0.8;to;a5;persistent;false,c3b5;keyPressed;none;from;c3;opacity;0.8;to;b5;persistent;false][%c_highlight
a6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;a6;persistent;false,b6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;b6;persistent;false,c5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;c5;persistent;false,a5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;a5;persistent;false,b5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;b5;persistent;false]})
9... Ke7 {[%clk 0:14:37.1]} 10. Qxf5 {[%clk 0:12:40.7]} 10... Nh6 {[%clk
0:13:58.2]} 11. Nd5+ {[%clk 0:12:41.6][%c_arrow
f5e6;keyPressed;none;from;f5;opacity;0.8;to;e6;persistent;false,f5f7;keyPressed;none;from;f5;opacity;0.8;to;f7;persistent;false,d5e7;keyPressed;none;from;d5;opacity;0.8;to;e7;persistent;false][%c_highlight
e6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e6;persistent;false,f6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f6;persistent;false,f7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f7;persistent;false,e7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e7;persistent;false]}
11... Kd6 {[%clk 0:13:58.1][%c_arrow
f5d5;keyPressed;none;from;f5;opacity;0.8;to;d5;persistent;false,f5e6;keyPressed;none;from;f5;opacity;0.8;to;e6;persistent;false,d5e7;keyPressed;none;from;d5;opacity;0.8;to;e7;persistent;false][%c_highlight
e5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e5;persistent;false,d5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d5;persistent;false,e6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e6;persistent;false,e7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e7;persistent;false]}
12. Qxf4+ {[%clk 0:12:48.4][%c_arrow
g5e6;keyPressed;none;from;g5;opacity;0.8;to;e6;persistent;false,f4d6;keyPressed;none;from;f4;opacity;0.8;to;d6;persistent;false,e4d5;keyPressed;none;from;e4;opacity;0.8;to;d5;persistent;false,d5e7;keyPressed;none;from;d5;opacity;0.8;to;e7;persistent;false][%c_highlight
d6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d6;persistent;false,e6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e6;persistent;false,e7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e7;persistent;false,e5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e5;persistent;false,d5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d5;persistent;false]}
12... Kc5 {[%clk 0:13:58.2][%c_arrow
d3c4;keyPressed;none;from;d3;opacity;0.8;to;c4;persistent;false,d5b4;keyPressed;none;from;d5;opacity;0.8;to;b4;persistent;false,d5b6;keyPressed;none;from;d5;opacity;0.8;to;b6;persistent;false,f4d6;keyPressed;none;from;f4;opacity;0.8;to;d6;persistent;false,e4d5;keyPressed;none;from;e4;opacity;0.8;to;d5;persistent;false][%c_highlight
c4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;c4;persistent;false,b4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;b4;persistent;false,b6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;b6;persistent;false,d6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d6;persistent;false,d5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d5;persistent;false]}
13. Be3+ {[%clk 0:12:22.3][%c_arrow
e3b6;keyPressed;none;from;e3;opacity;0.8;to;b6;persistent;false,f4d6;keyPressed;none;from;f4;opacity;0.8;to;d6;persistent;false,e4d5;keyPressed;none;from;e4;opacity;0.8;to;d5;persistent;false,d5b4;keyPressed;none;from;d5;opacity;0.8;to;b4;persistent;false,d3c4;keyPressed;none;from;d3;opacity;0.8;to;c4;persistent;false][%c_highlight
d4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d4;persistent;false,c5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;c5;persistent;false,d6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d6;persistent;false,d5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d5;persistent;false,b4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;b4;persistent;false,b6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;b6;persistent;false,c4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;c4;persistent;false]}
13... Kb5 {[%clk 0:13:49.6][%c_arrow
e3b6;keyPressed;none;from;e3;opacity;0.8;to;b6;persistent;false,d3c4;keyPressed;none;from;d3;opacity;0.8;to;c4;persistent;false,d5b4;keyPressed;none;from;d5;opacity;0.8;to;b4;persistent;false][%c_highlight
b6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;b6;persistent;false,c5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;c5;persistent;false,c4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;c4;persistent;false,b4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;b4;persistent;false]}
14. a4+ {[%clk 0:11:58.8][%c_arrow
a1a4;keyPressed;none;from;a1;opacity;0.8;to;a4;persistent;false,a4b5;keyPressed;none;from;a4;opacity;0.8;to;b5;persistent;false,e3b6;keyPressed;none;from;e3;opacity;0.8;to;b6;persistent;false,d5b4;keyPressed;none;from;d5;opacity;0.8;to;b4;persistent;false,d3c4;keyPressed;none;from;d3;opacity;0.8;to;c4;persistent;false][%c_highlight
a4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;a4;persistent;false,b5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;b5;persistent;false,c5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;c5;persistent;false,b6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;b6;persistent;false,b4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;b4;persistent;false,c4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;c4;persistent;false]}
14... Ka6 {[%clk 0:13:43.6][%c_arrow
a4b5;keyPressed;none;from;a4;opacity;0.8;to;b5;persistent;false,e3b6;keyPressed;none;from;e3;opacity;0.8;to;b6;persistent;false][%c_highlight
b5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;b5;persistent;false,b6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;b6;persistent;false]}
15. d4+ {[%clk 0:11:32.4][%c_arrow
d5b6;keyPressed;none;from;d5;opacity;0.8;to;b6;persistent;false,f1a6;keyPressed;none;from;f1;opacity;0.8;to;a6;persistent;false][%c_highlight
b6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;b6;persistent;false,b5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;b5;persistent;false]}
15... b5 {[%clk 0:13:45.4][%c_arrow
d5b6;keyPressed;none;from;d5;opacity;0.8;to;b6;persistent;false][%c_highlight
b6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;b6;persistent;false]} 16. axb5+ {[%clk
0:11:27.1][%c_arrow
b5a6;keyPressed;none;from;b5;opacity;0.8;to;a6;persistent;false,f1b5;keyPressed;none;from;f1;opacity;0.8;to;b5;persistent;false,a1a5;keyPressed;none;from;a1;opacity;0.8;to;a5;persistent;false,d5b6;keyPressed;none;from;d5;opacity;0.8;to;b6;persistent;false][%c_highlight
a6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;a6;persistent;false,b5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;b5;persistent;false,a5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;a5;persistent;false,b6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;b6;persistent;false]}
16... Kb7 {[%clk 0:13:51.4][%c_arrow
a1a6;keyPressed;none;from;a1;opacity;0.8;to;a6;persistent;false,d5b6;keyPressed;none;from;d5;opacity;0.8;to;b6;persistent;false][%c_highlight
a6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;a6;persistent;false,b6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;b6;persistent;false]}
17. bxc6+ {[%clk 0:11:32.4][%c_arrow
c6b7;keyPressed;none;from;c6;opacity;0.8;to;b7;persistent;false,a1a6;keyPressed;none;from;a1;opacity;0.8;to;a6;persistent;false,d5b6;keyPressed;none;from;d5;opacity;0.8;to;b6;persistent;false][%c_highlight
b7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;b7;persistent;false,a6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;a6;persistent;false,b6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;b6;persistent;false]}
17... dxc6 {[%clk 0:13:58.7][%c_arrow
a1a6;keyPressed;none;from;a1;opacity;0.8;to;a6;persistent;false,d5b6;keyPressed;none;from;d5;opacity;0.8;to;b6;persistent;false][%c_highlight
a6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;a6;persistent;false,b6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;b6;persistent;false]}
18. Ba6+ {[%clk 0:11:27.9][%c_arrow
a6b7;keyPressed;none;from;a6;opacity;0.8;to;b7;persistent;false,a1a6;keyPressed;none;from;a1;opacity;0.8;to;a6;persistent;false,d5b6;keyPressed;none;from;d5;opacity;0.8;to;b6;persistent;false][%c_highlight
b7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;b7;persistent;false,a6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;a6;persistent;false,b6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;b6;persistent;false]}
18... Kb8 {[%clk 0:14:03.9][%c_arrow
a6b7;keyPressed;none;from;a6;opacity;0.8;to;b7;persistent;false][%c_highlight
b7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;b7;persistent;false]} 19. Ra5 {[%clk
0:09:23.4] For the second time in the game, I sacrifice another knight $1} 19...
cxd5 $4 {[%clk 0:13:28][%c_effect
d5;square;d5;type;Blunder;persistent;true][%c_arrow
d8d6;keyPressed;none;from;d8;opacity;0.8;to;d6;persistent;false][%c_highlight
d6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d6;persistent;false,d5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d5;persistent;false]
But it's irresistable, especially when your fighting spirit is broken $1 [+6.5 $37
+M4]} 20. Rb5+ {[%clk 0:09:29.8]} 20... Bb7 {[%clk 0:13:20.3]} 21. Rxb7+ {[%clk
0:09:34.1]} 21... Kc8 {[%clk 0:13:27.6]} 22. Rxc7+ {[%clk 0:08:48.3][%c_arrow
a6c8;keyPressed;none;from;a6;opacity;0.8;to;c8;persistent;false,c7c8;keyPressed;none;from;c7;opacity;0.8;to;c8;persistent;false,f4c7;keyPressed;none;from;f4;opacity;0.8;to;c7;persistent;false][%c_highlight
c8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;c8;persistent;false,c7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;c7;persistent;false]
DOUBLE-CHECK $1} 22... Kb8 {[%clk 0:13:29.8]} 23. Rd7+ $6  {[%clk
0:08:38.4][%c_effect d7;square;d7;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true][%c_arrow
c7c8;keyPressed;none;from;c7;opacity;0.8;to;c8;persistent;false] A fine move,
but I miss a delicious double-check checkmate with Rc8# $1} (23. Rc8# {[%c_arrow
c8b8;keyPressed;none;from;c8;opacity;0.8;to;b8;persistent;false,f4b8;keyPressed;none;from;f4;opacity;0.8;to;b8;persistent;false,a6c8;keyPressed;none;from;a6;opacity;0.8;to;c8;persistent;false][%c_highlight
b8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;b8;persistent;false,c8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;c8;persistent;false,b7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;b7;persistent;false]
A beautiful double-check checkmate $1 Unfortunately, I didn't see it in the
game $1}) 23... Qc7 {[%clk 0:13:09.6]} 24. Qxc7# {[%clk 0:08:43.9][%c_effect
e1;square;e1;type;Winner,b8;square;b8;type;CheckmateBlack] But, mate came anyway
very quickly, but not quite as beautiful. GG $1} 1-0