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Earlier in the week, I had a work trip to Melbourne (I live in Sydney). I always enjoy visiting Melbourne and if you’ve never been, it is definitely worth exploring if you’re visiting Australia. Although I believe that Sydney has the best coffee in the country (world!), heretically, I think that the average coffee in Melbourne might actually be a bit better!

I usually stay at the Pullman Melbourne on the Park, and happily, if randomly, I received a free upgrade this time to a room on the “executive level” on the top floor! 🤩👍

I’ve noted in previous articles that I’ve been feeling a little impatient with my chess. In the past week, I had a bit of an epiphany: why not play blitz? I’d typically been playing rapid and hadn’t played any games of blitz for years. And perhaps of no surprise, I’m really enjoying it! It’s been my usual practice to bring along my very portable electronic chess board, the Chessnut GO on travel and I had this inaccurate but fun game of 5+5 blitz in the Vienna Game: Main Line. Enjoy!

Big picture insights from this game?

• In the Vienna Game: Main Line, if you face an opponent who knows the correct/best response to the Paulsen Attack (i.e., the Bardeleben Variation), try the Heyde Variation (1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. f4 d5 4. fxe5 Nxe4 5. Qf3 f5 6. d4). It is technically not as accurate as (6. d3), but it’s easier to play and tactically sound in that it locks in your centre control.
• In these positions, it is often good for White to walk their king forward into the centre of the board behind their central complex of pawns. This can feel a bit uncomfortable.
• The Chessnut GO and Chessnut boards in general work fine for 5 minute blitz, especially with some increment! I get asked this question a lot.

For inspiration on great opening attacks to play in blitz chess, check out my new book, “Become a Chess Assassin! Learn to play the best chess opening attacks“.

[Event "Live Chess"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2025.05.07"]
[Round "-"]
[White "vitualis"]
[Black "smarnach"]
[Result "1-0"]
[CurrentPosition "r1b2rk1/pp2N1p1/n5qp/4Pp2/R2p1Q2/5NP1/2PK3P/1R6 b - - 1 25"]
[Timezone "UTC"]
[ECO "C29"]
[ECOUrl "https://www.chess.com/openings/Vienna-Game-Main-Line-Paulsen-Bardeleben-Heyde-Variation"]
[UTCDate "2025.05.07"]
[UTCTime "07:44:55"]
[WhiteElo "1009"]
[BlackElo "969"]
[TimeControl "300+5"]
[Termination "vitualis won by resignation"]
[StartTime "07:44:55"]
[EndDate "2025.05.07"]
[EndTime "07:54:30"]
[Link "https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/pgn/8SWdWBJY6?tab=analysis"]
[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 "54"]
[BlackTitle ""]

1. e4 {[%clk 0:05:01.5]} 1... e5 {[%clk 0:05:04.4]} 2. Nc3 {[%clk 0:05:03.5]}
2... Nf6 {[%clk 0:05:07.7]} 3. f4 {[%clk 0:05:05.3]} 3... d5 {[%clk 0:05:11.7]
Vienna Game: Main Line  $1 Let's go  $1} 4. fxe5 {[%clk 0:05:07.4]} 4... Nxe4 {[%clk
0:05:15.5]} 5. Qf3 {[%clk 0:05:07.8] Paulsen Attack} 5... f5 {[%clk 0:05:18.9]
Bardeleben Variation - the best response  $1} 6. d4 {[%clk 0:05:07.4] The Heyde
Variation - my preferred line with White  $1} 6... Bb4 {[%clk 0:05:00.5]} 7. Bd2
{[%clk 0:04:56.2]} 7... Nxd2 {[%clk 0:04:59.1]} 8. Kxd2 {[%clk 0:04:58.3]} 8...
O-O {[%clk 0:04:36.3][%c_arrow
c7c5;keyPressed;none;from;c7;opacity;0.8;to;c5;persistent;false][%c_highlight
c5;keyPressed;shift;opacity;0.8;square;c5;persistent;false] The engine likes c5}
9. a3 {[%clk 0:04:42.9]} 9... Qg5+ $6 {[%clk 0:04:38.6][%c_effect
g5;square;g5;type;Inaccuracy;size;100%25;animated;false;persistent;true][%c_arrow
b4a5;keyPressed;none;from;b4;opacity;0.8;to;a5;persistent;false][%c_highlight
a5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;a5;persistent;false] An aggressive
approach} 10. Ke1 {[%clk 0:03:54][%c_arrow
d2d3;keyPressed;none;from;d2;opacity;0.8;to;d3;persistent;false][%c_highlight
d3;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d3;persistent;false] Kd3 was best. I knew
that thematically, being willing to move the king into the centre is good, but I
wasn't able to commit in the actual game  $1} 10... Ba5 $2 {[%clk
0:04:33.6][%c_effect
a5;square;a5;type;Mistake;size;100%25;animated;false;persistent;true][%c_arrow
g5h4;keyPressed;none;from;g5;opacity;0.8;to;h4;persistent;false,b4c3;keyPressed;none;from;b4;opacity;0.8;to;c3;persistent;false][%c_highlight
h4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;h4;persistent;false,c3;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;c3;persistent;false]
This is a mistake, and a difficult position for Black to navigate} 11. Nh3 $2 
{[%clk 0:03:49.9][%c_effect h3;square;h3;type;Mistake;persistent;true][%c_arrow
f3d5;keyPressed;none;from;f3;opacity;0.8;to;d5;persistent;false,d5g8;keyPressed;none;from;d5;opacity;0.8;to;g8;persistent;false,d5a5;keyPressed;none;from;d5;opacity;0.8;to;a5;persistent;false][%c_highlight
d5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d5;persistent;false] However, I missed
Qxd5+ absolute fork of Black's king and a5-bishop} 11... Qh6 $4 {[%clk
0:04:17.1][%c_effect h6;square;h6;type;Blunder;persistent;true][%c_highlight
h6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;h6;persistent;false,h4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;h4;persistent;false][%c_arrow
g5h4;keyPressed;none;from;g5;opacity;0.8;to;h4;persistent;false] This is a
blunder as Qxd5+ is still available} 12. Qf4 $2  {[%clk 0:03:33.1][%c_effect
f4;square;f4;type;Mistake;persistent;true][%c_arrow
f3d5;keyPressed;none;from;f3;opacity;0.8;to;d5;persistent;false,d5g8;keyPressed;none;from;d5;opacity;0.8;to;g8;persistent;false,d5a5;keyPressed;none;from;d5;opacity;0.8;to;a5;persistent;false][%c_highlight
d5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d5;persistent;false] But, I miss it for a
second time in a row. This is the second best move, but it gives up a winning
attack. D'oh $1} 12... Qc6 {[%clk 0:04:05.4]} 13. Kd2 {[%clk 0:03:03.8] As noted
before, moving the king forward is often good for White in the Main Line} 13...
Na6 $6 {[%clk 0:03:58.2][%c_arrow
c6d7;keyPressed;none;from;c6;opacity;0.8;to;d7;persistent;false][%c_highlight
d7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d7;persistent;false][%c_effect
a6;square;a6;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true]} 14. Bb5 $4 {[%clk
0:02:52.7][%c_effect b5;square;b5;type;Blunder;persistent;true][%c_highlight
b5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;b5;persistent;false] But this is a blunder
as Black can remove the defender of the attacking b5-bishop with Bxc3+, winning
a clean piece $1} 14... Qxb5 $2  {[%clk 0:03:56.5][%c_arrow
a5c3;keyPressed;none;from;a5;opacity;0.8;to;c3;persistent;false][%c_highlight
c3;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;c3;persistent;false][%c_effect
b5;square;b5;type;Mistake;persistent;true] But, Black misplays this, and I will
now only lose a pawn from my blunder $1} 15. b4 $1 {[%clk 0:02:49.9][%c_effect
b4;square;b4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true][%c_highlight
b4;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;b4;persistent;false,a5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;a5;persistent;false,b5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;b5;persistent;false][%c_arrow
b4a5;keyPressed;none;from;b4;opacity;0.8;to;a5;persistent;false,c3b5;keyPressed;none;from;c3;opacity;0.8;to;b5;persistent;false]
A double attack $1} 15... Bxb4 {[%clk 0:03:30.1]} 16. axb4 {[%clk 0:02:50.7]}
16... Qxb4 {[%clk 0:03:33.8]} 17. Rab1 $6 {[%clk 0:02:49.5][%c_effect
b1;square;b1;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true][%c_arrow
h1b1;keyPressed;none;from;h1;opacity;0.8;to;b1;persistent;false][%c_highlight
b1;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;b1;persistent;false] I realised in the
game that moving the other rook would have been better} 17... Qa5 $6 {[%clk
0:03:26.1][%c_effect a5;square;a5;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true][%c_arrow
b4c4;keyPressed;none;from;b4;opacity;0.8;to;c4;persistent;false][%c_highlight
c4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;c4;persistent;false] This inaccuracy gives
me tactical possibilities and a redo of the rook attack} 18. Ra1 {[%clk
0:02:47.8]} 18... Qb4 {[%clk 0:03:09.5]} 19. Rhb1 {[%clk 0:02:49.6]} 19... Qc4 $6
{[%clk 0:03:12.7][%c_arrow
b4e7;keyPressed;none;from;b4;opacity;0.8;to;e7;persistent;false][%c_highlight
e7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e7;persistent;false][%c_effect
c4;square;c4;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] Moving the queen out of there
would have been best} 20. Ra4 {[%clk 0:02:40.8] The queen is almost, but not
quite trapped} 20... Qc6 {[%clk 0:03:15.7] This is the only escape square} 21.
Ng5 $6 {[%clk 0:02:27][%c_effect
g5;square;g5;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true][%c_arrow
f4g5;keyPressed;none;from;f4;opacity;0.8;to;g5;persistent;false,f4h4;keyPressed;none;from;f4;opacity;0.8;to;h4;persistent;false][%c_highlight
g5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;g5;persistent;false,h4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;h4;persistent;false]
My logic was to move the knight off the edge. Stockfish thinks Qg5 or Qh4 was
better, but I wanted to prevent Black from moving their f-pawn forward.} 21...
h6 {[%clk 0:03:05.8]} 22. Nf3 {[%clk 0:02:18.1]} 22... Qg6 {[%clk 0:02:58.9]}
23. g3 {[%clk 0:02:06.7][%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] Surprisingly, Nxd5
immediately was the most accurate move according to the engine. Stockfish is
unafraid of Qxg2+, but I think a human should be afraid $1} 23... c5 $6 {[%clk
0:02:48.2][%c_arrow
c7c6;keyPressed;none;from;c7;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] A bold step forward...} 24. Nxd5
{[%clk 0:02:03.2][%c_arrow
d5e7;keyPressed;none;from;d5;opacity;0.8;to;e7;persistent;false,e7g8;keyPressed;none;from;e7;opacity;0.8;to;g8;persistent;false,e7g6;keyPressed;none;from;e7;opacity;0.8;to;g6;persistent;false][%c_highlight
e7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e7;persistent;false] I take the d-pawn
with a threat of a Royal Fork on e7. Does black see it $2} 24... cxd4 $4 {[%clk
0:02:45.2][%c_effect d4;square;d4;type;Blunder;persistent;true][%c_highlight
d4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d4;persistent;false,f7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f7;persistent;false][%c_arrow
g6f7;keyPressed;none;from;g6;opacity;0.8;to;f7;persistent;false] Nope, and a
critical blunder $1} 25. Ne7+ $1 {[%clk 0:02:00][%c_effect
e7;square;e7;type;GreatFind;persistent;true,d2;square;d2;type;Winner;animated;true,g8;square;g8;type;ResignBlack;animated;true][%c_highlight
g8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;g8;persistent;false,e7;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;e7;persistent;false,g6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;g6;persistent;false][%c_arrow
e7g8;keyPressed;none;from;e7;opacity;0.8;to;g8;persistent;false,e7g6;keyPressed;none;from;e7;opacity;0.8;to;g6;persistent;false]
Royal Fork, and Black resigns $1 Good game, GG $1} 1-0