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I was very very pleased that the first three online games of chess that I played in 2026 were of the wonderful Vienna Gambit! (1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. f4)

Those of you who follow my channel will know that the Vienna Game and Vienna Gambit are my favourite opening. In fact, at the time of writing this article, I had over 240 videos on my YouTube channel that featured a Vienna Game! 😲

Of the three games, one was a rated game of 5 | 5 blitz, and two were unrated games of 10 | 0 rapid.

The game of blitz was literally my first game of the year, and although it isn’t the most elegant game, it does demonstrate a tactical idea in the Vienna Gambit. It wasn’t quite clear in my head until I analysed the game, but there is a rather neat triple trick that gambits another pawn, and then a full knight, to potentially win the opponent’s queen!

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The most winning move in the position is the brilliancy (8. O-O!!), where we sacrifice our c3-knight for two fully open centre files! Should Black be greedy and capture the knight (8… dxc3??), White has Bxf7+ and we can win Black’s queen by force!

In the game, I didn’t quite appreciate this and played Bxf7+ early. The engine evaluates this as a mistake, but for the Vienna player, this is often a very devious move that is winning despite being inaccurate. This was the case in this game. The bishop sacrifice exposes Black’s king to the full rage of battle. Black must play very accurately to hold onto the nominal advantage, and often, a single mistake gives a commanding lead to White. This occurred in this game on turn 16. Black had only a single correct move (16… Qg7) to force a trade of queens. All other moves were serious mistake which yielded a substantial advantage to White.

Black did not find this move, and four turns later, they resigned in the dead lost position, emotionally damaged with only five seconds left on the clock. Good game, GG!

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In the second game, Black made a mistake by declining the Vienna Gambit with (3… Nc6) and White will typically win a very nice advantage in development. This is through a forced chasing of Black’s knights, including forcing Black’s king’s knight to un-develop to the g8 square. A few turns later, Black attempted to win back some tempo by pinning my king to my queen with (9… Bg4??), which is a fairly common mistake in the position.

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The correct move for White is once again, the thematic bishop sacrifice with check, Bxf7+!! as there is an unpinning tactic. The bishop sacrifice pulls Black’s king onto the f-file (Kxf7), which is now an open file. In the game, I played the delicious double-check (11. Kxe5+). Double-checks make the impossible possible, as despite the e5 square being defended, Black must move the king. They cannot block the check or capture the checking piece. My opponent resigned immediately, but if they had continued to play, the subsequent move would have been (12. Qxg4), winning Black’s bishop cleanly.

* * *

The final game shows the venom of the Vienna Gambit against beginner players. In this game, Black also declined the Vienna Gambit with Nc6, but against the chasing of their knights with my pawns, were immediately overwhelmed, losing both their knights on two consecutive turns (6… Nd5??) and (7… Nxd4??). Beginners can sometimes be beset with a “sunk cost fallacy”, which is expressed by the unwillingness to move their pieces backwards. Perhaps there wasn’t much in terms of tactical insights from this game, but the Vienna Gambit did give me this beautiful checkmate on turn 12!

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Learn how to play the best chess opening attacks in the Romantic style, including a chapter on the Vienna Gambit, with my new book, “Become a Chess Assassin!” available now on your local Amazon store!

[Event "Live Chess"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2026.01.01"]
[Round "-"]
[White "vitualis"]
[Black "Vadisonny"]
[Result "1-0"]
[CurrentPosition "r4b2/pppk4/2n2QN1/5b2/1q6/3pB3/PPP3PP/4RRK1 w - - 2 21"]
[Timezone "UTC"]
[ECO "C28"]
[ECOUrl "https://www.chess.com/openings/Vienna-Game-Falkbeer-Vienna-Gambit"]
[UTCDate "2026.01.01"]
[UTCTime "04:17:35"]
[WhiteElo "1027"]
[BlackElo "963"]
[TimeControl "300+5"]
[Termination "vitualis won by resignation"]
[StartTime "04:17:35"]
[EndDate "2026.01.01"]
[EndTime "04:30:25"]
[Link "https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/pgn/4mScJEKVtJ/analysis"]
[WhiteUrl "https://images.chesscomfiles.com/uploads/v1/user/3711094.b9866645.50x50o.b3ba794d99f9.webp"]
[WhiteCountry "17"]
[WhiteTitle ""]
[BlackUrl "https://images.chesscomfiles.com/uploads/v1/user/63930694.9798a1e5.50x50o.d1cddd47b642.jpeg"]
[BlackCountry "2"]
[BlackTitle ""]

1. e4 {[%clk 0:05:04.5]} 1... e5 {[%clk 0:05:03.9]} 2. Nc3 {[%clk 0:05:07.1]}
2... Nf6 {[%clk 0:05:06.2]} 3. f4 {[%clk 0:05:11.1]} 3... exf4 $6 {[%clk
0:05:08.9][%c_effect
f4;square;f4;type;Inaccuracy;size;100%25;animated;false;persistent;true]} 4. e5
{[%clk 0:05:15]} 4... Ng8 {[%clk 0:05:08.9]} 5. Nf3 {[%clk 0:05:18.6]} 5... d6
{[%clk 0:05:08.3]} 6. d4 {[%clk 0:05:14.4]} 6... dxe5 {[%clk 0:05:02.6]} 7.
Bc4 $6 {[%clk 0:04:42.9][%c_effect
c4;square;c4;type;Inaccuracy;size;100%25;animated;false;persistent;true][%c_arrow
d1e2;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;from;d1;to;e2;persistent;false,c4b5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;from;c4;to;b5;persistent;false][%c_highlight
e2;keyPressed;shift;opacity;0.8;square;e2;persistent;false,b5;keyPressed;shift;opacity;0.8;square;b5;persistent;false]
I decided to try something sneaky - in essence, I gambit another pawn  $1} 7...
exd4 $6 {[%clk 0:04:31.8][%c_effect
d4;square;d4;type;Inaccuracy;size;100%25;animated;false;persistent;true] This is
actually a mistake, but I didn't quite recognise it. In this position, we can
now gambit the knight as well  $1} 8. Bxf7+ $2  {[%clk 0:04:40.6][%c_effect
f7;square;f7;type;Mistake;persistent;true] I thought that I could make this
work $1 Stockfish disagrees, but it's a tricky position for Black to navigate $1}
(8. O-O $3 {[%c_effect g1;square;g1;type;Brilliant;persistent;true][%c_highlight
g1;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;g1;persistent;false] A very tricky line to
know - we gambit now the knight $1} 8... dxc3 $4 {[%c_effect
c3;square;c3;type;Blunder;size;100%25;animated;false;persistent;true][%c_highlight
c3;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;c3;persistent;false]} 9. Bxf7+ $1
{[%c_effect f7;square;f7;type;GreatFind;persistent;true][%c_highlight
f7;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;f7;persistent;false,e8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e8;persistent;false,d8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d8;persistent;false][%c_arrow
f7e8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;from;f7;to;e8;persistent;false,d1d8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;from;d1;to;d8;persistent;false]
The bishop deflects the king away from the defence of the queen $1 If Kxf7, then
Qxd8 $1} 9... Ke7 10. Re1+ $1 {[%c_effect
e1;square;e1;type;GreatFind;persistent;true][%c_highlight
e1;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;e1;persistent;false,e7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e7;persistent;false][%c_arrow
e1e7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;from;e1;to;e7;persistent;false]} 10... Kxf7 11.
Qxd8) 8... Kxf7 {[%clk 0:04:25.5]} 9. Ne5+ {[%clk 0:04:40.1]} 9... Ke8 {[%clk
0:04:18.4]} 10. Qh5+ {[%clk 0:04:23.3]} 10... g6 $1 {[%clk 0:04:09.8][%c_effect
g6;square;g6;type;GreatFind;persistent;true][%c_highlight
g6;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;g6;persistent;false]} 11. Nxg6 {[%clk
0:04:22.6]} 11... hxg6 $6 {[%clk 0:04:13.1][%c_effect
g6;square;g6;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true]} 12. Qxh8 $6 {[%clk
0:04:07.7][%c_effect h8;square;h8;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true][%c_arrow
h5g6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;from;h5;to;g6;persistent;false][%c_highlight
g6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;g6;persistent;false] I wasn't sure what
was the best move, and ultimately, I decided to capture the rook. Stockfish
prefers Qxg6+.} 12... Qe7+ {[%clk 0:04:01.7]} 13. Ne2 {[%clk 0:04:10.6]} 13...
Bg4 {[%clk 0:03:46.7] Great counterattack by Black} 14. O-O {[%clk 0:03:48.3]}
14... Nf6 $4  {[%clk 0:03:24.6][%c_effect
f6;square;f6;type;Blunder;persistent;true][%c_highlight
f6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f6;persistent;false,e2;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e2;persistent;false][%c_arrow
g4e2;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;from;g4;to;e2;persistent;false] Black wanted to
hold onto their material - loss aversion is a cognitive bias to wary of $1} 15.
Nxf4 {[%clk 0:03:25.9]} 15... Bf5 $2 {[%clk 0:01:48.4][%c_effect
f5;square;f5;type;Mistake;persistent;true][%c_arrow
e7g7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;from;e7;to;g7;persistent;false][%c_highlight
g7;keyPressed;shift;opacity;0.8;square;g7;persistent;false] There's a logic
here, but it's a mistake. However, good moves are not simple to find for Black.}
16. Bd2 $2  {[%clk 0:03:07.4][%c_arrow
f4g6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;from;f4;to;g6;persistent;false][%c_highlight
g6;keyPressed;shift;opacity;0.8;square;g6;persistent;false][%c_effect
d2;square;d2;type;Mistake;persistent;true] Stockfish prefers Nxg6 and I thought
about this for some time. Ultimately, I thought it was safer to develop my
bishop so that my rooks were connected on the back rank. Black's queen is also
quite exposed with it being on the full open e-file with the king.} 16... Qc5 $4
{[%clk 0:01:45.4][%c_effect c5;square;c5;type;Blunder;persistent;true][%c_arrow
e7g7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;from;e7;to;g7;persistent;false,c5g1;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;from;c5;to;g1;persistent;false][%c_highlight
g7;keyPressed;shift;opacity;0.8;square;g7;persistent;false,c5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;c5;persistent;false]
The only good move for Black was to trade away the queens. This was a blunder $1 I
can see the logic behind it, setting up a discovered check tactic, but it
doesn't work.} 17. Rae1+ $1 {[%clk 0:02:32.9][%c_effect
e1;square;e1;type;GreatFind;persistent;true][%c_highlight
e1;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;e1;persistent;false,e8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e8;persistent;false][%c_arrow
e1e8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;from;e1;to;e8;persistent;false]} 17... Kd7
{[%clk 0:01:24.8]} 18. Qxf6 {[%clk 0:01:44.9]} 18... Nc6 $6 {[%clk
0:00:58.4][%c_effect c6;square;c6;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true]} 19. Nxg6
{[%clk 0:00:43.6]} 19... d3+ {[%clk 0:00:36.3]} 20. Be3 {[%clk
0:00:45.5][%c_arrow
e3c5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;from;e3;to;c5;persistent;false][%c_highlight
c5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;c5;persistent;false] Black just didn't
have enough tempo to make this attack work $1} 20... Qb4 $6 {[%clk
0:00:05.1][%c_effect
b4;square;b4;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true,g1;square;g1;type;Winner;animated;true,d7;square;d7;type;ResignBlack;animated;true][%c_arrow
d3d2;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;from;d3;to;d2;persistent;false][%c_highlight
d2;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d2;persistent;false] Black had a difficult
position, and with 5 seconds left, played a move. However, this hangs their
f5-bishop and there is a checkmate in no more than six moves on the board. After
their move, Black's spirit was broken, and they opted to resign. Good game, GG $1}
1-0

[Event "Live Chess"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2026.01.02"]
[Round "?"]
[White "vitualis"]
[Black "Random Noob"]
[Result "1-0"]
[TimeControl "600"]
[Termination "vitualis won by resignation"]
[WhiteUrl "https://images.chesscomfiles.com/uploads/v1/user/3711094.b9866645.32x32o.b1cf5b001ab7.webp"]
[WhiteCountry "17"]
[WhiteTitle ""]
[BlackUrl ""]
[BlackCountry "225"]
[BlackTitle ""]
[Link "https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/pgn/2EqhGPfPZ8/analysis"]

1. e4 {[%clk 0:09:59.7][%timestamp 3]} 1... e5 {[%clk 0:09:59][%timestamp 10]}
2. Nc3 {[%clk 0:09:59.2][%timestamp 5]} 2... Nf6 {[%clk 0:09:57.7][%timestamp
13]} 3. f4 {[%clk 0:09:58.3][%timestamp 9] Vienna Gambit: let's go  $1} 3... Nc6 $2
{[%clk 0:09:52.6][%timestamp 51][%c_effect
c6;square;c6;type;Mistake;size;100%25;animated;false;persistent;true] Declined
with Nc6 is a mistake  $1} 4. fxe5 {[%clk 0:09:57.3][%timestamp 10][%c_arrow
e5f6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;from;e5;to;f6;persistent;false][%c_highlight
f6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f6;persistent;false]} 4... Nxe5 {[%clk
0:09:51.6][%timestamp 10]} 5. d4 $1 {[%clk 0:09:56.8][%timestamp 5][%c_effect
d4;square;d4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true][%c_highlight
d4;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;d4;persistent;false,e5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e5;persistent;false][%c_arrow
d4e5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;from;d4;to;e5;persistent;false]} 5... Ng6
{[%clk 0:09:50.9][%timestamp 7]} 6. e5 $1 {[%clk 0:09:56.4][%timestamp
4][%c_effect e5;square;e5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true][%c_highlight
e5;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;e5;persistent;false,f6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f6;persistent;false][%c_arrow
e5f6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;from;e5;to;f6;persistent;false] The sequence
wins tempo against Black's knights $1 The king's knight must un-develop and return
to the g8 square.} 6... Ng8 {[%clk 0:09:46.9][%timestamp 40]} 7. Nf3 {[%clk
0:09:55.7][%timestamp 7]} 7... d6 {[%clk 0:09:46.5][%timestamp 4]} 8. Bc4 {[%clk
0:09:03.5][%timestamp 522][%c_arrow
d1e2;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;from;d1;to;e2;persistent;false,h2h4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;from;h2;to;h4;persistent;false][%c_highlight
e2;keyPressed;shift;opacity;0.8;square;e2;persistent;false,h4;keyPressed;shift;opacity;0.8;square;h4;persistent;false]
In this position, Bc4 and Qe2 are probably the most natural moves, and these are
thematic in the Vienna Gambit. The engine also finds h4 as a very good move, and
then h5 to win tempo on Black's knights again $1} 8... dxe5 {[%clk
0:09:21.7][%timestamp 248]} 9. O-O {[%clk 0:08:58.7][%timestamp 48]} 9... Bg4 $4
{[%clk 0:08:55.9][%timestamp 258][%c_effect
g4;square;g4;type;Blunder;persistent;true][%c_highlight
g4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;g4;persistent;false] This blunders the
unpinning tactic $1} 10. Bxf7+ $3 {[%clk 0:08:55.4][%timestamp 33][%c_effect
f7;square;f7;type;Brilliant;persistent;true][%c_highlight
f7;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;f7;persistent;false,e8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e8;persistent;false][%c_arrow
f7e8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;from;f7;to;e8;persistent;false]} 10... Kxf7
{[%clk 0:08:48.8][%timestamp 71]} 11. Nxe5+ {[%clk 0:08:54.3][%timestamp
11][%c_effect
g1;square;g1;type;Winner;animated;true,f7;square;f7;type;ResignBlack;animated;true][%c_arrow
e5f7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;from;e5;to;f7;persistent;false,f1f7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;from;f1;to;f7;persistent;false][%c_highlight
f7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f7;persistent;false] Double-check makes
the impossible, possible $1 Black suffers emotional damage, and resigns $1 Good
game, GG $1} 1-0

[Event "Live Chess"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2026.01.01"]
[Round "?"]
[White "vitualis"]
[Black "Random Noob"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Termination "vitualis won by checkmate"]
[TimeControl "600"]
[Link "https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/pgn/4Az95d9hug/analysis"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. f4 {Vienna Gambit, let's go   $1} 3... Nc6 $2 {[%c_effect
c6;square;c6;type;Mistake;persistent;true] Against most e4-e5 openings, the
\\\"Two Knights\\\" is typically good, hence the opening principle that you
should develop your knights before bishops. However, Declining the Vienna Gambit
with Nc6 is a mistake, and part of why the Vienna Gambit is so strong against
beginners   $1} 4. fxe5 $1 {[%c_effect e5;square;e5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]}
4... Nxe5 5. d4 Nc6 6. e5 Nd5 $4 {[%c_effect
d5;square;d5;type;Blunder;persistent;true][%c_highlight
d5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d5;persistent;false] Beginners can often
hold onto an intuitive sunk cost fallacy, and thus, refuse to un-develop their
king's knight, which is the correct move.} 7. Nxd5 Nxd4 $4 {[%c_effect
d4;square;d4;type;Blunder;persistent;true][%c_highlight
d4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d4;persistent;false] Unfortunately, I
think my opponent was emotionally overwhelmed, and played this in less than a
second, blundering their second knight   $1} 8. Qxd4 c5 {However, kudos to them
for playing on   $1} 9. Qe4 d6 $6 {[%c_effect
d6;square;d6;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true]} 10. Nf3 {Trading is good too, but
I was angling for a checkmate   $1} 10... f5 $6 {[%c_effect
f5;square;f5;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] White is throwing pawns forward,
but this is a mistake} 11. exf6+ {En passant, check   $1 Note: with perfect play,
there is a checkmate-in-10.} 11... Kd7 $2 {[%c_effect
d7;square;d7;type;Mistake;persistent;true] Black tries to run the king, arguably
a mistake/blunder as there is now an immediate checkmate   $1} 12. Bb5#
{[%c_effect
e1;square;e1;type;Winner;animated;true,d7;square;d7;type;CheckmateBlack;animated;true]
Good game, GG   $1} 1-0