Vienna Game Copycat | POUNCE with Qg4!
#vienna #maxlangedefense #copycatvariation
After my blunderous loss to my sub who wishes to stay anonymous, we played another game. I had the White pieces this time and my sub, trying to avoid the Vienna Gambit themselves, played the Max Lange Defense, and then the "Copycat" variation (1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5). You should never go full copycat as after (4. Qg4) with an immediate attack on the g7 pawn, it is not easy for Black to play the position.
Particularly at the beginner level, and my sub was rated in the 700s, this position is very strong indeed. My sub played an fascinating backwards knight move (4. Nce7). I think they were trying to shore up defences around their king, but this was a blunder [+8] as the g7 pawn is hanging and the threat is unresolved.
I capture the g7 pawn and Black strikes out with d5, temporarily avoiding immediate mate next turn by blocking and attacking my bishop. But my position is just too strong. I have three attackers on the d5 square and Black only has two defenders. I don't play the most accurate chain of captures, but it doesn't matter.
On move 12, I invite a queen trade and Black tries to valiantly counterattack attack with their own queen and bishop. A careless move by me could see a scholar's mate type loss, but it's not difficult to avoid and Black has simply lost too much material, and White is still rock solid as incredibly, all remaining pawns are on their starting square!
I must admit to being a bit anxious in this game as my sub seems particularly tricky with finding counterattacks and threats when there were down on pieces. And playing conservatively, I missed some quicker checkmate lines, though in my defence, mating nets in the middle of the board are not the simplest to see. Instead, I opted for the easier-to-see, high-yield, but not immediately winning tactics (e.g., a royal fork trading my knight for my sub's queen). However, I eventually found a sequence and on move 28, deliver mate. GG!
