Travelling in Vienna 5-16-09

Okay, this was one of the few games where I have played the Vienna.  I still have not gotten it into my system to like 2. Nf3, despite its popularity...maybe with a bit more begging myself, I can learn to like it!

Anyway, I played 2. Nc3, the Vienna Game, and we transposed into a King's Gambit.  My style is not by books - it is my own style, but I enjoy hearing other's ideas on my games.  I really am learning to like these forums for showing games and hearing new improved ideas on what I choose!  I have already received three or more cool ideas from other games I have posted...

Here's the game.

Nicely played attack, and I like your idea that his BxN isn't scary. I don't think his 3rd move was the best for him.

I play the vienna gambit for nearly 5 years now.

Blacks 3th move was totally wrong, best move is of course d5. After 3. ... exf4 the best move is e5, because the knight has to go back to g8. You played well but you didnt play a vienna gambit, normal moves ar 0-0, Qe1 - Qh5 or Qg6, Be3 and attacking the kingside. BxN isnt scary at all when you played 0-0. Now you had to take with your pawn, it was in intresting game but not a typicall vienna game.

Thanks so much for your critiques.  The Vienna Game and Gambit is all new to me - this game was played totally by feel - so it is awesome to get the chance to hear some other's opinion of what I played.  I have been told that 3...d5 is best, and I am looking forward to the day that I get to see 4. fxe Nxe 5. d3!? and see Qh4+...I read a forum on that.  I just looked on the Explorer and White has a high win percentage with that line. 

Another cool thing here is that even though 3. e5! is surely best (I have heard this already more than once), having this kind of a King's Gambit in the bag is cool for variety's sake. 

Keep the critiques rolling - you guys are making my day!  And that knight sac on b5!...I will have to look at it and see what I think...it is pretty wild looking!

I thought 18.Qg5 was playing with fire... he had 18...0-0-0 and he's ok. 

Yes, you might be correct with 18...0-0-0.  That is a good point.  I had debated on retreating the bishop after 17. Bxg7 also, but there you go for blitz chess!

This is the Qh4+ line, its very intresting with better play for white

This is a game i played a few weeks ago, the chess.com computer analysis has found some intresting variations in it.

Lars, that was a very trippy game, to say the least!  At least it shows a drawn game in this line.  I would have thought that White had the better chances...Thanks for giving us this!

White had to win this game, when I'm correct was Qxb7+ the blunder, when I played it correctly i would have had a bishop or knight more. But this game shows how difficult it is to play this line. One wrong move and the game can turn totally. Because I played one bad move in this line I had to fight for the draw, because it wasnt very easy to save my horrible knight at a8.

Normally this line doesnt end up in a draw. But we show it is possible

Well, that can happen with anything, really...the drawing possibilities, if the right moves are played.  I like the ideas behind it though.  I like lines that open the kingside (safely) for White, and I think this d3 idea does the job.  And even if they play Nxc3 after d3, White is not in terrible shape by any means.  He has a pawn structure that he can work with, plus two bishops - the position is still imbalanced.

When they play Nxc3 you can play "normal". That is the most played line, now you can "safely" open your kingside and attack the black king. But after d3 whites pawn structure is terrible. You dont play the vienna gambit to play an endgame. When you dont win one pawn (or more) it is mostly impossible to win the endgame. Mostly you offer your pawn on c3 to get a better pawnstructure and the centre, but than your a pawn behind and you will the endgame also lose. As said before, the vienna gambit you play for open games with changes on the blacks kingside and not for playing endgames.