Vienna Game
1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Bc4 Nxe4!?
This well-known combination, which relies on 4.Nxe4 being met by 4...d5, is not the top choice of Stockfish17.1 or Dragon1 - they prefer 3...Bc5 or 3...Nc6.
4.Qh5 Nd6 5.Bb3 Be7!?
This has taken over from 5...Nc6 as the most popular continuation. After 5...Nc6 the main line in ChessBase's 2026 Mega database runs 6.Nb5!? g6 7.Qf3 f5 8.Qd5 Qe7 9.Nxc7+ Kd8 10.Nxa8, which used to be regarded as a very promising sacrificial line for Black, but the engines are unimpressed, awarding White at least a slight edge.
6.Qxe5 0-0 7.Nf3!?
More prudent, and a little more popular in Mega26, is 7.Nge2, but the engines reckon the more-aggressive 7.Nf3!? is a tad better.
7...Bf6!?
Trying to exploit the fact that White's king is uncastled, but White scores 64% in Mega26 against this move, so the other way to hit the white queen, 7...Nc6. may be better.
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| Where should the white queen go? |
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8.Qf4!
This is the only way to gain an advantage, according to the engines, which reckon every other move gives Black at least a marginal edge.
8...Re8+
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| How should White proceed? |
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9.Kd1
Also possible is 9.Kf1, but not 9.Ne2? as that loses to 9...Re4!, eg 10.Qg3 Nf5! 11.Qh3 d5 12.d3 Rxe2+! 13.Kxe2 Nd4+ 14.Nxd4 Bxh3.
9...Nc6 10.d3
Dragon1 prefers 10.Nd5!?, but Stockfish17.1 fluctuates between the two moves.
10...Ne7!
Taking the sting out of Nd5, and making it possible to hit the white queen with ...Ng6.
11.g4?!
Probably a novelty, but Stockfish17.1 prefers the known 11.h4, and Dragon1 likes another known continuation, 11.Nd5 Nxd5 12.Bxd5.
11...Ng6 12.Qg3 Nh4?!
Black is at least slightly better after 12...Bxc3!? 13.bxc3 Qf6, according to the engines.
13.Bf4
The engines fluctuate between the text and 13.Nd5.
13...Nxf3 14.Qxf3 Be5
The engines suggest 14...Bxc3 15.bxc3 Qf6, or offering the exchange with 14...Re6!?, but anyway much prefer White.
15.Kd2?!
White is positionally winning after 15.Bxe5 Rxe5 16.h4, according to the engines.
15...Qf6 16.Nd5
An only-move.
16...Bxf4+ 17.Qxf4 Qxf4+ 18.Nxf4
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| Now queens are off the board, how would you assess the position? |
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Black has difficulties completing queenside development, and so is slightly worse, according to Dragon1, but Stockfish17.1 reckons the game is equal, presumably because it does not believe White can exploit Black's difficulties.
18...c6 19.Nh3!?
Dragon1 suggests gaining space with 19.a4, while Stockfish17.1 has a similar idea, but on the kingside, with 19.h4.
19...Kf8 20.Rae1 h6 21.g5 Nf5 22.Rxe8+ Kxe8 23.Re1+ Kf8 24.g6?
24.gxh6 Nxh6 25.Ng5 d5 is equal.
24...d5?
24...Nh4 threatens both a fork at f3 and a simple capture on g6.
25.Nf4?
Correct is 25.gxf7 Kxf7, with what the engines agree is a slight edge for Black.
25...Nd4?
Threatening a fork at f3, but not simultaneously threatening to capture on g6, so again ...Nh4 is the right way to gain a large advantage.
26.Re3 Bf5 27.gxf7 Kxf7 28.c3!? Nxb3+ 29.axb3
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| How would you assess this rook-and-minor-piece ending? |
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Usually rook and bishop work better together than rook and knight, and here there is the added factor of White having two isolanis. But the kingside pawns are not easy for Black to get at, White occupies the open file, and White has good chances of finding the knight a good outpost square. The engines agree the position is equal.
29...g5 30.Ne2 Re8 31.Rf3 Kg6 32.Nd4 Bd7 33.b4 b6 34.Rg3 Kf6 35.Rf3+ Kg6 36.Rg3 Kf6 37.Rf3+ Kg6 ½–½
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