GM Fabiano Caruana, courtesy of zugzwang.de
In my opinion the Vienna Gambit is justly neglected. It starts off OK, then the Black player gains an edge – unfortunately – often because White’s pawn structure is too raggedy. Just look at Hector’s e-pawn in this recent effort:
J Hector-v-F Caruana,
20th Sigeman & Co, Malmo, Sweden, 2012
Vienna Gambit C29
1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. f4 d5 4. fxe5 (And whilst I’m having a moan, don’t revive Steinitz’s 4 d3. Don’t, OK?!) 4…Nxe4 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. Bb5 Bb4 7. O-O O-O 8.
Ne2 Bg4 9. Bxc6 bxc6 10. Kh1 Ng5 11. d3 f6 12. Bxg5 fxg5 13. c3 Be7 14. Qa4 Bd7
15. Nd2 c5 16. Rxf8+ Bxf8 17. Qb3 Bf5 18. c4 Rb8 19. Qc3 d4 20. Qc2 Qe8 21. Ng3
Bg6 22. Re1 g4 23. h3 Qe6 24. hxg4 Qxg4 25. Ndf1 Be7 26. b3 Bh4 27. Qd1 Qxd1
28. Rxd1 Re8 29. Ne2 Bh5 30. Rd2 Bg5 (In the end, sorry Hector, White is dispatched like a clubplayer!)
Goodnight Vienna!
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