Vienna game

Vienna game - Introduction

The earliest mention of what we call the Vienna game was by Ponziani in his treaties 'The incomparable Game of Chess by Ercole del rio'. Ponziani was an Italian priest and law lecturer who lived during the 18th century in Modena, though mentioned, the opening was only thoroughly analysed by Carl Friedrich Andreyevich in 1842; one year later Carl Hamppe a Swiss player and senior Vienna government official started using it, initially the Vienna game was named after him and known as the 'Hamppe opening'. Though Carl Hamppe popularised his opening in the mid 1800s in Vienna, it was not until the beginning of the 20th century that the Austrian masters: Wilhelm Steinitz, Rudolf Spielmann, and Savielly Tartakower, popularized it at the top levels of play. In 1888 a book reviewer wrote in the New York Times that "since Morphy only one new opening has been introduced, the 'Vienna'", making the Vienna Game one of the most modern openings to date. The opening remained relatively popular until the end of the 1920s when its usage started declining. By the end of the 1930s it fell out of fashion at elite levels of play and few masters used it in their repertoires. This is because several defences were developed to circumvent the tactical advantages gained at lower levels. Two such common variations to avoid main line Vienna tactics, are the Andersson or Max Lange Defences, both of which avoid developing Black's King sided Knight. Today, the opening is still common at the club level, but rarely seen at elite levels of play.

The Vienna game can be thought of as a sounder king's gambit, before gambling their F-file pawn, white develops a knight to C3 and waits for black to block the dark D8 to H4 diagonal with their knight before pushing F4.

Vienna game - Vienna gambit accepted

The 'Vienna gambit' was popularized in Vienna during the 19th century at the height of the romantic era of chess, during this time high risk gambits and crazy sacrifices were commonplace. The Austrian-based Swiss master Carl Hamppe is credited as the main theoretician involved in its development, Carl's contribution to this line was so great that at one point the 'Vienna opening' was referred to as the 'Hamppe opening'. The accepted line is extremely rare to see, because it is common knowledge that accepting the gambit is so detrimental positionally for black, that only a player unfamiliar with the 'Vienna gambit' would do so. Often times black will avoid the gambit line all together, by either mirroring white's knight development or developing their dark-squared bishop on move two.

The 'Vienna gambit' was popularized in Vienna during the 19th century. Carl Hamppe, the Swiss master is credited as the main theoretician involved in its development, his contribution was so great that the opening was at one point referred as the 'Hamppe opening'.

Vienna game - Vienna gambit declined

The Vienna gambit was popular in Vienna in the 19th century at the height of the Romantic Era of chess, during which high risk gambits and crazy sacrifices were commonplace. The Austrian-based Swiss master Carl Hamppe is credited as the main theoretician involved in it's development. In fact when the gambit is not referred to as the Vienna Gambit, it is sometimes called the Hamppe Gambit. It is commonly known that the Vienna gambit is less of a gambit and more of a trap for black which is why it is almost never accepted. It is commonly known that the Vienna gambit is less of a gambit and more of a trap for black which is why it is almost never accepted.

The Vienna gambit gained popularity during the 19th century. Carl Hamppe the Swiss master is credited as the main theoretician involved in its development. In fact the gambit is sometimes referred to as the Hamppe Gambit. It is commonly known that accepting the gambit is detrimental to black's position, which is why it is rarely played at the competitive level.

Introduction to the Vienna Game

Vienna game - Introduction

Vienna game - Vienna gambit accepted

Vienna game - Vienna gambit declined