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.
Vienna game - Introduction
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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.
Vienna game - Vienna gambit accepted
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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.
Vienna game - Vienna gambit declined
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Vienna game - Max Lange defence
The Max Lange defence shares the same name as the German chess player and problem composer who suggested it in 1854. There are two variations named after him and share many of their fundamental principles. The Max Lange defence and the Max Lange attack, both of which are good approaches to getting white players away from their opening prep and into a more dynamic chess game.
Vienna game - Max Lange defence
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Vienna game - Anderssen defence
The Anderssen defence is named after Adolf Anderssen, a Prussian chess master born in modern day Wrocław Poland, however at the time of his birth it was known as Breslau, for it was occupied by the Kingdom of Prussia during the Third Partition of Poland.
Vienna game - Anderssen defence
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Vienna game - Mieses variation
The 'Mieses variation' of the 'Vienna game' is named after Jacques Mieses, a German born Jewish chess player, whose style was known for its direct assault of the opponents king. One of the last of the romantic era chess players, Jacques never assimilated positional play and opted for a more direct approach by setting up a game with the specific intent of attacking his opponents king. This outdated approach, was out of place and ineffective at high-level tournaments, however it did score him many breathtaking victories throughout his career. Mieses was one of the original 27 players awarded the grandmaster title in 1950.
