Hey there guys!
I looked at my statistics and found that the vienna gambit or Vienna variations suit me well and I keep playing them.
I used to play the king's gambit before and to me the VG is like a improved version of the KG.
Still I ask myself, what the weak spots in this opening are? And is there an opening like the Vienna Gambit that allows a more stable game? Or is it a bad opening afterall? Why don't you find modern GMs playing it?
Thx for you comments in advance! :)
Blah its not a very good opening but playable Imo. Pushing F pawn is not common in the opening at the GM level. Weakens the king.
Ex. After the move order
1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. f4 and exf4 the computer says black is better. While after a more sane opening like 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 it says white is better. Generally if the computer does not like it then there is likely an issue with it. However the computer often favours white a lot in Kings Indian kinds of positions but it is highly played at the GM level.
Also to mention the Vienna in general I think is worse than the centre counter. Aka the Scandinavian.
The Vienna game is very good. Not sure what exactly the Vienna gambit is, I am assuming it's the delayed king's gambit?
If so, that is good too.
I would place it way higher than the Scandinavian. I agree with some IM's and GM's that claim the Scandinavian is almost a positional blunder.
The Vienna game is good but not the Vienna gambit. The gambit according to the engine and databases is worse than the normal kings gambit.
What are the moves specifically? Generally I don't play gambit lines, so I will have to look at the position in question to give a decent assessment.
I mentioned them in the post above. To me I see white giving away a pawn. Black can easily give the pawn back and still be equal or better.
1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. f4
Maybe it is equal in theory I dont play gambit lines ether unless it is the QG and in that case it is "not a true gambit"
And what is the eval you are getting that makes you think black is better?
Isn't the Vienna Gambit 1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. f4?
It is rather sharp and white needs to know what they're doing when black responds with the best move that is 4.. d5.
Which makes it a good weapon for blitz chess provided you do your homework and learn a bunch of lines.
I found that it works well against players who are not well booked up, but if black responds with some good moves white's king position always felt uncomfortable to me so I moved on to sounder openings.
Kingscrusher often uses it in his blitz/bullet videos and he seems to get interesting if not advantageous positions. Though I do remember him saying that he gave it up recently after some painful beatings.
I know someone around my rating range that swears by the Vienna. And even gets decent games against titled players with it. I really don't think the assessment of it being unsound would be correct. It can't be worse than the kings gambit. And there isn't anyone under 2400 going to tell me they can refute either opening. And comp analysis doesn't show black advantage. I have had it running on the base position given for like 45 minutes.