Saturday, October 4, 2025

A simple theme to move the king to f2 in the Vienna

 Managed a nice win last weekend with a simple theme, which I have been able to repeat three times now in similar positions. The theme consists of stepping to f2 after the bishop check on b4 in the Vienna 


1.d4 d5 2.e4 dxe4 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.f3 Bf5 5.g4 Bg6 6.g5 Nd5 7.Nxe4 e6 8.c4 Nb6 9.Be3 Bb4+ 10.Kf2

A surprising move, which should offguard many. STockfish evaluates as equal, but white surely has the surprise element on his side


The point of the move is that white hopes to capture the bishop after the pawn push c5 and a3, as illustrated in this game

10...Bxe4 11.fxe4 h6 12.c5

There it is, winning a piece with a simple theme. Black sees the mess he is in and tries to generate some counterplay


12...hxg5 13.cxb6 Qf6+ 14.Qf3 Qg6 15.Rc1

The remainer of the game looks like a slaughter

Remember this theme - it might come in handy