Vienna Opening-Kaufmann Variation

1. e4 e5

2. Nc3 Nf6

3. f4 d5

4. fxe5 Nxe4

5. Nf3 Bg4

6. Qe2

The Kaufmann Variation of the Vienna game involves developing the queen on the e2 square. Though this might be blocking the light square bishop from its development white is focusing his plan to castle on the queen side after developing the dark squared bishop. Also even if the b5 square looks vulnerable,white queen cannot proceed towards the black’s queenside as white’s king side becomes very much vulnerable to attack.

1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.f4 d5 4.fxe5 Nxe4 5.Nf3 Bg4 6.Qe2 Ng5 7.d4 Ne6 8.Be3 Qd7 9.0-0-0 Nc6 10.h3 Bxf3 11.Qxf3 Ne7

A retreat after a small provocation of the attack on the pawn which hinders development and king safety.

12.g4 g6 13.Bg2 c6 14.Rhf1 Ng8 15.h4 h6 16.Bh3 Rh7 17.g5 Be7 18.h5 hxg5 19.hxg6 fxg6 20.Rh1 Nh6 21.Qg2 0-0-0 22.Bxe6 Qxe6 23.Bxg5 Bxg5+ 24.Qxg5 Rdh8 25.Rdg1 Nf5 26.Rxh7 Rxh7 27.Ne2 Rg7 28.Nf4 Qe7 29.Qg4 Qh4 30.Qxh4 Nxh4 31.Rg4 Nf5 32.c3 Ne7 33.Kd2 Kd7 34.Ke3 Ke8 35.Kf2 Rh7 36.Kg1 Kf7 37.b3 Rh6 38.c4 dxc4 39.bxc4 Nf5 40.Ng2 Rh3 41.d5 cxd5 42.cxd5 Rd3 43.d6 Rd4 44.Ne3 g5 45.e6+

A sacrifice of a pawn unasked for.

Kf6

A mistake not accepting the sacrifice.

46.d7 Rd2 47.Rg2 Rxg2+ 48.Nxg2

In the Kaufmann Variation,the black knight is aggressively poised at the black's 5th rank and would require effort by white to exchange the knight failing which the attack might be severe. Understanding such an opening is a key to put such openings into effect in a game