The Complete Alrick H. Man Vienna Gambit Theme Tournament

I have posted analysis of Carlos Torre's two games from the Alrick H. Man Vienna Gambit Theme Tournament with Spielmann's favorite line 1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.f4 d5 4.fxe5 Nxe4 5.Qf3!?  Analysis suggests that it is an interesting alternative to the standard 5.Nf3, if not quite as strong.

Position after 5.Qf3!?

As this completes my analysis of the Vienna Gambit and of the nine games from the tournament, I have also posted a Complete Tournament Games and Vienna Gambit Analysis (PGN) which includes all of the games previously annotated plus two additional games.   I hope my analysis is useful to those who would want to try out this interesting opening.   

See also:

• The Critical Line of the Vienna Gambit
• Torre and Marshall Victories over the Vienna
• Vienna Gambit Traps from the Alrick H. Man
• The Alrick H. Man Vienna Gambit Theme Tournament
• The Dimock Theme Tournaments and the Brooklyn Daily Eagle
• Torre - Norwood, Alrick H. Man Theme Tournament
• Vienna Gambit (C29) Bibliography

The Critical Line of the Vienna Gambit

I have annotated the game Torre - Marshall, Alrick H. Man Vienna Gambit Theme 1925 (Java / PGN).  It is fitting that this most important game from the Marshall Chess Club's theme tournament featured the most critical line of the Vienna Gambit: 1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.f4 d5 4.fxe5 Nxe4 5.Nf3 Bc5! (see diagram).

Position after 5...Bc5!

This sharp line featured in the recent game Jobava - Mamedyarov, European Team Championship 2013 and was discussed in depth by Alexander Finkel in New in Chess Yearbook #110.  As my notes show, White has good chances with the Vienna Gambit even against this dangerous line, which suggests that the opening remains viable with suitable preparation.  In fact, late in the game (which was eventually drawn), Torre missed  a winning move (see diagram below).

Torre - Marshall, New York 1925
White to play and win after 31...Rd8

See also:

• Torre and Marshall Victories over the Vienna
• Vienna Gambit Traps from the Alrick H. Man
• The Alrick H. Man Vienna Gambit Theme Tournament
• The Dimock Theme Tournaments and the Brooklyn Daily Eagle
• Torre - Norwood, Alrick H. Man Theme Tournament
• Vienna Gambit (C29) Bibliography

Alrick H. Man Vienna Gambit Theme Tournament

I have annotated the game Carlos Torre - C. E. Norwood, New York 1925 as the first installment in a new series on the Vienna Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.f4) which will feature all of the known games from the Alrick H. Man Vienna Gambit Theme Tournament.  The tournament ran from December 1924 through March 1925 and was played at the Marshall Chess Club in New York City.  Participating were Frank James Marshall, Carlos Torre, Erling Tholfsen, Horace Ransom Bigelow, Rudolph Smirka, C. E. Norwood, and G. Gustafsson.  Torre's games were the most inspired, and his win over Norwood has some great tactical moments (see diagrams below).


I learned about the 1920s series of sponsored theme tournaments held at the Marshall Chess Club back when I collected the games of the Dimock Theme Tournament of 1924, which featured the Urusov Gambit.  Other tournaments I know about required a line of the Greco Counter-Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 f5 3.Bc4), the Lasker Variation of the Evans Gambit, and the Sicilian Wing Gambit, though there may have been others besides those held from 1921 - 1927.  I have collected the games from the Greco Counter-Gambit tournament (from October 1921) as part of my Bishop's Opening coverage, and there were some interesting games, especially Forsberg - Jaffe which adds to the theory of the Rousseau Gambit.  I decided to write up the Vienna Gambit event because I have suddenly become interested in the line myself, as it seems such a natural repertoire fit with the Grand Prix Attack, Labourdonnais - McDonnell Attack, and Saemisch Variation vs the Alekhine.   I may eventually work my way through all of the events, as I find it such a pleasure to work on projects that combine historical research, chess opening analysis, and web publishing.  I hope readers enjoy them as well, and perhaps they will inspire interest in holding sponsored theme tournaments, which is a wonderful tradition well worth reviving.

Torre - Norwood, New York 1925
White to play after 19...Bxd3

Torre - Norwood, New York 1925
White to play after 25...Kh8