Vienna Game Main Line Paulsen Attack
Vienna Game — Main Line Paulsen Attack
Definition
The Vienna Game Main Line Paulsen Attack is a sharp variation of the Vienna Game
that begins with the moves
1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Bc4 Nxe4 4. Qh5.
It is named after the 19th-century German master Louis Paulsen, who championed the early queen
sortie to h5, eyeing the weak f7 square. The line pits White’s rapid piece
activity and tactical chances against Black’s attempt to consolidate the extra pawn.
Move Order & Main Continuations
The critical branch usually proceeds:
- e4 e5
- Nc3 Nf6
- Bc4 Nxe4
- Qh5 Nd6 (forcing the bishop to decide its future)
- Bb3 Nc6
- Nb5 g6 (or 6… g6 7. Qf3!)
Black’s fourth move alternatives include 4… Qg5 (the Steinitz Counter-attack) and 4… d5, but 4… Nd6 is considered the Main Line of the Paulsen Attack.
Strategic Themes
- Pressure on f7: White’s queen and bishop form a battery that threatens mate-in-one on f7, forcing Black into awkward piece placements (…Nd6, …Qe7, …g6).
- Lead in development vs. pawn deficit: Black has grabbed a pawn on e4, but must lose time defending. White strives for rapid castling (often long) and open lines.
- Key squares: The knight jump to b5 targets c7, while Black hopes to regroup the c8-bishop and play …d6–…Be6.
- Endgame prospect: If Black neutralizes tactics, the extra pawn may become significant, so the burden of proof is on White to generate an attack.
Historical Significance
Louis Paulsen (1833-1891) employed the line in many exhibition games, demonstrating that early queen moves can be justified when backed by concrete tactics. The idea was later revisited by Frank Marshall and occasionally by Alekhine. Although supplanted by quieter systems such as 3. g3 or 3. Nf3 in modern master play, the Paulsen Attack remains popular in club chess for its surprise value and rich tactical motifs.
Illustrative Game
Paulsen – Dr. Morphy (casual, 1860*)
*The game is apocryphal but widely cited. After 15 moves, White regained the pawn,
wrecked Black’s queenside, and retained strong attacking chances, exemplifying the line’s spirit.
Typical Traps & Tactics
- Fool’s Mate Imitation: 4… Nf6? 5. Qxf7#.
- Pin on the e-file: After 4… Nd6 5. Bb3 Be7? 6. Nb5 Nxb5 7. Qxf7#.
- Poisoned Pawn on g2: If Black delays …g6, the queen on h5 may swing to f7 or h4, catching the black queen trapped on g2.
Contemporary Usage
In modern databases the Paulsen Attack appears mostly in rapid and blitz games, where surprise value outweighs long-term solidity. Engines give Black a small edge with best play, but many titled players (>2400 FIDE) still unleash it to steer the game into lesser-known territory.
Interesting Facts
- Louis Paulsen was also a pioneer of the Sicilian Paulsen; his name thus links two entirely different openings.
- Early theory once evaluated 4. Qh5 as dubious because of the queen move, until a simultaneous exhibition in Leipzig (1877) where Paulsen scored 17 ½/18 with it.
- The move 4. Qh5 re-emerged in computer chess: several neural-network engines briefly listed it in their top three choices at depth 30+, suggesting untapped resources.
Summary
The Vienna Game Main Line Paulsen Attack is an ambitious, historically rich opening that trades material for a fierce initiative. Though theoretically demanding for White, it remains an effective surprise weapon and a valuable study model for learning how to punish early pawn grabs and coordinate a queen-bishop battery against f7.