Vienna Game
Stockfish 16.1 · runs in your browser1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 · For White · ECO C25 to C29
The Vienna Game is White's 1.e4 e5 2.Nc3, developing the queenside knight before Nf3. White keeps f4 available for a gambit or can choose a slower setup. Black's ...Nf6, ...Nc6 and ...Bc5 replies lead to different saved positions below.
By Chessvia · Updated Oct 18, 2026
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Vienna Game
1.e4 e5 2.Nc3
Black’s choices
Stockfish 16 · depth 16 · + favours White
Level +0.12
Engine lines
Ideas, plans and common mistakes
White's 2.Nc3 protects e4 and leaves the f-pawn free to advance. The immediate plan can be 3.f4, but a g3 and Bg2 setup offers a slower way to control central squares. White can also develop the king's bishop before deciding whether the f-pawn should move.
Against ...Nf6, White may enter the Vienna Gambit with f4 or fianchetto the bishop with g3. Against ...Nc6, White can develop Bc4, Bb5 or Nf3 and may transpose into another open game. These choices lead to different pawn centers, so compare the saved line before applying a plan from a different branch.
Black can attack e4 with ...Nf6 and answer an f4 push with central ...d5, support e5 with ...Nc6, or develop the bishop actively with ...Bc5. In the gambit, accepting a pawn is not Black's only task: keeping the central counterplay matters more than holding material at any cost.
The pawn structure starts symmetrically with e4 against e5, then changes when White pushes f4 or either side strikes with d-pawns. A Vienna Gambit often opens the f-file for White. Two pitfalls are pushing f4 without checking the ...d5 reply and assuming the c-pawn can still go to c3 once White's knight occupies c3.
The saved Vienna Gambit row gives a concrete depth-16 answer to ...d5. Use that score as a reading of the displayed position, then step through the board; a named trap is not a promise that Black will cooperate.
Sources: Chess.com Vienna Game guide
Anderssen Defense: 2...Bc5
White slightly better +0.38
Play this lineMax Lange Defense: 2...Nc6
Level +0.23
Play this line| Line | Moves | Engine check (+ favours White) | Board |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fyfe Gambit | 3.d4 | Black slightly better -0.68 | Play |
| Philidor Countergambit | 3...f5 | White clearly better +1.69 | Play |
| Hamppe-Muzio Gambit | 3.f4 exf4 4.Nf3 g5 5.Bc4 g4 6.O-O | Black clearly better -1.16 | Play |
| Hamppe-Muzio, Dubois Variation | 6...gxf3 7.Qxf3 Ne5 8.Qxf4 Qf6 | Black slightly better -0.60 | Play |
| Paulsen Variation | 3.g3 | Level -0.04 | Play |
| After 5...d5 | 3...Nf6 4.Bg2 Bc5 5.Nge2 d5 | White slightly better +0.56 | Play |
| Pollock Gambit | 6.exd5 | White slightly better +0.61 | Play |
| Mariotti Gambit | 3...Bc5 4.Bg2 h5 5.Nf3 h4 | Level -0.07 | Play |
| Pierce Gambit, Rushmere Attack | 3.f4 exf4 4.Nf3 g5 5.d4 g4 6.Bc4 gxf3 7.O-O d5 8.exd5 Bg4 9.dxc6 | Black clearly better -1.89 | Play |
| Stanley Variation, Meitner-Mieses Gambit | 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Qg4 Qf6 5.Nd5 | White clearly better +1.12 | Play |
| Stanley Variation, Three Knights Variation | 3.Bc4 Nf6 | Level 0.00 | Play |
| Bronstein Gambit | 4.f4 Nxe4 5.Nf3 | Black clearly better -1.06 | Play |
Omaha Gambit: 2...d6 3.f4
Level -0.05
Play this lineZhuravlev Countergambit: 2...Bb4 3.Qg4 Nf6
Level +0.08
Play this lineFalkbeer Variation: 2...Nf6
Level +0.09
Play this line| Line | Moves | Engine check (+ favours White) | Board |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mengarini Variation | 3.a3 | Level -0.05 | Play |
| Mieses Variation | 3.g3 | Level 0.00 | Play |
| Erben Gambit | 3...d5 4.exd5 c6 | Level 0.00 | Play |
| Stanley Variation | 3.Bc4 | Level 0.00 | Play |
| Eifel Gambit | 3...Bc5 4.Nge2 b5 | White slightly better +0.74 | Play |
| Reversed Spanish | 3...Bb4 | Level +0.22 | Play |
| Frankenstein-Dracula Variation | 3...Nxe4 | Level -0.06 | Play |
| Adams' Gambit | 4.Qh5 Nd6 5.Bb3 Nc6 6.d4 | Black slightly better -0.64 | Play |
| Stanley Variation, Frankenstein-Dracula Variation | 4.Qh5 Nd6 5.Bb3 Nc6 6.Nb5 g6 7.Qf3 f5 8.Qd5 Qe7 9.Nxc7+ Kd8 10.Nxa8 b6 | White slightly better +0.75 | Play |
| Stanley Variation, Monster Declined | 4.Qh5 Nd6 5.Bb3 Be7 | Level +0.02 | Play |
| Alekhine Variation | 6.Nf3 Nc6 7.Nxe5 | Level -0.14 | Play |
| Vienna Gambit | 3.f4 | Level -0.20 | Play |
| Main Line | 3...d5 | Level -0.14 | Play |
| Breyer Variation | 4.fxe5 Nxe4 5.Nf3 Be7 | Level -0.06 | Play |
| Kaufmann Variation | 4.fxe5 Nxe4 5.Nf3 Bg4 6.Qe2 | Level +0.25 | Play |
| Modern Variation | 4.fxe5 Nxe4 5.d3 | Black slightly better -0.71 | Play |
| Wurzburger Trap | 5...Qh4+ 6.g3 Nxg3 7.Nf3 Qh5 8.Nxd5 | Level -0.23 | Play |
| Paulsen Attack | 4.fxe5 Nxe4 5.Qf3 | Black slightly better -0.48 | Play |
| Bardeleben Variation | 5...f5 | Level -0.18 | Play |
| Heyde Variation | 6.d4 | Black slightly better -0.40 | Play |
| Steinitz Variation | 4.d3 | Black slightly better -0.68 | Play |