♘ Still in Book
Sign up Log in

Vienna Game

1.e4 e5 2.Nc3

White answers 1...e5 with 2.Nc3, keeping the option of a delayed f4 gambit and a quick attack on the kingside.

Fun fact: In 1888 a New York Times reviewer wrote that "since Morphy only one new opening has been introduced, the 'Vienna.'" Source

Practice this opening

The idea

White plays 2.Nc3 instead of the usual 2.Nf3. The knight protects e4 and covers d5, and because the f-pawn is not blocked by a knight on f3, White can follow up with f4, a King's Gambit with an extra piece developed.

Black's main answers are 2...Nf6 (the Falkbeer Variation), 2...Nc6 (the Max Lange Defense) and 2...Bc5 (the Anderssen Defense).

Plans for White

Choose the game you want. The sharp plan is f4 at move 3, opening the f-file for an attack. The quieter plans are Bc4, aiming at f7, or g3 and Bg2, a slower fianchetto setup.

In every case, the knight on c3 supports the center and keeps the d5 square under control.

Plans for Black

Strike back in the center. Against f4, ...d5 is the key move: it opens lines and challenges White's center before White's attack gets going. Against slower setups, develop normally with ...Nf6, ...Bc5 or ...Bb4, and castle.

Watch out for

For Black, the f7 square. With White's bishop on c4 and queen able to reach h5, a careless move can allow Qxf7 mate (see the Frankenstein-Dracula page).

For White, the king. After f4 and fxe5, the e1-h4 diagonal is open, so ...Qh4+ can come with force. Develop the knight to f3 before Black's queen gets there.

History

Louis Paulsen played 1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 four times with White at the Vienna 1873 tournament. The 2...Nf6 defence is named after Ernst Falkbeer.

Lines