C25-C29

Vienna Game

41 named lines in this family, ECO C25-C29. Every one of them opens 1. e4 e5 2. Nc3, so the notes on those moves are written once, just below, instead of once per line. Under each line you get its moves and the sentences it adds that this page has not already printed. A line's own page carries up to its first 4 per-move notes in full.

The moves every line here plays

1. e4 e5 2. Nc3

• 1. e4 Stakes a claim in the centre, controlling d5, and frees the bishop and queen.
• 1... e5 Stakes a claim in the centre, controlling d4, and frees the bishop and queen.
• 2. Nc3 Develops the knight to c3, eyeing d5 and e4. It also props up the e4 pawn. Theory calls this the Vienna Game.

Main lineC25

1. e4 e5 2. Nc3

Nc3 first keeps f4 available: White chooses between a kingside pawn storm and quiet Italian-style play, and Black must be ready for both.

Anderssen DefenseC25

1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Bc5

• 2... Bc5 Develops the bishop to c5, eyeing d4. It eyes f2, the one square only the king defends. Theory calls this the Anderssen Defense.

Max Lange DefenseC25

1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6

• 2... Nc6 Develops the knight to c6, eyeing d4 and e5. It also props up the e5 pawn. Theory calls this the Max Lange Defense.

Fyfe GambitC25

1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. d4

The pawns on d4 and e5 stand in direct tension - the first player to resolve it chooses the structure.

Giraffe AttackC25

1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Bc5 3. Qg4

Hamppe-Meitner VariationC25

1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Bc5 3. Na4

In the centre, White holds e4 while Black holds e5.

Omaha GambitC25

1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 d6 3. f4

• 2... d6 Supports the centre, adding control of e5.

Paulsen Variation, through 3. g3C25

1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g3

Philidor CountergambitC25

1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. d4 f5

Zhuravlev CountergambitC25

1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Bb4 3. Qg4 Nf6

• 2... Bb4 Develops the bishop with tempo - it attacks the knight on c3.

Stanley Variation, Meitner-Mieses GambitC25

1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. Qg4 Qf6 5. Nd5

Paulsen Variation, after 3... Nf6C25

1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g3 Nf6 4. Bg2 Bc5 5. Nge2 d5

The pawns on d5 and e4 stand in direct tension - the first player to resolve it chooses the structure. White's kingside bishop takes the long diagonal.

Paulsen Variation, Mariotti GambitC25

1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g3 Bc5 4. Bg2 h5 5. Nf3 h4

Hamppe-Muzio GambitC25

1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. f4 exf4 4. Nf3 g5 5. Bc4 g4 6. O-O

An early pawn trade leaves the e-file as Black's avenue and the f-file as White's - both sides get real winning chances down their own file. Black keeps the extra pawn; White plays for time, open lines, and initiative - the classic gambit trade.

Hamppe-Muzio, Dubois VariationC25

1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. f4 exf4 4. Nf3 g5 5. Bc4 g4 6. O-O gxf3 7. Qxf3 Ne5 8. Qxf4 Qf6

Black comes out ahead on material - White needs concrete play to justify it.

Pierce Gambit, Rushmere AttackC25

1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. f4 exf4 4. Nf3 g5 5. d4 g4 6. Bc4 gxf3 7. O-O d5 8. exd5 Bg4 9. dxc6

The e-file is fully open.

Falkbeer VariationC26

1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6

• 2... Nf6 Develops the knight to f6, eyeing d5 and e4. Theory calls this the Falkbeer Variation.

Mengarini VariationC26

1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. a3

Mieses VariationC26

1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. g3

Stanley VariationC26

1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Bc4

Stanley Variation, Reversed SpanishC26

1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Bc4 Bb4

Mieses Variation, Erben GambitC26

1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. g3 d5 4. exd5 c6

An early pawn trade leaves the d-file as Black's avenue and the e-file as White's - both sides get real winning chances down their own file. White is up material out of the opening - Black is banking on activity to show for it.

Stanley Variation, Eifel GambitC26

1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. Nge2 b5

Paulsen Variation, Pollock GambitC26

1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. g3 Bc5 4. Bg2 Nc6 5. Nge2 d5 6. exd5

Frankenstein-Dracula VariationC27

1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Bc4 Nxe4

The structure hands White the half-open e-file - rook pressure down it is a standing plan.

Stanley Variation, Monster DeclinedC27

1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Bc4 Nxe4 4. Qh5 Nd6 5. Bb3 Be7

Adams' GambitC27

1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Bc4 Nxe4 4. Qh5 Nd6 5. Bb3 Nc6 6. d4

Black's pawn on f7 is pinned against the king.

Stanley Variation, Alekhine VariationC27

1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Bc4 Nxe4 4. Qh5 Nd6 5. Bb3 Be7 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. Nxe5

Stanley Variation, Frankenstein-Dracula VariationC27

1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Bc4 Nxe4 4. Qh5 Nd6 5. Bb3 Nc6 6. Nb5 g6 7. Qf3 f5 8. Qd5 Qe7 9. Nxc7+ Kd8 10. Nxa8 b6

An early pawn trade leaves the c-file as Black's avenue and the e-file as White's - both sides get real winning chances down their own file.

Stanley Variation, Three Knights VariationC28

1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6

Stanley Variation, Bronstein GambitC28

1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. f4 Nxe4 5. Nf3

Vienna GambitC29

1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. f4

Vienna Gambit, Main LineC29

1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. f4 d5

Vienna Gambit, Steinitz VariationC29

1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. f4 d5 4. d3

Vienna Gambit, Modern VariationC29

1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. f4 d5 4. fxe5 Nxe4 5. d3

Vienna Gambit, Paulsen AttackC29

1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. f4 d5 4. fxe5 Nxe4 5. Qf3

Vienna Gambit, Bardeleben VariationC29

1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. f4 d5 4. fxe5 Nxe4 5. Qf3 f5

Vienna Gambit, Breyer VariationC29

1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. f4 d5 4. fxe5 Nxe4 5. Nf3 Be7

Heyde VariationC29

1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. f4 d5 4. fxe5 Nxe4 5. Qf3 f5 6. d4

Vienna Gambit, Kaufmann VariationC29

1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. f4 d5 4. fxe5 Nxe4 5. Nf3 Bg4 6. Qe2

Vienna Gambit, Wurzburger TrapC29

1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. f4 d5 4. fxe5 Nxe4 5. d3 Qh4+ 6. g3 Nxg3 7. Nf3 Qh5 8. Nxd5

In the centre, White holds e5.

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