Chess Openings Lab
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Vienna Game: Vienna Gambit

The Vienna Gambit starts 2...Nf6 3.f4, where White pushes the f-pawn while the e5 pawn is still under fire. White wants to open the f-file and gain space with e5, while Black hits back in the center with ...d5 or ...d6.

Moves
1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.f4
ECO
C29
Engine
−0.14 · level (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
7,780 games in our lichess sample
White scores
57.5%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • Answer 3...d5 with 4.fxe5, as the top engine line does, and meet ...Nxe4 with Nf3 and d4 for a broad center.
  • If Black grabs with 3...exf4, push e5 at once so the f6 knight must go back to g8.
  • Against 3...d6 play Nf3 and d4, as in the second engine line, to keep a firm hold on the center.

Black

  • 3...d5 is the sharpest reply: strike the e4 pawn before White finishes development.
  • After 4.fxe5 Nxe4 the knight on e4 is strong; back it up with ...Be7 or a later ...Bb4 pinning the c3 knight.
  • Avoid 3...exf4 unless you know the follow-up, since 4.e5 Ng8 costs Black a lot of time.

Plans and pawn structure

After 3...d5 4.fxe5 Nxe4 the position becomes an open fight. White has an e5 pawn that cramps Black and a half-open f-file for a rook after short castling. Black has a centralized knight on e4 and quick play with ...Bb4, pinning the c3 knight and eyeing trades. White usually builds with Nf3, d4 and Bd2 to challenge that knight. If Black chooses ...d6 instead, play is slower and White aims for a big pawn center with d4.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position −0.14: level. Its three top choices for Black:

  1. −0.14 3...d5 4.fxe5 Nxe4 5.Nf3 Be7 6.d4
  2. +0.39 3...d6 4.Nf3 Be7 5.d4 exd4 6.Qxd4
  3. +0.50 3...exf4 4.e5 Ng8 5.Nf3 d6 6.d4

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

7,780 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 57.5%.

under 120060.0%
1200–159957.7%
1600–199957.4%
2000 and up54.1%

Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.

Where it goes next

How to play against it

Black should reply 3...d5 and fight for the center at once. After 4.fxe5 Nxe4, develop with ...Be7 or ...Bb4 and do not let White chase the knight with tempo. Avoid passive moves like 3...exf4 4.e5 Ng8, which hands White space and time for free.

Questions

What are the moves of the Vienna Game: Vienna Gambit?

The Vienna Game: Vienna Gambit starts 1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.f4. Its ECO code is C29.

Is the Vienna Game: Vienna Gambit good for White?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position −0.14 at depth 20, which is level. In 7,780 lichess games from our sample, White scored 57.5%. An aggressive choice for White players who like open f-files, but Black is fine with a well-timed ...d5.

What is the main idea of the Vienna Game: Vienna Gambit?

White uses the f-pawn to fight for e5 and open lines against Black's king. Black's best answer is a central counter with ...d5, after which the knight jumps to e4.

What should Black play next?

The engine's first choice is d5, with d6 and exf4 close behind. 3...d5 strikes the center at once, so after fxe5 Black's knight lands on e4 with good play.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.