The Vienna Game begins with 2.Nc3 - White develops the queen's knight and keeps his main asset in reserve: the f2-f4 break. In essence it is an improved King's Gambit. All the main branches are gathered here: the Vienna Gambit, the Bc4 variation with the wild Frankenstein-Dracula, and the quiet fianchetto. At each branching point, choose which line to play.
The dimmed moves are the rest of the main line, and the dots mark branching points. Click any move to jump to that position.
The thin arrow on the board shows the next move.
You can also play the move on the board: pick the piece up and put it on the square.
The starting position. Choose your moves - at a branching point several continuations are available.
The Vienna begins with 2.Nc3. Unlike 2.Nf3, White first develops the queen's knight and keeps the opening's main asset in reserve - the f2-f4 break. In essence it is an improved King's Gambit: the same strike at the centre, but with the c3 knight already out.
The main idea is to play f4 at the right moment, open the f-file and seize the centre without weakening the king as early as in the King's Gambit. And if Black plays passively, White simply gets a pleasant, slightly freer position.
The Vienna is flexible: you can attack in gambit style (3.f4), press quietly with the bishop (3.Bc4), or switch to positional play with a fianchetto (3.g3). That is why both attacking players and lovers of quiet chess like it.
The most critical route is the Vienna Gambit 3.f4. Black's best reaction is not to take but to strike in the centre with 3...d5; after 4.fxe5 Nxe4 lively piece play arises. The direct 3...exf4 lets White push the knight back with tempo by 4.e5.
The 3.Bc4 system hides a trap: 3...Nxe4 runs into 4.Qh5! with the double threat of mate on f7 and taking the knight. After 4...Nd6 5.Bb3 the wild Frankenstein-Dracula Variation begins - not for the faint-hearted.
The Vienna is a way to get King's Gambit play without the immediate risk. After 1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 White develops the knight and keeps f2-f4 in reserve: a delayed gambit that is harder for Black to prepare against.
Two main plans. The aggressive one is 3.f4, opening the f-file and attacking the king. The positional one is 3.Bc4 and 4.d3, quiet development with pressure on f7. And there is the famous Frankenstein-Dracula Variation after 3.Bc4 Nxe4!? - a wild line in which the black king goes wandering.
The opening's practical value is that it has far less theory than the Ruy Lopez or the Italian while the ideas are the same: centre, development, attack on f7.
The most reliable answer is 2...Nf6, attacking e4 at once and making White commit. After 3.f4 the good move is 3...d5!: Black counters in the centre and equalises, giving White no chance to unfold an attack.
The second practical route is 2...Nc6 with ...Bc5 or ...Bb4, the usual open-game set-up. The main thing is not to let White play both f4 and d4 for free.
There is one general principle against every gambit set-up: answer a flank attack with a strike in the centre. The move ...d5 in the Vienna is exactly that, and it solves most of the problems.
The typical set-ups this opening leads to - learn them, and the plan follows by itself.
White has played 3.f4 and opened the file, and Black has answered with the ...d5 counter-strike. A sharp position: both sides have active pieces and weaknesses around the king.
These are the main named variations. Click any one of them and it loads straight onto the board above, where you can play it out move by move. The trainer itself holds more lines than this: it also covers main-line continuations and transpositions that have no name of their own.
What to avoid, and what catches an unprepared opponent.
The natural reaction that hands over the initiative: White plays fxe5 and gets the better centre. The correct answer is 3...d5, the counter-strike in the centre.
The position looks dangerous for Black, but you cannot chase after the knight here: White's greedy moves run into counterplay. Only play this line if you know it.
Traps in other openings - the 12 most common opening traps.
In the King's Gambit White plays f4 at once (2.f4), weakening the king. In the Vienna he first develops the knight with 2.Nc3 and prepares the same f4 under better circumstances - safer, if a little less forcing.
It is the razor-sharp line after 1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Bc4 Nxe4 4.Qh5 Nd6 5.Bb3 Nc6 6.Nb5. A wild position with threats on both sides arises; the odd name underlines the chaos.
No, it is simpler than the Ruy Lopez: the plans are clear (the c3 knight, the f4 break or pressure with the c4 bishop) and there are enough traps and tactics to keep it interesting. A good choice when moving on from the King's Gambit to steadier set-ups.
No. 3.f4 is the sharpest route, but 3.Bc4 and 3.g3 are perfectly good too and lead to quiet or positional play. The Vienna is valued precisely because it adapts to your style.
Want the tactics that decide these positions? Start with the 12 most common opening traps and tactics for beginners. If you are just starting out, read the rules of chess and how to set up the board.
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