ECO C25 · Vienna Game

Vienna Game: Giraffe Attack

1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Bc5 3. Qg4

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Black to move. The arrow shows Stockfish’s best move.
Best move

3… Nf6−0.46

Black is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Vienna Game: Giraffe Attack (C25), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Bc5 3. Qg4, Stockfish 18 recommends 3… Nf6 for Black. Black is slightly better (−0.46).

Top engine moves

  1. −0.463… Nf6 4. Qg3 O-O 5. d3 d5 6. Bg5 c6 7. Nf3 Nbd7 8. Be2
  2. −0.013… Qf6 4. Qf3 c6 5. Qg3 d6 6. d3 h5 7. h4 Ne7 8. Na4
  3. +0.273… Kf8 4. Qf3 Nf6 5. Bc4 Nc6 6. Nge2 Na5 7. d3 Nxc4 8. dxc4

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Vienna Game: Giraffe Attack?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Bc5 3. Qg4, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 3… Nf6 for Black, continuing 4. Qg3 O-O 5. d3 d5 6. Bg5 c6 7. Nf3 Nbd7 8. Be2. Black is slightly better (−0.46). The next best moves are 3… Qf6 (−0.01) and 3… Kf8 (+0.27).
Is the Vienna Game: Giraffe Attack a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −0.46: black is slightly better. Evaluations this early in the game are small, so practical results depend far more on knowing the plans and typical structures than on the engine's number.
What is the ECO code of the Vienna Game: Giraffe Attack?
C25. ECO codes classify chess openings from A00 to E99; C is the volume for open games and the French Defense.

Opening names from the Lichess opening book (CC0). Pieces by Colin M.L. Burnett (GPLv2+).