ECO C29 · Vienna Game

Vienna Game: Heyde Variation

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

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

6… Be7−0.33

Black is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Vienna Game: Heyde Variation (C29), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. f4 d5 4. fxe5 Nxe4 5. Qf3 f5 6. d4, Stockfish 18 recommends 6… Be7 for Black. Black is slightly better (−0.33).

Top engine moves

  1. −0.336… Be7 7. Qh5+ g6 8. Qh6 Bf8 9. Qe3 c5 10. Bb5+ Bd7 11. Nge2
  2. −0.336… c5 7. Bb5+ Nc6 8. Nge2 Be7 9. Qh5+ g6 10. Qh6 Bf8 11. Qh3
  3. −0.256… Bb4 7. a3 Bxc3+ 8. bxc3 O-O 9. Bd3 Nxc3 10. Ne2 Nxe2 11. Bxe2

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Vienna Game: Heyde Variation?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. f4 d5 4. fxe5 Nxe4 5. Qf3 f5 6. d4, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 6… Be7 for Black, continuing 7. Qh5+ g6 8. Qh6 Bf8 9. Qe3 c5 10. Bb5+ Bd7 11. Nge2. Black is slightly better (−0.33). The next best moves are 6… c5 (−0.33) and 6… Bb4 (−0.25).
Is the Vienna Game: Heyde Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −0.33: 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: Heyde Variation?
C29. 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+).