ECO C26 · Vienna Game

Vienna Game: Paulsen Variation, Pollock Gambit

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

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

6… Nb4+0.68

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Vienna Game: Paulsen Variation, Pollock Gambit (C26), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. g3 Bc5 4. Bg2 Nc6 5. Nge2 d5 6. exd5, Stockfish 18 recommends 6… Nb4 for Black. White is slightly better (+0.68).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.686… Nb4 7. a3 Nbxd5 8. Nxd5 Nxd5 9. b4 Be7 10. c4 Nf6 11. Bb2
  2. +0.726… Nd4 7. h3 O-O 8. d3 Bb6 9. O-O h6 10. Re1 Nf5 11. b4
  3. +1.016… Ne7 7. O-O O-O 8. d4 exd4 9. Nxd4 h6 10. Re1 Re8 11. Ne4

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Vienna Game: Paulsen Variation, Pollock Gambit?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. g3 Bc5 4. Bg2 Nc6 5. Nge2 d5 6. exd5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 6… Nb4 for Black, continuing 7. a3 Nbxd5 8. Nxd5 Nxd5 9. b4 Be7 10. c4 Nf6 11. Bb2. White is slightly better (+0.68). The next best moves are 6… Nd4 (+0.72) and 6… Ne7 (+1.01).
Is the Vienna Game: Paulsen Variation, Pollock Gambit a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.68: white 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: Paulsen Variation, Pollock Gambit?
C26. 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+).