ECO C27 · Vienna Game

Vienna Game: Stanley Variation, Frankenstein-Dracula Variation

1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Bc4 Nxe4 4. Qh5 Nd6 5. Bb3 Nc6 6. Nb5 g6 7. Qf3 f5 8. Qd5 Qe7 9. Nxc7+ Kd8 10. Nxa8 b6

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

11. Qd3+0.84

White is clearly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Vienna Game: Stanley Variation, Frankenstein-Dracula Variation (C27), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Bc4 Nxe4 4. Qh5 Nd6 5. Bb3 Nc6 6. Nb5 g6 7. Qf3 f5 8. Qd5 Qe7 9. Nxc7+ Kd8 10. Nxa8 b6, Stockfish 18 recommends 11. Qd3 for White. White is clearly better (+0.84).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.8411. Qd3 Bb7 12. Nxb6 axb6 13. Qh3 f4 14. Bd5 Nf5 15. c3 e4
  2. +0.7911. Qf3 Bb7 12. d3 Nd4 13. Qh3 g5 14. c3 g4 15. Qh5 Ne6
  3. +0.6611. d3 Nd4 12. Nxb6 axb6 13. Qa8 Kc7 14. Qa4 Bb7 15. Kf1 Bc6

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Vienna Game: Stanley Variation, Frankenstein-Dracula Variation?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Bc4 Nxe4 4. Qh5 Nd6 5. Bb3 Nc6 6. Nb5 g6 7. Qf3 f5 8. Qd5 Qe7 9. Nxc7+ Kd8 10. Nxa8 b6, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 11. Qd3 for White, continuing Bb7 12. Nxb6 axb6 13. Qh3 f4 14. Bd5 Nf5 15. c3 e4. White is clearly better (+0.84). The next best moves are 11. Qf3 (+0.79) and 11. d3 (+0.66).
Is the Vienna Game: Stanley Variation, Frankenstein-Dracula Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.84: white is clearly 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: Stanley Variation, Frankenstein-Dracula Variation?
C27. 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+).