ECO C29 · Vienna Game

Vienna Game: Vienna Gambit, Kaufmann Variation

1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. f4 d5 4. fxe5 Nxe4 5. Nf3 Bg4 6. Qe2

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

6… Nxc3+0.20

The position is roughly equal. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Vienna Game: Vienna Gambit, Kaufmann Variation (C29), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. f4 d5 4. fxe5 Nxe4 5. Nf3 Bg4 6. Qe2, Stockfish 18 recommends 6… Nxc3 for Black. The position is roughly equal (+0.20).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.206… Nxc3 7. dxc3 c5 8. Qf2 Nc6 9. Qg3 Be6 10. Ng5 c4 11. Be2
  2. +0.446… Ng5 7. d4 Nxf3+ 8. gxf3 Qh4+ 9. Qf2 Qxf2+ 10. Kxf2 Be6 11. Ne2
  3. +0.866… Nc5 7. d4 Ne6 8. Qb5+ Nd7 9. Be3 c5 10. O-O-O Nc7 11. Qa5

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Vienna Game: Vienna Gambit, Kaufmann Variation?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. f4 d5 4. fxe5 Nxe4 5. Nf3 Bg4 6. Qe2, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 6… Nxc3 for Black, continuing 7. dxc3 c5 8. Qf2 Nc6 9. Qg3 Be6 10. Ng5 c4 11. Be2. The position is roughly equal (+0.20). The next best moves are 6… Ng5 (+0.44) and 6… Nc5 (+0.86).
Is the Vienna Game: Vienna Gambit, Kaufmann Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.20: the position is roughly equal. 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: Vienna Gambit, Kaufmann 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+).