ECO C29 · Vienna Game

Vienna Game: Vienna Gambit, Steinitz Variation

1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. f4 d5 4. d3

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

4… exf4−0.65

Black is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Vienna Game: Vienna Gambit, Steinitz Variation (C29), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. f4 d5 4. d3, Stockfish 18 recommends 4… exf4 for Black. Black is slightly better (−0.65).

Top engine moves

  1. −0.654… exf4 5. exd5 Nxd5 6. Nxd5 Qxd5 7. Bxf4 g5 8. Qh5 Be7 9. Ne2
  2. −0.564… d4 5. Nce2 Nc6 6. Nf3 exf4 7. c3 Bg4 8. Nxf4 Bc5 9. Be2
  3. −0.084… dxe4 5. fxe5 Ng4 6. Nxe4 Nc6 7. c3 Ncxe5 8. d4 Qd5 9. Ng3

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Vienna Game: Vienna Gambit, Steinitz Variation?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. f4 d5 4. d3, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 4… exf4 for Black, continuing 5. exd5 Nxd5 6. Nxd5 Qxd5 7. Bxf4 g5 8. Qh5 Be7 9. Ne2. Black is slightly better (−0.65). The next best moves are 4… d4 (−0.56) and 4… dxe4 (−0.08).
Is the Vienna Game: Vienna Gambit, Steinitz Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −0.65: 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: Vienna Gambit, Steinitz 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+).