Vienna Game: Vienna Gambit

Chess opening · ECO C29 · 5 half-moves

1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. f4

The Vienna Game: Vienna Gambit is reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. f4. It is Black's move in the position shown.

It branches from the Vienna Game: Falkbeer Variation with 3. f4.

How often it is played

The Vienna Game: Vienna Gambit and its variations appeared in 0.17% of games — 5,206 of 3,000,000 rated games sampled from Lichess in September 2026. That makes it number 200 of the openings listed here.

Results

White won 57%, 2.7% were drawn and Black won 41%. These are games between players of every strength and time control, so they say how the opening does in practice rather than how sound it is.

What the engine thinks

Stockfish, at depth 18, evaluates the position at -0.24 — a small edge for Black. Positive numbers favour White; see reading the evaluation bar.

Similar openings

The most-played alternatives — what else could have been chosen around the move where this opening begins.

OpeningMovesShare of games
Vienna Game: Stanley Variation1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Bc40.18%
Vienna Game: Max Lange Defense1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc60.44%
King's Knight Opening1. e4 e5 2. Nf315%

Main continuations

VariationMovesShare of games
Vienna Game: Vienna Gambit, Main Line1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. f4 d50.04%

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