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King's Pawn Game · I. Open Game

Vienna Game

The Vienna Game is an uncommon yet perfectly sound opening where White first develops their queenside knight. By delaying the move Nf3, White is able to stay flexible with their kingside development.

Side
white

Characteristics

  • ☘ AttainableShows up often enough that a learner should get regular chances to reach it.
  • 🔱 FlexibleCan branch into either sharp or quiet structures depending on move order and player choices.
  • ⏳ TheoreticalNeeds concrete preparation, but not necessarily the extreme depth of the heaviest theory openings.
  • 🔀 TranspositionalOften reaches other openings through move-order changes, so lines overlap with nearby repertoires.
  • 💎 UncommonLess common in practice, which can reduce opponent familiarity.

Strategic guide

Plans and motifs

  • White can enter tactical positions with the aggressive pawn break f4, which was only made possible by delaying Nf3.
  • Alternatively, it is also common for White to play more positionally with g3, Bg2, and Nge2 (instead of Nf3, which obstructs the bishop).

Theory map

Common lines

  • 2...Nf6 — Falkbeer Variation
  • 3.f4!? — Vienna Gambit 1
  • 3.Bc4 — Stanley Variation
  • 3.g3 — Mieses Variation
  • 2...Nc6 — Max Lange Defense
  • 3.Bc4 — Main Line
  • 3.g3 — Paulsen Variation
  • Often transposes into Petrov's Defense or Four Knights Game.

Train the opening

Training paths

A repertoire plan turns an opening into an ordered set of positions and branches to learn, practice, and review. Foundation paths cover the core branches. Mastery paths add deeper variations after the foundation is complete.

Foundation path

Vienna Gambit

developing

Start training this opening
Chapter 1

Imported Lines

  1. 01

    Trappy Line

  2. 02

    Royal Fork

  3. 03

    Queen Discovered!!

  4. 04

    Knight Retreats

  5. 05

    Popular Line

  6. 06

    Pawn Frozen

  7. 07

    Queen Re-Discovered

  8. 08

    Material Sacrifice

  9. 09

    Developed Pieces

  10. 10

    Bishop Blockade

  11. 11

    Center Space

  12. 12

    Knight Pinned

  13. 13

    Main Line

  14. 14

    Easy Position

Foundation path

Vienna Gambit Counter

developing

Start training this opening
Chapter 1

Imported Lines

  1. 01

    Rook Plunder

  2. 02

    Knight's Harvest

  3. 03

    Bishop Skewer

  4. 04

    Double Fork

  5. 05

    Queen Thief

  6. 06

    Central Fork

  7. 07

    Safe King

  8. 08

    Queen Battery

  9. 09

    Pawn Shatter

  10. 10

    H-Pawn Thrust

  11. 11

    Pawn Pincher

  12. 12

    King Wander

  13. 13

    Tense Standoff

  14. 14

    Paralysis Pin

Foundation path

Vienna Game

developing

Start training this opening
Chapter 1

Imported Lines

  1. 01

    Queen Blunder

  2. 02

    Knight Storm

  3. 03

    Copycat's Demise

  4. 04

    King's Shield

  5. 05

    Rook Rampage

  6. 06

    Queen Snare

  7. 07

    Bishop's Prize

  8. 08

    Forking Spree

  9. 09

    Crushing Pin

  10. 10

    Rook Raider

  11. 11

    G-File Assault

  12. 12

    Suffocation Pin

  13. 13

    Iron Clamp

  14. 14

    Pawn Shatter

  15. 15

    Quiet Castle

  16. 16

    Bishop Swap

  17. 17

    Knight Pivot

  18. 18

    Central Trades

  19. 19

    Opposite Fury

Mastery path

Vienna Gambit Counter Mastery

advanced

View mastery plan
Chapter 1

Imported Lines

  1. 01

    Queen Squeeze

  2. 02

    Queen Stinger

  3. 03

    Rook Snatch

  4. 04

    Battery Crush

  5. 05

    G2 Ambush

  6. 06

    Gambit Crusher

  7. 07

    Queen Fork Trap

  8. 08

    Queen Ambush

  9. 09

    F2 Torpedo

  10. 10

    Queen Squeeze

  11. 11

    Bishop Harpoon

  12. 12

    C2 Fork

  13. 13

    Queen Harpoon

  14. 14

    C2 Forkstorm

  15. 15

    Queenside Plunder

  16. 16

    Queen Trap

  17. 17

    Fork Factory

  18. 18

    Queen Clamp

  19. 19

    Double Fork

  20. 20

    G2 Squeeze

  21. 21

    Queen Thief

  22. 22

    Bishop Battery

  23. 23

    G2 Clamp

  24. 24

    Queen Swipe

  25. 25

    Central Fork

  26. 26

    Triple Fork

  27. 27

    C2 Fork

  28. 28

    Skewer Storm

  29. 29

    Queen Roller

  30. 30

    1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. f4 d5 4. exd5 Nxd5 5. fxe5 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Qh4+ 7. g3 Qe4+ 8. Qe2...

  31. 31

    Queen Boot

  32. 32

    B2 Heist

  33. 33

    A2 Battery

  34. 34

    G2 Squeeze

  35. 35

    King Drag

  36. 36

    H Pawn Harpoon

  37. 37

    G2 Squeeze

  38. 38

    Queen Ambush

  39. 39

    G2 Crusher

  40. 40

    Pin Parade

  41. 41

    H-Pawn Thrust

  42. 42

    Skewer Parade

  43. 43

    Bishop Battery

  44. 44

    Fork Factory

  45. 45

    Vienna Countertrap

  46. 46

    King Wander

  47. 47

    Tense Standoff

  48. 48

    Bishop Skewer

  49. 49

    Knight Bait

  50. 50

    Paralysis Pin

  51. 51

    Bishop Bait

Mastery path

Vienna Gambit Mastery

advanced

View mastery plan
Chapter 1

Imported Lines

  1. 01

    Bishop Bump

  2. 02

    Knight Ambush

  3. 03

    Knight Trap

  4. 04

    Knight Harvest

  5. 05

    F6 Backfire

  6. 06

    Gambit Smash

  7. 07

    Vienna Crush

  8. 08

    Royal Fork

  9. 09

    Queen Discovered!!

  10. 10

    Fork Factory

  11. 11

    Knight Shield

  12. 12

    Nc4 Snare

  13. 13

    Knight Spear

  14. 14

    D6 Wedge

  15. 15

    Knight Snatch

  16. 16

    1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. f4 exf4 4. e5 Ng4 5. Qxg4 d5 6. Qxf4

  17. 17

    C7 Queen Trap

  18. 18

    Knight Harvest

  19. 19

    C7 Fork

  20. 20

    Queen Snare

  21. 21

    Center Crush

  22. 22

    Bishop Battery

  23. 23

    H File Hammer

  24. 24

    Queen Heist

  25. 25

    Queen Battery

  26. 26

    Rook Heist

  27. 27

    E6 Detonator

  28. 28

    G7 Vise

  29. 29

    D6 Breakthrough

  30. 30

    Popular Line

  31. 31

    Knight Crusher

  32. 32

    C7 Crusher

  33. 33

    Center Stampede

  34. 34

    Twin Knights

  35. 35

    Bishop Chase

  36. 36

    F7 Hammer

  37. 37

    Central Smackdown

  38. 38

    F6 Rupture

  39. 39

    1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. f4 exf4 4. e5 Qe7 5. Qe2 Ng8 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. d4 d6 8. Nd5 Qd7 9....

  40. 40

    Queen Ambush

  41. 41

    Queen Chase

  42. 42

    Vienna Steamroll

  43. 43

    Center Steamroll

  44. 44

    Pawn Frozen

  45. 45

    Queen Re-Discovered

  46. 46

    Gambit Payback

  47. 47

    Material Sacrifice

  48. 48

    Developed Pieces

  49. 49

    Bishop Blockade

  50. 50

    Center Space

  51. 51

    Knight Pinned

  52. 52

    Main Line

  53. 53

    Easy Position

  54. 54

    F7 Crush

  55. 55

    Knight Net

  56. 56

    Vienna Blitz

  57. 57

    Mate Net

Mastery path

Vienna Game Mastery

advanced

View mastery plan
Chapter 1

Imported Lines

  1. 01

    1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. Qg4 Nf6 5. Qxg7 Rg8 6. Qxf7#

  2. 02

    Queen Heist

  3. 03

    Copycat Crusher

  4. 04

    Knight Storm

  5. 05

    Copycat's Demise

  6. 06

    1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bb4 4. Qh5 Nf6 5. Qxf7#

  7. 07

    Rook Heist

  8. 08

    Copycat Crusher

  9. 09

    1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. Qg4 g6 5. Qf3 Nd4 6. Qxf7#

  10. 10

    Copycat Crusher

  11. 11

    Rook Rampage

  12. 12

    Queen Snare

  13. 13

    Copycat Crusher

  14. 14

    Copycat Crusher

  15. 15

    1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bb4 4. Qh5 Bxc3 5. Qxf7#

  16. 16

    1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. Qg4 Nf6 5. Qxg7 Ke7 6. Qxf7+ Kd6 7. Nb5#

  17. 17

    Copycat Crusher

  18. 18

    Knight Heist

  19. 19

    Copycat Crusher

  20. 20

    1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bb4 4. Qh5 g6 5. Qf3 Nd4 6. Qxf7#

  21. 21

    1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. Qg4 Qf6 5. Nd5 Qxf2+ 6. Kd1 Nf6 7. Qxg7 Rg8 8. Nxf6...

  22. 22

    1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. Qg4 Qf6 5. Nd5 Qxf2+ 6. Kd1 Nf6 7. Qxg7 Rg8 8. Nxf6...

  23. 23

    Copycat Crusher

  24. 24

    Copycat Crusher

  25. 25

    Copycat Crusher

  26. 26

    1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. Qg4 Qf6 5. Nd5 Qxf2+ 6. Kd1 Nge7 7. Nh3 Qd4 8. Qxg7...

  27. 27

    Queen Snare

  28. 28

    1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. Qg4 Qe7 5. Nd5 Nf6 6. Qxg7

  29. 29

    1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. Qg4 g6 5. Qf3 Nf6 6. Nge2 d6 7. h3 a6 8. d4

  30. 30

    Bishop Snatch

  31. 31

    1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. Qg4 g6 5. Qf3 Nf6 6. Nge2 d6 7. h3 Be6 8. d3 Bxc4 9...

  32. 32

    1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. Qg4 g6 5. Qf3 d6 6. Qxf7#

  33. 33

    Bishop's Prize

  34. 34

    Copycat Crusher

  35. 35

    Copycat Crusher

  36. 36

    1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. Qg4 Nh6 5. Qxg7 Rg8 6. Bxf7+ Nxf7 7. Qxg8+ Ke7 8. Nd5+

  37. 37

    Copycat Crusher

  38. 38

    1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. Qg4 g6 5. Qf3 Nf6 6. Nge2 O-O 7. d3 Nd4 8. Nxd4 Bxd...

  39. 39

    Copycat Crusher

  40. 40

    1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. Qg4 Qf6 5. Nd5 Qxf2+ 6. Kd1 Bd6 7. Nh3 Nf6 8. Qxg7

  41. 41

    1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bb4 4. Qh5 g6 5. Qf3 Nf6 6. Nge2 d6 7. Nd5 Bg4 8. Nxf6+

  42. 42

    1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. Qg4 g6 5. Qf3 Qf6 6. Nd5 Qxf3 7. Nxf3 Bb6 8. d3 d6...

  43. 43

    Copycat Crusher

  44. 44

    1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. Qg4 Qf6 5. Nd5 Qxf2+ 6. Kd1 Nf6 7. Qxg7 Rg8 8. Nxf6...

  45. 45

    1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bb4 4. Qh5 g6 5. Qf3 Bxc3 6. Qxf7#

  46. 46

    Forking Spree

  47. 47

    1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. Qg4 Qf6 5. Nd5 Qxf2+ 6. Kd1 Kd8 7. Qxg7 Nce7 8. Qf8#

  48. 48

    Crushing Pin

  49. 49

    Rook Raider

  50. 50

    1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 d5 5. Nxd5

  51. 51

    G-File Assault

  52. 52

    Suffocation Pin

  53. 53

    Iron Clamp

  54. 54

    Pawn Shatter

  55. 55

    Copycat Crusher

  56. 56

    Quiet Castle

  57. 57

    Queenside Clamp

  58. 58

    Bishop Swap

  59. 59

    Knight Pivot

  60. 60

    Central Trades

  61. 61

    Opposite Fury

  62. 62

    Copycat Crusher

  63. 63

    1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. Qg4 Qf6 5. Nd5 Qxf2+ 6. Kd1 Nf6 7. Qxg7 Rg8 8. Nxf6...