C29 · Open · a plan for White
Vienna Game: Vienna Gambit, Steinitz Variation
7/7
1.e4e52.Nc3Nf63.f4d54.d3
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Vienna Game: Vienna Gambit, Steinitz Variation33k games · Black to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
50%16k51%
19%6.2k49%
11%3.5k55%
7.8%2.6k53%
7.8%2.6k55%
2.2%73247%
1.9%62746%
0.7%23646%
0.3%8749%
0.2%5838%
Famous games in this line5 master games
Lu, Shanglei (2514) – Ni, Hua (2637)Lombardy, William James (2515) – Smyslov, Vassily (2605)Lombardy, William James (2530) – Garcia Palermo, Carlos H (2380)Knox, Victor W (2200) – Hartston, William R (2480)Zhelnin, Vladimir V (2335) – Cybulak, Adam (2265)Heroes of this opening Ni, Hua · Smyslov, Vassily · Lombardy, William James · Zhelnin, Vladimir V
- Family
- Vienna Game
- Category
- Open
- First move
- 1.e4
- ECO
- C29
- Line
- 1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. f4 d5 4. d3
GambitClassical
★ Read the guide: Vienna GameExplore all 41 Vienna Game lines →Keep exploring
Nearby lines in the family
From the archives
Vienna's coffee-house masters of the 19th century loved 2.Nc3: it keeps every King's Gambit dream alive while dodging Black's best-prepared replies. The Vienna Gambit lines (3.f4) still score brutally in club chess — same fire, one move of patience.
Study this opening