for White · beginner
Vienna Game
3/3
1.e4e52.Nc3
White develops the queen's knight first and keeps options flexible. This often prepares an early f4 for King's Gambit-style attacking play. It is a practical choice that avoids the most analysed 1.e4 e5 lines.
Key ideas
- Prepare f4 to gain space and attacking chances, backed by the Nc3
- Maintain flexible development and transpose to favourable structures
- Use the fianchetto with g3 and Bg2 in quieter setups
- Pursue a kingside pawn storm after completing development
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Vienna Game29.5M games · Black to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
11%3.1M46%
3.3%960k45%
2.9%859k45%
1.7%508k48%
0.6%173k47%
0.5%156k44%
0.4%126k43%
Famous games in this line8.2k master games
Mamedyarov, S. (2764) – Carlsen, M. (2882)Nakamura, Hikaru (2775) – Carlsen, Magnus (2868)Nakamura, Hi (2787) – Carlsen, M. (2853)Nakamura, Hi (2787) – Carlsen, M. (2853)Vachier Lagrave, Maxime (2819) – Nakamura, Hi (2791)Caruana, F. (2811) – Anand, V. (2797)Kasparov, G. (2812) – Caruana, F. (2795)Firouzja, Alireza (2759) – Carlsen, M.. (2847)Heroes of this opening Carlsen, M. · Nakamura, Hi · Vachier Lagrave, Maxime · Kasparov, G.
Keep exploring
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From the archives
Carl Hamppe worked out 2.Nc3 in 19th-century Vienna, and the line was called Hamppe's Game before it took the city's name in the 1890s. Steinitz, Tartakower and Spielmann all used it. The Vienna Gambit (3.f4) keeps every King's Gambit dream alive — same fire, one move of patience.
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