Chess Drills
Vienna Game: the f4 push and traps on f7
The Vienna Game starts with 1.e4 e5 2.Nc3. Instead of attacking e5 with the other knight, you bring out the queen's knight first and keep your f-pawn free. That lets you push the f-pawn to f4 early. The push attacks e5 and opens the f-file, just like in the King's Gambit, but with a knight already out.
You can also play quietly with a fianchetto (pawn to g3 and bishop to g2, on the long diagonal), or bring your bishop to c4 and aim at f7 like in the Italian Game. With the bishop on c4, Black can take your e4 pawn, and after your queen goes to h5 you get the Frankenstein-Dracula, one of the craziest positions in opening theory.
Good fit for: Players who like attacking chances and surprise value, and want something less mainstream than 2.Nf3.
Drill these 4 lines with spaced repetition: a few minutes a day, and the moves stick.
Key ideas
- The f4 push. Your knight on c3 protects e4, so you can push your f-pawn to f4 early. If Black takes on f4 or lets you take on e5, you get the f-file and a strong centre.
- Watch Black's push to d5. Black's best answers usually hit back in the centre with the pawn to d5. Your knight on c3 helps you meet it, but don't let Black take over the centre for free.
- Bishop on c4, target f7. In lines with the bishop on c4, your bishop, and sometimes your queen on h5 or f3, aim at f7. There are mating traps on that square, so Black has to be careful.
- Or play slowly with g3. With the pawn to g3, bishop to g2 and knight to e2, you keep the position flexible, castle and decide on the f4 push later. This calm setup has little theory.
The main lines
Vienna Gambit: push the f-pawn at once
You push the f-pawn to f4 straight away, and Black answers in the best way: hitting back in the centre with the pawn to d5. You take on e5 and Black's knight jumps to e4. You get a big pawn on e5 and space on the kingside, while Black gets a strong knight on e4 and quick development.
- Your plan: knight to f3, pawn to d4 and bishop to d3, then use your space on the kingside.
- Why is the pawn on e5 strong? It takes the d6 and f6 squares away from Black's pieces.
- Good to know: with accurate play Black is fine, but the positions are lively and easy to go wrong in.
Frankenstein-Dracula: wild play around f7
Your bishop goes to c4, Black takes your e4 pawn, and your queen goes to h5 to attack f7. A few moves later your knight takes Black's rook on a8, so you have won a rook, but the knight there is trapped. Black plans the bishop to b7 and gets a big centre and an attack in return.
- Watch out: this is very sharp and full of theory. Only play it if you have studied it, with either colour.
- Good to know: early on, Black's knight on d6 is the only piece defending f7. See the two traps below.
Mieses Variation: a quiet fianchetto
Against Black's knight on f6 you play the pawn to g3. Black pushes to d5, knights are traded on d5 and c3, and both sides castle. Your bishop sits on the long diagonal and the b-file has no white pawn on it, while Black has a free and pleasant position.
- Your plan: slow plans such as the rook to b1 and the pawn to d3, sometimes the knight to h4 and the push f2-f4.
- Why the b-file? With no pawn of your own on it, your rook on b1 can put pressure on Black's queenside.
Paulsen: a calm fianchetto against the knight on c6
When Black brings the knight to c6 instead, you again play the pawn to g3 and the bishop to g2. Your other knight goes to e2, and both sides develop normally and castle.
- Why e2? The knight on e2 keeps your f-pawn free, so you can still push it to f4 later.
- Good to know: Black develops with the bishop to e6 or g4 and can aim for the push to d5 later.
Traps and mistakes to avoid
The wrong retreat: mate on f7
Your bishop goes to c4, Black takes on e4 and your queen goes to h5. Now your queen and bishop both attack f7, and Black's knight on e4 is attacked too. The natural retreat 4...Nf6 is a blunder: your queen takes on f7 and it is mate. Black has to move the knight to d6, where it defends f7.
Black takes your knight on b5: mate on f7
In the Frankenstein-Dracula, Black's knight on d6 is the only piece defending f7. When your knight jumps to b5, it looks free to take. But if the knight from d6 takes it, f7 is no longer defended and your queen takes on f7: mate. The right move for Black is the pawn to g6.
Questions
Is the Vienna Game good?
Yes. It is less popular than 2.Nf3, but it is sound and played at every level. Its main strengths are surprise value and the option of an early f4 push.
What is Black's best reply to the Vienna Gambit?
Hitting back with the pawn to d5 is the most respected answer: Black opens the centre before your attack gets going. Taking your f-pawn is also playable, but then you get a strong centre by pushing your e-pawn to e5.
Do I have to play the Frankenstein-Dracula?
No. Against Black's knight on f6 you can choose the push f2-f4 or the quiet pawn to g3 instead of the bishop to c4. If you like the bishop on c4 but not the chaos, play it with the pawn to d3 later for calm Italian-style positions.
Related guides
Enter your Chess.com or Lichess username and see your best and worst openings in 20 seconds. Free, no account needed.