Vienna Gambit, with Max Lange Defense: Cunningham Defense
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Statistics from Lichess
73,558 games: White 47.8% / Draw 3.5% / Black 48.7%
| Next move | Games | White / Draw / BlackW / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| 30,04130K | ||
| 29,78330K | ||
| 6,7236,723 | ||
| 2,7542,754 | ||
| 1,0691,069 | ||
| 893893 | ||
| 713713 | ||
| 545545 |
Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 29, 2026
Engine evaluation
+0.07 The position is about equal
Best play: 5. Bc4 Nf6 6. d3 Na5 7. Bxf4 O-O 8. a3 Nxc4 9. dxc4 d6
Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.
Overview
Vienna Gambit, with Max Lange Defense: Cunningham Defense (ECO C25, Open Games) is a gambit in the Vienna Gambit, with Max Lange Defense: Knight Variation, reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. f4 exf4 4. Nf3 Be7 (4 moves).
In 73,558 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 47.8%, Black 48.7% and 3.5% were drawn. White's most played move here is 5. d4, in 41% of those games.
Written from the Lichess opening list and explorer. Know this line well? Write about it.
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How to play against the Vienna Gambit, with Max Lange Defense: Cunningham Defense
5. Bc4 scores best for White: 52.8%, with White winning 51.0% and Black 45.4% of 30K games. The most played answer, 5. d4, scores lowest: 46.4% in 30K games. Stockfish's first choice is also 5. Bc4.
Main answers: those played in at least 5% of these games. Score: White's wins plus half the draws, in rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500. How to play against other popular openings
Cite this page
Caissa Codex. “Vienna Gambit, with Max Lange Defense: Cunningham Defense (C25)”. Lichess data as of 29 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/vienna-gambit-with-max-lange-defense-cunningham-defense