Caissa Codex
C25

Vienna Gambit, with Max Lange Defense: Steinitz Gambit, Main Line

Chess diagram: Vienna Gambit, with Max Lange Defense: Steinitz Gambit, Main Line after 5. Ke2

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Statistics from Lichess

19,920 games: White 47.4% / Draw 3.8% / Black 48.9%

The moves played next. Pick one to see it on the board.
Next moveGamesWhite / Draw / BlackW / D / B
Vienna Gambit, with Max Lange Defense: Steinitz Gambit, Paulsen Defense 8,4058,405
Vienna Gambit, with Max Lange Defense: Steinitz Gambit, Zukertort Defense 4,5884,588
Vienna Gambit, with Max Lange Defense: Steinitz Gambit, Fraser-Minckwitz Defense 1,6221,622
1,4371,437
1,4301,430
Vienna Gambit, with Max Lange Defense: Steinitz Gambit, Sörensen Defense 1,0691,069
430430
217217

Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 30, 2026

Engine evaluation

−0.26 The position is about equal

Best play: 5... Qh5+ 6. Nf3 f5 7. exf5 Nf6 8. Kf2 d5 9. Bd3 Bxf5 10. Re1+

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: Steinitz Gambit, Main Line (ECO C25, Open Games) is a gambit in the Vienna Gambit, with Max Lange Defense: Steinitz Gambit, reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. f4 exf4 4. d4 Qh4+ 5. Ke2 (5 moves).

In 19,920 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 47.4%, Black 48.9% and 3.8% were drawn. Black's most played move here is 5…d6, in 42% of those games.

It branches into 4 named variations; the most played are Vienna Gambit, with Max Lange Defense: Steinitz Gambit, Paulsen Defense and Vienna Gambit, with Max Lange Defense: Steinitz Gambit, Zukertort Defense.

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How to play against the Vienna Gambit, with Max Lange Defense: Steinitz Gambit, Main Line

5…b6 (Vienna Gambit, with Max Lange Defense: Steinitz Gambit, Fraser-Minckwitz Defense) scores best for Black: 57.3%, with Black winning 55.4% and White 40.8% of 1,622 games. The most played, 5…d6, scores 49.3% in 8,405 games, and 5…Bb4 scores lowest: 47.4%. Stockfish's first choice is 5…Qh5+.

Main answers: those played in at least 5% of these games. Score: Black's wins plus half the draws, in rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500. How to play against other popular openings

Variations (4)

Cite this page

Caissa Codex. “Vienna Gambit, with Max Lange Defense: Steinitz Gambit, Main Line (C25)”. Lichess data as of 30 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/vienna-gambit-with-max-lange-defense-steinitz-gambit-main-line

https://chesscodex.org/openings/vienna-gambit-with-max-lange-defense-steinitz-gambit-main-line