Caissa Codex
C25

Vienna Gambit, with Max Lange Defense: Steinitz Gambit, Paulsen Defense

Chess diagram: Vienna Gambit, with Max Lange Defense: Steinitz Gambit, Paulsen Defense after 5…d6

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Statistics from Lichess

9,060 games: White 48.4% / Draw 4.3% / Black 47.4%

The moves played next. Pick one to see it on the board.
Next moveGamesWhite / Draw / BlackW / D / B
8,1618,161
623623
125125
5252
1818
1616
1515
1515

Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 23, 2026

Engine evaluation

−0.17 The position is about equal

Best play: 6. Nf3 Bg4 7. Bxf4 f5 8. exf5 O-O-O 9. Kd2 Qh5 10. d5 Qxf5

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, Paulsen Defense (ECO C25, Open Games) is a gambit in the Vienna Gambit, with Max Lange Defense: Steinitz Gambit, Main Line, reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. f4 exf4 4. d4 Qh4+ 5. Ke2 d6 (5 moves).

In 9,060 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 48.4%, Black 47.4% and 4.3% were drawn. White's most played move here is 6. Nf3, in 90% of those games.

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

The most played answer, 6. Nf3, also scores best for White: 51.2%, with White winning 49.0% and Black 46.6% of 8,161 games. Of the main answers, 6. Nd5 scores lowest: 48.1%. Stockfish's first choice is also 6. Nf3.

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

Other lines from the same position

Instead of 5…d6, the position after Vienna Gambit, with Max Lange Defense: Steinitz Gambit, Main Line also goes on to:

Cite this page

Caissa Codex. “Vienna Gambit, with Max Lange Defense: Steinitz Gambit, Paulsen Defense (C25)”. Lichess data as of 23 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/vienna-gambit-with-max-lange-defense-steinitz-gambit-paulsen-defense

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