Caissa Codex
C25

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

Chess diagram: Vienna Gambit, with Max Lange Defense: Steinitz Gambit, Zukertort Defense after 5…d5

Type a move and press Enter: e4, Nf3, O-O, or from and to squares like g1f3 (e7e8q to promote). The board is also played with the mouse.

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Statistics from Lichess

4,611 games: White 44.7% / Draw 2.9% / Black 52.4%

The moves played next. Pick one to see it on the board.
Next moveGamesWhite / Draw / BlackW / D / B
2,0092,009
1,2321,232
1,1811,181
145145
2323
1414
33
22

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

Engine evaluation

−0.12 The position is about equal

Best play: 6. exd5 Bg4+ 7. Nf3 Nce7 8. Bxf4 O-O-O 9. Kd2 Qf6 10. Bg5 Qg6

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, Zukertort 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 d5 (5 moves).

In 4,611 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 44.7%, Black 52.4% and 2.9% were drawn. White's most played move here is 6. Nf3, in 44% of those games.

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

6. exd5 scores best for White: 58.5%, with White winning 57.0% and Black 39.9% of 1,232 games. The most played, 6. Nf3, scores 43.1% in 2,009 games, and 6. Nxd5 scores lowest: 39.9%. Stockfish's first choice is also 6. exd5.

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…d5, 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, Zukertort Defense (C25)”. Lichess data as of 30 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/vienna-gambit-with-max-lange-defense-steinitz-gambit-zukertort-defense

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