Vienna Game: Giraffe Attack
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Statistics from Lichess
31,377 games: White 56.4% / Draw 3.1% / Black 40.5%
| Next move | Games | White / Draw / BlackW / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| 17,62418K | ||
| 6,3266,326 | ||
| 3,2603,260 | ||
| 1,4381,438 | ||
| 612612 | ||
| 464464 | ||
| 417417 | ||
| 410410 |
Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 31, 2026
Engine evaluation
−0.36 Black is slightly better
Best play: 3... Nf6 4. Qg3 Nc6 5. d3 d6 6. Be2 Nd4 7. Bd1 a5 8. Nge2
Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.
Overview
Vienna Game: Giraffe Attack (ECO C25, Open Games) is a variation of the Vienna Game: Anderssen Defense, reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Bc5 3. Qg4 (3 moves).
In 31,377 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 56.4%, Black 40.5% and 3.1% were drawn. Black's most played move here is 3…Qf6, in 56% 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 Game: Giraffe Attack
3…Nf6 scores best for Black: 52.0%, with Black winning 50.3% and White 46.2% of 3,260 games. The most played answer, 3…Qf6, scores lowest: 39.0% in 18K games. Stockfish's first choice is also 3…Nf6.
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
Cite this page
Caissa Codex. “Vienna Game: Giraffe Attack (C25)”. Lichess data as of 31 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/vienna-game-giraffe-attack