Vienna Game: Heyde Variation
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Statistics from Lichess
6,836 games: White 40.9% / Draw 4.4% / Black 54.8%
| Next move | Games | White / Draw / BlackW / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| 3,8303,830 | ||
| 1,0401,040 | ||
| 939939 | ||
| 461461 | ||
| 307307 | ||
| 148148 | ||
| 2626 | ||
| 2525 |
Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Nov 1, 2026
Engine evaluation
−0.24 The position is about equal
Best play: 6... Be7 7. Nge2 O-O 8. Be3 Na6 9. O-O-O c6 10. h4 Nc7 11. Nxe4
Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.
Overview
Vienna Game: Heyde Variation (ECO C29, Open Games) is a variation of the Vienna Game: Vienna Gambit, Bardeleben Variation, reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. f4 d5 4. fxe5 Nxe4 5. Qf3 f5 6. d4 (6 moves).
In 6,836 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 40.9%, Black 54.8% and 4.4% were drawn. Black's most played move here is 6…Bb4, 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: Heyde Variation
The most played answer, 6…Bb4, also scores best for Black: 59.7%, with Black winning 57.7% and White 38.3% of 3,830 games. Of the main answers, 6…Nc6 scores lowest: 54.2%. Stockfish's first choice is 6…Be7.
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: Heyde Variation (C29)”. Lichess data as of 1 Nov 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/vienna-game-heyde-variation