Vienna Game: Paulsen Variation 5. Nge2 d5
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Statistics from Lichess
1,860 games: White 58.0% / Draw 3.2% / Black 38.8%
| Next move | Games | White / Draw / BlackW / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| Vienna Game: Paulsen Variation, Pollock Gambit | 1,1311,131 | |
| 308308 | ||
| 237237 | ||
| 126126 | ||
| 3434 | ||
| 1616 | ||
| 44 | ||
| 11 |
Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 29, 2026
Engine evaluation
+0.62 White is slightly better
Best play: 6. exd5 Nb4 7. a3 Nbxd5 8. Nxd5 Nxd5 9. b4 Be7 10. c4 Nb6
Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.
Overview
Vienna Game: Paulsen Variation (ECO C25, Open Games) is a variation of the Vienna Game: Paulsen Variation, reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g3 Nf6 4. Bg2 Bc5 5. Nge2 d5 (5 moves).
In 1,860 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 58.0%, Black 38.8% and 3.2% were drawn. White's most played move here is 6. exd5, in 61% of those games.
Written from the Lichess opening list and explorer. Know this line well? Write about it.
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How to answer 5…d5
6. Nxd5 scores best for White: 63.1%, with White winning 60.8% and Black 34.6% of 237 games. The most played, 6. exd5, scores 62.6% in 1,131 games, and 6. d3 scores lowest: 47.6%. Stockfish's first choice is 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
Transpositions
Cite this page
Caissa Codex. “Vienna Game: Paulsen Variation (C25)”. Lichess data as of 29 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/vienna-game-paulsen-variation-2