Vienna Game: Paulsen Variation, Pollock Gambit
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Statistics from Lichess
1,128 games: White 60.9% / Draw 3.1% / Black 36.0%
| Next move | Games | White / Draw / BlackW / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| 456456 | ||
| 296296 | ||
| 254254 | ||
| 7979 | ||
| 2626 | ||
| 1010 | ||
| 33 | ||
| 33 |
Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 31, 2026
Engine evaluation
+0.54 White is slightly better
Best play: 6... Nb4 7. O-O O-O 8. a3 Nbxd5 9. Nxd5 Nxd5 10. b4 Be7 11. c4
Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.
Overview
Vienna Game: Paulsen Variation, Pollock Gambit (ECO C26, Open Games) is a gambit in the Vienna Game: Mieses Variation, reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. g3 Bc5 4. Bg2 Nc6 5. Nge2 d5 6. exd5 (6 moves).
In 1,128 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 60.9%, Black 36.0% and 3.1% were drawn. Black's most played move here is 6…Nd4, in 40% 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: Paulsen Variation, Pollock Gambit
The most played answer, 6…Nd4, also scores best for Black: 42.3%, with Black winning 40.4% and White 55.7% of 456 games. Of the main answers, 6…Nxd5 scores lowest: 24.2%. Stockfish's first choice is 6…Nb4.
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
Transpositions
Cite this page
Caissa Codex. “Vienna Game: Paulsen Variation, Pollock Gambit (C26)”. Lichess data as of 31 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/vienna-game-paulsen-variation-pollock-gambit