Caissa Codex
C27

Vienna Game: Stanley Variation, Monster Declined

Chess diagram: Vienna Game: Stanley Variation, Monster Declined after 5…Be7

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

24,053 games: White 49.4% / Draw 7.7% / Black 42.8%

The moves played next. Pick one to see it on the board.
Next moveGamesWhite / Draw / BlackW / D / B
12,08112K
9,1359,135
1,0001,000
769769
336336
224224
187187
107107

Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Nov 10, 2026

Engine evaluation

0.00 The position is about equal

Best play: 6. Qxe5 O-O 7. Nf3 Nc6 8. Qf4 Na5 9. O-O Nxb3 10. axb3 Re8

Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.

Overview

Vienna Game: Stanley Variation, Monster Declined (ECO C27, Open Games) is a variation of the Vienna Game: Frankenstein-Dracula Variation, reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Bc4 Nxe4 4. Qh5 Nd6 5. Bb3 Be7 (5 moves).

In 24,053 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 49.4%, Black 42.8% and 7.7% were drawn. White's most played move here is 6. Nf3, in 50% of those games.

It continues into one named variation, Vienna Game: Stanley Variation, Alekhine Variation.

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How to play against the Vienna Game: Stanley Variation, Monster Declined

The most played answer, 6. Nf3, also scores best for White: 55.5%, with White winning 51.2% and Black 40.1% of 12K games. Of the main answers, 6. Qxe5 scores lowest: 51.7%. Stockfish's first choice is 6. Qxe5.

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

Variations (1)

Other lines from the same position

Instead of 4. Qh5 Nd6 5. Bb3 Be7, the position after Vienna Game: Frankenstein-Dracula Variation also goes on to:

Cite this page

Caissa Codex. “Vienna Game: Stanley Variation, Monster Declined (C27)”. Lichess data as of 10 Nov 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/vienna-game-stanley-variation-monster-declined

https://chesscodex.org/openings/vienna-game-stanley-variation-monster-declined