C29

Vienna Game: Vienna Gambit, Kaufmann Variation

Chess diagram: Vienna Game: Vienna Gambit, Kaufmann Variation after 6. Qe2

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

7,043 games: White 57.2% / Draw 4.7% / Black 38.0%

The moves played next. Pick one to see it on the board.
Next moveGamesWhite / Draw / BlackW / D / B
3,6843,684
1,1411,141
832832
651651
361361
9898
7373
6565

Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 26, 2026

Engine evaluation

+0.19 The position is about equal

Best play: 6... Nxc3 7. dxc3 c5 8. Qf2 Nc6 9. Bf4 Be6 10. Bb5 Be7 11. O-O

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

Overview

Vienna Game: Vienna Gambit, Kaufmann Variation (ECO C29, Open Games) is a gambit in the Vienna Game: Vienna Gambit, Main Line, reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. f4 d5 4. fxe5 Nxe4 5. Nf3 Bg4 6. Qe2 (6 moves).

In 7,043 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 57.2%, Black 38.0% and 4.7% were drawn. Black's most played move here is 6…Nxc3, in 52% of those games.

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How to play against the Vienna Game: Vienna Gambit, Kaufmann Variation

6…Ng5 scores best for Black: 46.4%, with Black winning 43.6% and White 50.8% of 651 games. The most played, 6…Nxc3, scores 42.7% in 3,684 games, and 6…Bxf3 scores lowest: 34.7%. Stockfish's first choice is 6…Nxc3.

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: Vienna Gambit, Kaufmann Variation (C29)”. Lichess data as of 26 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/vienna-game-vienna-gambit-kaufmann-variation