Vienna Game: Vienna Gambit, Modern Variation
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Statistics from Lichess
84,055 games: White 52.7% / Draw 5.8% / Black 41.6%
| Next move | Games | White / Draw / BlackW / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| 57,59558K | ||
| 23,16723K | ||
| 1,5621,562 | ||
| 1,3361,336 | ||
| 264264 | ||
| 5858 | ||
| 2020 | ||
| 1414 |
Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 30, 2026
Engine evaluation
−0.60 Black is slightly better
Best play: 5... Nxc3 6. bxc3 d4 7. c4 Bb4+ 8. Bd2 a5 9. Nf3 O-O 10. Be2
Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.
Overview
Vienna Game: Vienna Gambit, Modern 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. d3 (5 moves).
In 84,055 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 52.7%, Black 41.6% and 5.8% were drawn. Black's most played move here is 5…Nxc3, in 69% of those games.
It continues into one named variation, Vienna Game: Vienna Gambit, Wurzburger Trap.
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: Vienna Gambit, Modern Variation
The most played answer, 5…Nxc3, also scores best for Black: 47.8%, with Black winning 44.5% and White 48.9% of 58K games. Of the main answers, 5…Qh4+ scores lowest: 35.4%. Stockfish's first choice is also 5…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
Variations (1)
Cite this page
Caissa Codex. “Vienna Game: Vienna Gambit, Modern Variation (C29)”. Lichess data as of 30 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/vienna-game-vienna-gambit-modern-variation