Vienna Game: Vienna Gambit, Steinitz Variation
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Statistics from Lichess
36,677 games: White 46.2% / Draw 5.1% / Black 48.8%
| Next move | Games | White / Draw / BlackW / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| 18,15118K | ||
| 6,4036,403 | ||
| 4,0724,072 | ||
| 3,2563,256 | ||
| 2,7822,782 | ||
| 774774 | ||
| 708708 | ||
| 249249 |
Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Nov 6, 2026
Engine evaluation
−0.52 Black is slightly better
Best play: 4... exf4 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. Bxf4 Bb4 7. exd5 Nxd5 8. Bd2 O-O 9. Nxd5
Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.
Overview
Vienna Game: Vienna Gambit, Steinitz 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. d3 (4 moves).
In 36,677 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 46.2%, Black 48.8% and 5.1% were drawn. Black's most played move here is 4…dxe4, in 49% 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: Vienna Gambit, Steinitz Variation
4…exf4 scores best for Black: 54.9%, with Black winning 52.1% and White 42.2% of 4,072 games. The most played, 4…dxe4, scores 51.1% in 18K games, and 4…d4 scores lowest: 49.6%. Stockfish's first choice is also 4…exf4.
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, Steinitz Variation (C29)”. Lichess data as of 6 Nov 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/vienna-game-vienna-gambit-steinitz-variation