Vienna Game
White defends e4 with the queenside knight, leaving the f-pawn free. This permits both a quiet setup and a sharper pawn advance; choose based on Black's response.
Your plan as White
Nc3 supports e4 and leaves the f-pawn free. Decide whether to develop quietly or prepare a concrete f4 advance.
The opponent’s plan
Develop and contest the center. Against f4, calculate central breaks before accepting a pawn.
Watch out: Opening the f-file also weakens the king's diagonal. Check queen checks before advancing the f-pawn.
Opening game…
Practice this line as White.
Play three moves from the line you watched. Hints draw an arrow on the board. Complete a fresh attempt without hints or retries to pass.
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Name, background and sources
Vienna-based masters helped promote this opening around the turn of the twentieth century. Steinitz, Spielmann and Tartakower were among its proponents.
Read the opening background on Chess.com ↗Lichess opening names and reference lines (CC0)
ChessSum provides original explanatory notes. Related lines are labeled separately. Reference lines illustrate ideas; they are not a claim that every other legal move is wrong.
Watch how the center and piece development change. Each arrow previews the next move.