Accepted Gambit: central recapture
3...exf4 4.e5 Ng8
1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. f4 exf4 4. e5 Ng8 5. Nf3 d6
Accepting the gambit gives White space and developing tempi. The strong centre compensates for the temporarily sacrificed pawn.
Study lineVienna repertoire
From ambitious gambit acceptance to the most solid defences. Every line includes moves, plans, and practical warnings.
Library21 lines
Accepted Gambit: the queen comes out early
4...Qe7 5.Qe2
1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. f4 exf4 4. e5 Qe7 5. Qe2 Ng8
Qe2 supports e5. If Black places the queen on d7, the Nd5-c7 jump creates a very powerful tactical sequence.
Study lineAccepted Gambit: knight on h5
4...Nh5? 5.Qxh5
1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. f4 exf4 4. e5 Nh5 5. Qxh5 d6
The knight on h5 is simply hanging on the white queen's diagonal.
Study lineMax Lange Gambit: meet the pawn storm
2...Nc6 3.f4 exf4 4.Nf3 g5
1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. f4 exf4 4. Nf3 g5 5. g3 d6
Against the aggressive ...g5 setup, White undermines the pawn chain with g3, builds the centre, and opens lines before Black can consolidate.
Study lineMax Lange Gambit: Cunningham setup
2...Nc6 3.f4 exf4 4.Nf3 Be7
1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. f4 exf4 4. Nf3 Be7 5. Bc4 Nf6
White develops with tempo, protects the king, and recovers the f4 pawn with the active bishop.
Study lineAccepted Gambit: the knight retreats to d5
4...Nd5 5.Nxd5 Qh4+
1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. f4 exf4 4. e5 Nd5 5. Nxd5 Qh4+
White can take the knight, but must then walk the king through a forcing sequence. Accurate calculation leaves White a piece ahead.
Study lineMain defence: central counterattack
3...d5 4.fxe5 Nxe4 5.Qf3
1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. f4 d5 4. fxe5 Nxe4 5. Qf3 Nxc3
This is Black's critical response. White accepts doubled c-pawns in exchange for central control, space, and initiative.
Study line3...d5: development with Nf3
5.Nf3 Be7 6.d4
1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. f4 d5 4. fxe5 Nxe4 5. Nf3 Be7
Nf3 is a natural alternative to Qf3: less concrete, but easy to play and focused on development.
Study lineBardeleben: Black reinforces the knight
5.Qf3 f5 6.d3
1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. f4 d5 4. fxe5 Nxe4 5. Qf3 f5
The f-pawn reinforces the knight but loosens Black's king. White challenges e4 with d3 and then develops around the strong central structure.
Study lineModern Variation: the calm 5.d3
5.d3 Nxc3 6.bxc3
1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. f4 d5 4. fxe5 Nxe4 5. d3 Nxc3
The direct d3 approach asks the knight to decide immediately. White accepts doubled pawns, then builds a compact centre with Nf3 and c4.
Study linePaulsen Attack: development with ...Nc6
5.Qf3 Nc6 6.Bb5
1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. f4 d5 4. fxe5 Nxe4 5. Qf3 Nc6
Bb5 adds pressure to the c6 knight. White then meets the queen checks by offering a queen trade and reaches a playable structure.
Study lineDeclined Gambit: solid defence with ...d6
3...d6 4.Nf3 Nc6 5.Bb5
1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. f4 d6 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. Bb5 Bd7
Against this solid defence, White develops naturally and increases the pressure on e5.
Study line3...Nc6: gain the centre with tempo
4.fxe5 Nxe5 5.d4
1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. f4 Nc6 4. fxe5 Nxe5 5. d4 Ng6
The fxe5 and d4 sequence chases the knight and gives White a highly advanced centre.
Study line3...Bc5: patient development
4.Nf3 d6 5.Bc4
1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. f4 Bc5 4. Nf3 d6 5. Bc4 Nc6
There is no need to resolve the tension immediately. White completes development and gains space with f5.
Study lineMax Lange: classical setup
2...Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d3
1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. Nf3 d6
A solid Vienna: d3 protects e4 before f4 and enables risk-free development.
Study lineStanley: Frankenstein–Dracula Variation
3.Bc4 Nxe4 4.Qh5
1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Bc4 Nxe4 4. Qh5 Nd6 5. Bb3 Nc6
This famous forcing line sends the queen and knight deep into Black's position. White wins the a8 rook but must calculate the knight's escape carefully.
Study lineCopycat: Meitner–Mieses tactic
3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Qg4 Qf6 5.Nd5
1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. Qg4 Qf6 5. Nd5 Qxf2+
White allows the queen to invade on f2 because Nd5 and Nh3 create a powerful initiative against Black's exposed king and queen.
Study lineModern Vienna with a fianchetto
2...Nf6 3.g3
1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. g3 d5 4. exd5 Nxd5 5. Bg2 Nxc3
The fianchetto avoids the sharpest theory and creates lasting pressure on the long diagonal.
Study line2...Bc5: occupy the centre
3.Nf3 d6 4.d4
1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Bc5 3. Nf3 d6 4. d4 exd4 5. Nxd4 Nf6
White develops and uses the absence of a knight on c6 to play an early d4.
Study line2...Bb4: develop without fearing the pin
3.Nge2 Nf6 4.d3
1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Bb4 3. Nge2 Nf6 4. d3 d5 5. exd5 Nxd5
Nge2 keeps the structure flexible and prepares castling without allowing tactics on the e-file.
Study line2...d6: open the centre
3.d4 exd4 4.Qxd4
1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 d6 3. d4 exd4 4. Qxd4 Nf6 5. Bf4 Be7
Black's passive structure allows White to open the centre and develop with a space advantage.
Study line