Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...e5/2. Nc3/2...Nc6/3. Bc4

Vienna Game
a b c d e f g h
8 a8 b8 c8 d8 e8 f8 g8 h8 8
7 a7 b7 c7 d7 e7 f7 g7 h7 7
6 a6 b6 c6 d6 e6 f6 g6 h6 6
5 a5 b5 c5 d5 e5 f5 g5 h5 5
4 a4 b4 c4 d4 e4 f4 g4 h4 4
3 a3 b3 c3 d3 e3 f3 g3 h3 3
2 a2 b2 c2 d2 e2 f2 g2 h2 2
1 a1 b1 c1 d1 e1 f1 g1 h1 1
a b c d e f g h
Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation (FEN)
Moves: 1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. Bc4

Vienna Game edit

3. Bc4 edit

This sequence of opening moves is, objectively speaking, not an effective way for white to maintain any advantage. White's development of these two pieces is considered unharmonious. In particular, the bishop on c4 is prone to being attacked. However in practice, black may respond with the 'copycat variation' 3... Bc5, and after 4.Qg4, white has a definite advantage. From there, white can play with a plan of f4 if there is no knight on f3 blocking the f-pawn. If for example black plays 3... Nf6 4.d3 Na5, then white can consider 5.Nge2, which creates imbalances in the position and reserves the possibility of f4 later.

Theory table edit

For explanation of theory tables, see theory table and for notation, see algebraic notation..

1. e4 e5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.Bc4

3 4 5 6789
Bc4
Nf6
d3
Na5
Nge2
Nxc4
dxc4
Bc5
=
...
Bc5
Nf3
Nf6
d3
d6
Bg5
h6
=
...

Bc5

Qg4

Qf6

Nd5

Qxf2+

Kd1

Kf8

Nh3

h5

Qg5

Qd4

d3

Be7

+/=

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References edit