Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...e5/2. Nc3/2...Nf6

Vienna Game, Falkbeer Defence
a b c d e f g h 8 8 7 7 6 6 5 5 4 4 3 3 2 2 1 1 a b c d e f g h
Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation (FEN) rnbqkb1r/pppp1ppp/5n2/4p3/4P3/2N5/PPPP1PPP/R1BQKBNR w
Moves: 1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6

Vienna Game, Falkbeer Defence

As White, you still have designs on playing f4, but Black with their knight sortie has challenged your control of d5. Should you fight back, or ignore this distraction?

3. f4: White has had enough of Black's e-pawn, and feels an open f-file would be useful in their later attack.

3. Bc4: White again restrains themselves from the committal f4 and places another piece where it controls d5. With a little co-operation from Black, White may now head towards one of the most terrifying opening positions yet discovered...

Less critical alternatives are:

3. a3: the Mengarini Variation, preventing Bb4, but this bishop has at least one other good square.

3. d3: Having challenged Black to some old-fashioned fisticuffs, White sadistically transposes to a solid King's Indian Attack.

Theory table

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

1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6

	3
	f4 d5	=
Four Knights	Nf3 Nc6	= see 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nc3
	Bc4 Nc6	=
Mengarini Variation	a3 -	=
	d3 -	=