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

Vienna Game
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) r1bqkbnr/pppp1ppp/2n5/4p3/2B1P3/2N5/PPPP1PPP/R1BQK1NR b
Moves: 1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. Bc4

Vienna Game

3. Bc4

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

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	6	7	8	9
	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				+/=