Chess Openings Lab
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Vienna Game: Anderssen Defense

The Anderssen Defense of the Vienna Game is 2...Bc5, putting the bishop on its active diagonal toward f2 before any knight moves. White can play the central Nf3 and d4, or tease the bishop with an early queen move like Qh5 or Qg4.

Moves
1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Bc5
ECO
C25
Engine
+0.43 · a slight edge for White (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
6,010 games in our lichess sample
White scores
52.7%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • Play Nf3 and d4, the top engine line, opening the center while the c5 bishop is a target.
  • After ...exd4 and Nxd4, develop with Bg5 to pin the f6 knight against the queen.
  • Qh5 hits e5 and f7; after ...d6 add Bc4 to aim another piece at f7.
  • The Na4 jump attacks the c5 bishop and grabs the bishop pair if Black is careless.

Black

  • Answer Nf3 with ...d6, holding e5, and take on d4 when White pushes d4.
  • After Nxd4, play ...Nf6 and castle short, keeping the bishop on c5 pointing at f2.
  • Against Qh5, defend with ...d6 and ...Qd7, then ...f6 or ...Qe7 to trade off the queen.
  • Watch f7: after Bc4 and Qh5, guard it before developing the g8 knight.

Plans and pawn structure

If White goes Nf3 and d4, the center opens and Black's bishop on c5 faces a knight on d4. White uses Bg5, Qd2 and long or short castling to press on the d-file. Black's plan is ...Nf6, castling and ...Re8 against the e4 pawn. In the early queen lines, White aims at f7, and Black must spend moves on ...d6 and ...Qd7 before getting the king safe. The structure stays open.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.43: a slight edge for White. Its three top choices for White:

  1. +0.43 3.Nf3 d6 4.d4 exd4 5.Nxd4 Nf6
  2. +0.30 3.Qh5 d6 4.Bc4 Qd7 5.Qg5 f6
  3. +0.18 3.Be2 d6 4.Nf3 Nf6 5.d4 exd4

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

6,010 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 52.7%.

under 120052.3%
1200–159951.6%
1600–199954.3%
2000 and up52.9%

Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.

Where it goes next

  • Giraffe Attack3.Qg4 · rare
  • Hamppe-Meitner Variation3.Na4 · rare

How to play against it

As White, Nf3 and d4 is the clean way to meet the early bishop. The Na4 jump can win the bishop pair if Black leaves the bishop loose. Keep f2 covered, since the c5 bishop aims there, and only play Qh5 if you know the follow-up with Bc4 and Qg5.

Questions

What are the moves of the Vienna Game: Anderssen Defense?

The Vienna Game: Anderssen Defense starts 1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Bc5. Its ECO code is C25.

Is the Vienna Game: Anderssen Defense good for Black?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.43 at depth 20, which is a slight edge for White. In 6,010 lichess games from our sample, White scored 52.7%. A simple developing choice for Black, though White players who know Nf3 and d4 get easy central play.

What is the main idea of the Vienna Game: Anderssen Defense?

Black puts the bishop on c5 early to aim at f2. White can respond centrally with Nf3 and d4, or with early queen attacks on f7 that Black must parry with ...d6.

What should White play next?

The engine's first choice is Nf3, with Qh5 and Be2 close behind. Nf3 develops and prepares d4, hitting the e5 pawn and the c5 bishop's support.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.