Chess Openings Lab
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Vienna Game: Omaha Gambit

The Omaha Gambit is 2...d6 3.f4, where White pushes the f-pawn against Black's quiet pawn on d6, King's Gambit style. White wants the f-file and a big center, while Black can take on f4 or hold e5 with pieces.

Moves
1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 d6 3.f4
ECO
C25
Engine
−0.02 · level (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
943 games in our lichess sample
White scores
53.6%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • After ...exf4, play Qf3 and win the pawn back with Qxf4, keeping a strong e4 pawn.
  • Meet ...Nd4 with Bd3 and Nf3, finishing development and challenging the knight.
  • Against ...Nc6, play Nf3 and d3 to keep a solid center and castle short.
  • Against ...Be7, push d4 at once and answer the ...Bh4+ check with g3.

Black

  • ...exf4, the engine's top choice, takes the pawn and makes White spend time getting it back.
  • After Qf3, play ...Nc6 and ...Nd4 to hit the queen and c2 with tempo.
  • ...Nc6 and ...Nd4 without taking first also keep the center solid and the e5 pawn in place.
  • With ...Be7, aim for a ...Bh4+ check to weaken White's kingside before taking on d4.

Plans and pawn structure

After ...exf4 Qf3, White wins the pawn back and has an open f-file plus the e4 pawn. White's plan is Bd3, Nf3, castling and pressure on f7. Black's plan is ...Nd4 to hit the queen, ...Be7, ...Nf6 and castling, then ...c6 and ...d5 for central counterplay. If Black keeps the pawn on e5, the game becomes a closed fight where White's f-file play competes with Black's knight on d4.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position −0.02: level. Its three top choices for Black:

  1. −0.02 3...exf4 4.Qf3 Nc6 5.Qxf4 Nd4 6.Bd3
  2. +0.20 3...Nc6 4.Nf3 Nd4 5.d3 Ne7 6.Be3
  3. +0.36 3...Be7 4.d4 Bh4+ 5.g3 exd4 6.Qxd4

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

943 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 53.6%.

under 120045.8%
1200–159955.1%
1600–199953.0%
2000 and up60.2%

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

How to play against it

As Black, ...exf4 is simplest; after Qf3, put your knight on d4 to hit the queen and c2. Develop quickly with ...Be7 and ...Nf6, then castle short. Do not let White build Bc4 and Nf3 pressure on f7 without answering.

Questions

What are the moves of the Vienna Game: Omaha Gambit?

The Vienna Game: Omaha Gambit starts 1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 d6 3.f4. Its ECO code is C25.

Is the Vienna Game: Omaha Gambit good for White?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position −0.02 at depth 20, which is level. In 943 lichess games from our sample, White scored 53.6%. A playable gambit for aggressive White players, while Black stays fine with ...exf4 and active knights.

What is the main idea of the Vienna Game: Omaha Gambit?

White pushes f4 to challenge e5 and open the f-file. Black can take with ...exf4 and use ...Nd4 to hit the queen, or keep e5 with pieces.

What should Black play next?

The engine's first choice is exf4, with Nc6 and Be7 close behind. ...exf4 takes the pawn and invites White to spend time with Qf3 to win it back.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.