Vienna Game: Vienna Gambit, Paulsen Attack
The Paulsen Attack is 4.fxe5 Nxe4 5.Qf3, where the queen hits the e4 knight and the f7 square at once. White wants to drive the knight away and use the f-file, while Black aims to trade on c3 and use active pieces.
- Moves
- 1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.f4 d5 4.fxe5 Nxe4 5.Qf3
- ECO
- C29
- Engine
- −0.30 · a slight edge for Black (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
- Played
- 464 games in our lichess sample
- White scores
- 58.9%
Key ideas for both sides
White
- After 5...Nc6 6.Bb5 Nxc3 7.dxc3, White gets open lines for the c1 bishop and pressure on c6.
- Answer ...Qh4+ with g3 and meet ...Qe4+ with Be3, as the engine line shows, keeping material balanced.
- Against 5...Nxc3 6.bxc3, aim for d4 and Bd3 to build a center despite the doubled c-pawns.
Black
- 5...Nc6 develops with an eye on e5 and prepares the trade on c3 at the right moment.
- 5...f5 holds the knight on e4 and keeps a firm grip on the center after d3 Nxc3.
- After the trade on c3, use ...Qh4+ to force g3, then ...Qe4+ to swap queens or gain time.
Plans and pawn structure
Black usually trades the e4 knight for the c3 knight, leaving White with doubled c-pawns. White gets open lines in return: the c1 bishop and a rook on the f-file. In the ...Nc6 line, Black's queen checks lead to an ending-like game where the e5 pawn needs care. In the 5...Nxc3 6.bxc3 line, Black plays ...c5 and ...c4 to clamp the queenside, while White uses Bd3 and Bf5 to trade the light-squared bishops.
Where the engine's main line heads: White has doubled c-pawns. White's c-pawns are doubled, usually after ...Bxc3 bxc3. In return White keeps the bishop pair and a solid center.
What the engine plays from here
Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position −0.30: a slight edge for Black. Its three top choices for Black:
- −0.30 5...Nc6 6.Bb5 Nxc3 7.dxc3 Qh4+ 8.g3
- −0.24 5...f5 6.d3 Nxc3 7.bxc3 d4 8.g3
- −0.02 5...Nxc3 6.bxc3 Be7 7.d4 c5 8.Bd3
Pawns, from White's side.
How it scores on lichess
464 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 58.9%.
Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.
Where it goes next
- Heyde Variation5...f5 · rare
How to play against it
As Black, play 5...Nc6 or 5...f5. Do not leave the knight on e4 undefended and do not ignore f7. After 6.Bb5 trade on c3 and use ...Qh4+ and ...Qe4+ to reach a comfortable game where White's c-pawns are weak. In the endgame, those doubled pawns on c2 and c3 become targets for your rooks.
Questions
What are the moves of the Vienna Game: Vienna Gambit, Paulsen Attack?
The Vienna Game: Vienna Gambit, Paulsen Attack starts 1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.f4 d5 4.fxe5 Nxe4 5.Qf3. Its ECO code is C29.
Is the Vienna Game: Vienna Gambit, Paulsen Attack good for White?
Stockfish 17.1 rates the position −0.30 at depth 20, which is a slight edge for Black. In 464 lichess games from our sample, White scored 58.9%. A direct line for White players who want open lines, but Black gets easy play if the trade on c3 is timed well.
What is the main idea of the Vienna Game: Vienna Gambit, Paulsen Attack?
White's queen comes to f3 to harass the e4 knight. Black trades on c3 to give White doubled c-pawns, and both sides then play around those pawns and the open f-file.
What should Black play next?
The engine's first choice is Nc6, with f5 and Nxc3 close behind. 5...Nc6 develops and keeps the option of ...Nxc3, so after 6.Bb5 Black trades and checks with the queen.
Related lines
Updated October 2026. Sources and method.