1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.f4
The Vienna Gambit, with Max Lange Defense starts with 1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.f4 and is catalogued under ECO C25, in the open games & french half of the book. The catalog indexes 15 lines inside it, grouped into 15 named variations.
Current setup
Move ideas
Claims the center with a pawn and opens lines for the queen and king’s bishop.
Idea: Build quick development and make early castling possible.
Meets White’s center directly and opens lines for Black’s queen and bishop.
Idea: Fight for equal central space in a balanced, open position.
Develops the knight to c3, bringing it into the game.
Idea: Improve piece coordination and clear the back rank for castling and the rooks.
Develops the knight to c6, bringing it into the game.
Idea: Improve piece coordination and clear the back rank for castling and the rooks.
Advances the f-pawn to gain kingside space and control new squares.
Idea: Create useful wing space while keeping the central structure flexible.
Develops the bishop to c5, bringing it into the game.
Idea: Improve piece coordination and clear the back rank for castling and the rooks.
Captures the pawn on e5 and changes the local pawn or piece balance.
Idea: Open lines in the center and reshape the center for the next phase.
Advances to d6 to claim central space and control nearby key squares.
Idea: Give the pieces room to develop behind a durable central foothold.
Waiting for Lichess game popularity.
Each line below is an indexed entry under Vienna Gambit, with Max Lange Defense. Open one to load it on the board and keep exploring from that position.
ECO groups openings by the structures they lead to, so these families tend to share plans with the Vienna Gambit, with Max Lange Defense.