C27 · Vienna Game

Vienna Game: Stanley Variation, Alekhine Variation

1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Bc4 Nxe4 4. Qh5 Nd6 5. Bb3 Be7 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. Nxe5
♜♝♛♚♜♟♟♟♟♝♟♟♟♞♞♞♛♝♞♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♜♝♚♜
The position after 1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Bc4 Nxe4 4. Qh5 Nd6 5. Bb3 Be7 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. Nxe5, Black to move.

In the Vienna Game: Stanley Variation, Alekhine Variation, aim to understand the plans and pawn structures, not just memorize the first moves.

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The Vienna Game: Stanley Variation, Alekhine Variation is a chess opening classified under ECO code C27. It is reached after the moves 1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Bc4 Nxe4 4. Qh5 Nd6 5. Bb3 Be7 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. Nxe5: 13 moves in, with Black to play.

It belongs to the Vienna Game family — one of many ways the line can branch. Understanding the parent system’s plans is the fastest way to play this variation well.

Club players rarely lose the Vienna Game: Stanley Variation, Alekhine Variation in the opening itself. They lose it a few moves later, when the plan behind the moves runs out: that is what reading your own games in this line shows you.

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Related openings

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