Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...e5/2. Nc3/2...Nf6
| Vienna Game, Falkbeer Defence | |
|---|---|
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a b c d e f g h 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 a b c d e f g h | |
Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation (FEN) | |
| Moves: 1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 | |
Vienna Game, Falkbeer Defence
[edit | edit source]As White, you still have designs on playing f4, but Black with their knight sortie has challenged your control of d5. Should you fight back, or ignore this distraction?
- 3. f4: White has had enough of Black's e-pawn and feels an open f-file would be useful in their later attack. This is a King's Gambit but with Nc3 added so f4 becomes a real threat to the e5 pawn.
- 3. Bc4: White again restrains themselves from the committal f4 and places another piece where it controls d5. With a little co-operation from Black, White may now head towards one of the most terrifying opening positions yet discovered...
Less critical alternatives are:
- 3. a3: the Mengarini Variation, preventing Bb4, but this bishop has at least one other good square.
- 3. d3: Having challenged Black to some old-fashioned fisticuffs, White sadistically transposes to a solid King's Indian Attack.
Theory table
[edit | edit source].
1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6
| 3 | ||
|---|---|---|
| f4 d5 |
= | |
| Four Knights | Nf3 Nc6 |
= see 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nc3 |
| Bc4 Nc6 |
= | |
| Mengarini Variation | a3 - |
= |
| d3 - |
= |
References
[edit | edit source] | Wikipedia has related information at Vienna Game. |
1. e4 ...other: