Queens Pawn Opening: BDG Vienna Variation
Queen’s Pawn Opening: Blackmar–Diemer, Vienna Variation
Definition
The Queen’s Pawn Opening: Blackmar–Diemer, Vienna Variation is a sharp gambit line that begins with the moves 1. d4 d5 2. e4 dxe4 3. Nc3 Nf6. By playing 2. e4 White turns the quiet Queen’s-Pawn setup into an immediate pawn sacrifice, hoping to seize the initiative. The name “Blackmar–Diemer” honours the 19th-century American player Armand Blackmar, who employed 1. d4 d5 2. e4 first, and the German enthusiast Emil Josef Diemer, who popularised and analysed the modern treatment beginning in the 1940s. The sub-label “Vienna Variation” (sometimes called the “Vienna Defence”) refers specifically to Black’s reply 3…Nf6, first analysed in depth by Viennese masters around the turn of the 20th century.
Typical Move Order
The main accepted line continues:
- 1. d4 d5
- 2. e4 dxe4
- 3. Nc3 Nf6
- 4. f3 exf3
- 5. Nxf3
After 5. Nxf3, play branches into several defensive schemes for Black:
- 5…g6 – the Fianchetto or Bogoljubow setup
- 5…c6 – the solid Ziegler or Lemberger idea, restraining Nd5 and controlling the centre
- 5…e6 – the Euwe Defence, aiming for fast development and a later c7–c5 break
- 5…Bf5 / 5…Bg4 – classical piece-development lines putting pressure on d4 and f3
Strategic Themes
White’s aims:
- Rapid development: Knights on c3 & f3, bishop to c4 or d3, and castles kingside within the next couple of moves.
- Initiative and attack: Typical plans involve Ne5, Qe2, 0-0-0, and launching the f- or h-pawn to open lines against Black’s king.
- Central control: Although a pawn down, White often enjoys a visible space advantage with pawns on d4 and e4 (if recaptured) or strong pieces around e5/d5 squares.
Black’s objectives:
- Consolidate the extra pawn by careful piece placement and timely pawn breaks (…c6–c5 or …e7-e5).
- Exchange pieces to reduce attacking potential.
- Exploit the half-open e-file and weaknesses on e4/f3 that can arise if White over-extends.
Historical Significance
• Armand Blackmar (Baltimore, 1880s) first tried 1. d4 d5 2. e4 in serious play.
• Emil Josef Diemer revived the gambit in the 1940s, writing a celebrated series of articles in Deutsche Schachzeitung and
scoring sparkling wins in post-war German events.
• The label “Vienna Variation” stems from analysis appearing in the
Theorie des Schachspiels (Vienna, 1898). Viennese master Hans Müller later contributed many analytical notes.
• Although never fully accepted at top grand-master level, the line has an enthusiastic cult following in club and online rapid play
where surprise value and tactical complexity score well.
Illustrative Miniature
One of the classic attacking games is Diemer – Schnitzler, Bad Boll 1951 (shortened for clarity):
The sacrificial motif 16. g4!! destabilises Black’s kingside; after several blows White’s minor pieces coordinate for a decisive assault ending in a picturesque mate on the open board.
Practical Usage
The gambit is especially popular in:
- Blitz and rapid chess – where tactical complications and clock pressure amplify its effectiveness.
- Club level tournaments – offering surprise value against opponents unfamiliar with the theory.
- Correspondence / engine-assisted analysis – opening laboratories have refined many sidelines, making it a fertile field for creative preparation.
Famous Advocates
- Emil Josef Diemer – the line’s modern namesake and most passionate promoter.
- IM Christoph Scheerer – author of the book The Blackmar–Diemer Gambit.
- GM Hikaru Nakamura – has experimented with the gambit in online bullet, showcasing its practical sting.
Interesting Facts & Anecdotes
- When Diemer presented the gambit in a simultaneous exhibition in 1953, he reputedly declared, “Play the BDG and win magnificently or lose tragically — but never draw!”
- The ECO code for the Vienna Variation is D00, shared with other offbeat Queen’s-Pawn systems, emphasising its status outside mainstream 1. d4 theory.
- Because Black’s third move 3…Nf6 transposes to many other queen-pawn setups, unwary opponents may stumble into the gambit almost by accident.
- Statistical databases show that in games under 5 minutes per side White’s score in the Vienna Variation exceeds 55 %, illustrating its practical punch despite objective doubts.
- Fans of the line often greet one another with the playful slogan “May the f-pawn be with you!” — a nod to the signature thrust 4. f3.
Further Exploration
Players who enjoy the BDG Vienna Variation might also investigate:
- The Albin Counter-Gambit (1. d4 d5 2. c4 e5) for a similarly combative spirit with Black.
- The Hallowe’en Gambit in the Four Knights for another example of sacrificing material for activity.
- Modern engine-tested antidotes like the Ziegler (5…c6) to appreciate Black’s defensive resources.