Vienna: 2...Bc5 3.Bc4
Vienna Game: 1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Bc5 3.Bc4 (Anderssen / Staunton Variation, ECO C25)
Definition
The sequence 1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Bc5 3.Bc4 is a branch of the Vienna Game in which Black develops the bishop early to c5 instead of the more common 2…Nf6. White replies with 3.Bc4, mirroring Black’s setup and entering a position often classified as the Anderssen Variation (or, in older literature, part of Staunton’s Defence to the Vienna). The line fuses ideas from the Bishop’s Opening and the Italian Game with typical Vienna move-order tricks.
Typical Move Order
1. e4 e5
2. Nc3 Bc5 (Black keeps the f-knight in reserve and eyes the f2-square)
3. Bc4 (White counters on the same long diagonal and keeps options flexible)
Strategic Themes
- Race to f7/f2: Both bishops point toward the enemy king position, so tactical shots on f7 or f2 often appear as early as move 4 or 5.
- Transpositional Weapon: Depending on where the kingside knights develop (Nf3, …Nf6, …Ne7, f4, …f5, etc.), the game can transpose into the Italian Game, Bishop’s Opening, or even the Vienna Gambit declined.
- Central Tension: Because neither side has committed a knight to f3/f6, the pawn structure in the center is still fluid. White can choose f4 (gambit), d3 followed by Nf3, or even g3 setups; Black may reply …d6, …Nc6, or break immediately with …c6 and …d5.
- Initiative vs. Solidity: White’s extra tempo gives chances for an early f-pawn thrust, but if mishandled Black’s harmonious piece placement can neutralize the pressure and seize the initiative.
Common Continuations
- 3…Nf6 4.d3 (quiet) or 4.f4 (Vienna Gambit style)
- 3…Qh4 attempting an early queen raid: 4.g3 Qf6 5.Nf3, or the sharper 4.Qe2 Bxf2+ 5.Qxf2 Qxf2+ 6.Kxf2.
- 3…Nc6 4.d3 d6 – transposes to a Giuoco Pianissimo structure.
- 3…d6 4.Nf3 Nf6 5.d3 – a slow maneuvering game akin to the Hungarian Defence.
Historical Significance
The line bears Adolf Anderssen’s name because of his repeated use of 3.Bc4 in mid-19th-century brilliancies, notably against Max Lange in Breslau, 1859. Howard Staunton recommended Black’s 2…Bc5 in his influential “Chess-Player’s Companion” (1849), giving the entire branch its older English label “Staunton’s Defence.” The opening later lost popularity to 2…Nf6 lines, but it resurfaced occasionally in correspondence chess and in surprise weapons at the club level.
Illustrative Mini-Game
Anderssen – Lange, Breslau 1859 (shortened for clarity):
Anderssen’s fearless king walk illustrates the double-edged nature of the early queen excursion 3…Qh4. Even when Black wins material, coordination problems and the exposed queen can give White attacking chances.
Modern Assessment
Modern engines give White a small, stable edge (≈ +0.25) after 3.Bc4, mainly due to the extra tempo and the latent threat of f4. Practical results at master level are scarce, but database statistics hover around 55 % for White. Because most opponents expect 3.f4 or 3.Nf3, the line remains an attractive surprise choice.
Interesting Facts & Trivia
- The move order can catch players aiming for a Bishop’s Opening: after 1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Black often replies 2…Nf6; here White “reverses” the colors of the bishops and retains the extra knight development.
- Grandmaster Igor Glek briefly revived 3.Bc4 in the 1990s as part of his eclectic opening repertoire known as the “Glek System.”
- ECO code C25 also covers 3.f4 (Vienna Gambit) and 3.g3 lines; 3.Bc4 is therefore one of the least explored subdivisions of the code.
- Because both bishops glare at the same diagonal, puzzles featuring Bxf7+ or Bxf2+ sacrifices often arise from this exact position, making it a favorite in tactics books.