Vienna: 2...Bc5 3.Nf3 - Falkbeer Variation
Vienna: 2...Bc5 3.Nf3
Definition
“Vienna: 2…Bc5 3.Nf3” is a branch of the Vienna Game, which begins 1.e4 e5 2.Nc3. Instead of the more popular 2…Nf6 (the Vienna Gambit lines) or 2…Nc6, Black plays 2…Bc5, placing the bishop on its most active diagonal at once. White replies with 3.Nf3, developing a knight, indirectly challenging the e5-pawn, and steering the game toward classical, open-centre positions. In older sources the line 2…Bc5 is called the Anderssen Defence; the specific sequence 3.Nf3 is sometimes called the Falkbeer Variation of that defence.
Move Order
The critical first moves are:
- 1.e4 e5
- 2.Nc3 Bc5 (Anderssen Defence)
- 3.Nf3 … and play continues
After 3.Nf3, Black has several logical replies: 3…Nc6, 3…d6, 3…Nf6, or even 3…Qe7 aiming for …c6 and …d5. The positions often transpose into Giuoco Piano–style structures, but with White’s knight on c3 instead of b1, giving both sides unique opportunities and problems.
Strategic Ideas
- For White
- Pressure the e5-pawn: 4.Nxe5!? can occasionally work if Black is careless.
- Rapid kingside casting: after 4.Bc4, White threatens d4 to hit the bishop and seize the center.
- Pawn breaks: d4 is thematic; f4 can arise in gambit-style play if Black delays …d6.
- For Black
- Maintain the strong bishop on c5; it eyes f2 and discourages d4.
- Counter-attack the center with …d6 and …f5 or with …Nf6 and …d5 if the moment is right.
- Avoid being lured into inferior Gambit lines (e.g., 4.Nxe5 Qe7!) by precise calculation.
Historical Background
The Vienna Game gained popularity in the late 19th century as an alternative to the Ruy Lopez. Adolf Anderssen (1818–1879) championed 2…Bc5 as Black, favoring quick piece activity over the symmetrical 2…Nc6. Ernst Falkbeer (1819–1885), best known for the Falkbeer Counter-Gambit to the King’s Gambit, preferred the solid 3.Nf3 for White, hence the name Falkbeer Variation. Although eclipsed by more forcing openings in modern grand-master practice, the line still appears in classical time-controls and is a favorite surprise weapon in rapid and blitz.
Illustrative Game
Tarrasch – Schlechter, Vienna 1898 shows typical themes:
White’s early 4.d4 break and development lead to a central confrontation. Note how Black’s c5-bishop influenced play for many moves, but also became a potential target once the center opened.
Typical Tactical Motifs
- Fork on e5: If Black plays …Nc6 too early and neglects …d6, the trick Nxe5! Nxe5 d4! can recover the piece with a better center.
- Bishop Sacrifice on f7: With Bc4 following Nf3, the classic Bxf7+ tactic is sometimes available, especially if Black’s king remains in the center.
- Pinned Knight on f6: After Bc4 and Bg5, White may pin an …Nf6 knight, preparing Nd5 ideas.
Modern Usage
While not frequent at elite level, 2…Bc5 3.Nf3 is a staple in club play. Grandmasters such as Nigel Short and Alexander Morozevich have revisited the line in rapid events, valuing its freshness and the chance to reach original positions quickly.
Interesting Facts & Anecdotes
- Adolf Anderssen allegedly preferred 2…Bc5 because it “put the bishop where it belongs before asking permission,” reflecting Romantic-era aggression.
- The line occasionally transposes to a reversed Sicilian: after 4.Bc4 Nc6 5.d3 Nf6 6.0-0 d6, the pawn structure mirrors the Closed Sicilian with colors reversed.
- In some online databases, this variation is mislabeled as a “Bishop’s Opening” due to the early Bc5, so double-check the ECO code (C25).