Chessy
Vienna Game: Anderssen Defense with Bc4 – Playing as Black
You've stepped into the Vienna Game as Black, facing 1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Bc5 3.Bc4 Nc6. This is the Anderssen Defense, and already the board is full of tension — both bishops are trained on vulnerable squares, and White has several ways to continue. Statistically, White wins 53.4% of games from here, while Black scores 43.2% (with 3.4% draws). The engine gives +0.26, meaning you stand slightly worse, but this is a fighting position full of practical chances. Your task is to navigate White's most dangerous try — the immediate queen sortie to g4 — and steer the game toward a middlegame where your counterplay matters. Let's see how.
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Create a free account →Why White Attacks with Qg4 Immediately
The most popular move in this position — played over 772,000 times — is Qg4, and it's also what the engine recommends. White targets the g7 pawn and threatens Qxg7, which would win a rook on h8. Black's only realistic response is Kf8, moving the king to safety and protecting the g7 pawn. The engine's best continuation runs Qg4 Kf8 Qd1 Qg5, where White retreats the queen twice in a row. That might look strange, but the idea is to provoke weaknesses and then reposition. Qg4 scores a whopping 62.6% for White — by far the highest win rate of any move in the position. You need to know how to answer it calmly.
The Safer Alternatives: d3 and Nf3
Not every White player will launch the queen at you. d3 (692,929 games) is a solid developing move that scores 50.9% — nearly equal. White strengthens the centre and prepares to develop the kingside normally. Here you can continue with natural moves like d6 or Nf6, building your own position. Nf3 (559,254 games) is actually the only popular move that scores below 50% for White at 46.9% — that's a slight edge for you. After Nf3, the game often transposes into familiar two-knights territory. Both of these options are less threatening than Qg4 and give you more leeway to develop without immediate pressure.
The One Mistake to Punish
If your opponent plays Nge2, you've caught them making an inaccuracy that loses roughly 0.6 pawns of advantage. The engine says White should have played Qg4 instead, and Nge2 drops the evaluation toward equality or better for you. Why is Nge2 bad here? It doesn't challenge anything — the knight on c3 already covers d5 and e4, and the second knight to e2 blocks the bishop on c4's diagonal while doing nothing active. Your natural developing moves like d6, Nf6, or even Qe7 start to give you a very comfortable game. When you see Nge2, know that you've escaped the sharpest lines.
What the Numbers Tell You
Across over 2.5 million games from this exact position, the statistics paint a clear picture. White scores 53.4% overall, but that number varies hugely by the move they choose. Against Qg4 (62.6% for White), you're in the toughest fight. Against Nf3 (46.9% for White), you're actually the favourite. Against d3, a3, Qf3, or Nge2 (all hovering near 50-51%), you're in a balanced scrap. The key takeaway: if White plays Qg4, stay calm with Kf8 and remember that White's queen will probably have to retreat — use those tempos to develop your pieces and complete your kingside setup.
Results across 2,517,406 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| Qg4 | 772,489 | 62.6% |
| d3 | 692,929 | 50.9% |
| Nf3 | 559,254 | 46.9% |
| a3 | 117,210 | 51.4% |
| Qf3 | 115,621 | 48.1% |
| Nge2 | 57,151 | 51.5% |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Vienna Game Anderssen Defense sound for Black?
Yes, it's perfectly playable. The engine evaluates the position at +0.26, which is a tiny edge for White — well within drawing range for a human game. Black scores 43.2% from this position across millions of games, making it a solid practical choice.
What should Black play against Qg4 in the Anderssen Defense?
The only reliable response is Kf8, moving the king to safety while protecting the g7 pawn. After that, the engine shows White often retreats with Qd1 and then Qg5 — a curious queen manoeuvre that gives you time to develop your pieces.
Why is Nge2 a mistake for White here?
Nge2 loses about 0.6 pawns of advantage compared to the best move Qg4. It's too passive — the knight blocks the bishop and does nothing to challenge Black's setup. You can respond with natural developing moves like d6 or Nf6 and get a comfortable position.
What's the best way to play as Black against d3?
d3 is a solid but unambitious move by White. You can reply with d6, Nf6, or even a6 with ideas of ...Ba7 and ...b5. The position becomes a slow manoeuvring game where Black's chances are around 49%, very close to equal.
How many games feature the Vienna Game: Anderssen Defense: Bc4?
Over 3 million Lichess games have reached the Vienna Game: Anderssen Defense: Bc4 position. White wins 53.4%, Black wins 43.2%, with 3.4% draws — based on real rated games.