Chessy
The Vienna Game Anderssen Defense: f4 – Playing as Black
If you face 1.e4 e5 2.Nc3, White is often aiming for a quick f4 kingside attack. The Anderssen Defense meets that head-on with 2...Bc5, and after 3.f4 you play 3...d6. This page is for you as Black. The engine calls this position dead level at −0.19 — a tiny plus for White, meaning you are completely fine. Out of nearly 100,000 online games, Black actually wins 47.6% of the time, almost matching White's 49.2%. The drill below lets you test your responses against the most popular White moves, including the two common mistakes you can punish.
Play the Vienna Game: Anderssen Defense: f4 against the engine
Free, no signup — you play black, the engine adapts to your level.
Jump into the interactive drill below and practise meeting Nf3, Bc4, and Na4 from Black's side. Create a free account to track your progress and master the full
Create a free account →What You Are Fighting For
The Anderssen Defense (2...Bc5) says: I'm not afraid of your f-pawn advance. By playing 3...d6, you reinforce the e5-pawn and keep your bishop on c5 active. White's dream is to blast open the f-file with fxe5 and later land a rook on f7 or line up a queen-and-bishop battery on the b1–h7 diagonal. Your job is to prevent that plan from gaining momentum. The engine's verdict of dead level confirms that if you know how to respond, White gets nothing for free. You are aiming for a solid centre, quick development (...Nf6, ...Nc6, ...Be6 or ...Bg4), and a comfortable middlegame where your dark-squared bishop remains a real piece.
The Engine's Best Answer for White
In the position after 1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Bc5 3.f4 d6, Stockfish recommends Nf3 as White's strongest move — and it's by far the most popular choice, played in over 79,000 games. From Nf3, a typical continuation is Nf3 Nf6 Bc4 Nc6. White scores 50.2% from here, so it's a tough but balanced test. Against Nf3 you simply continue developing: bring out your knights, castle quickly, and be ready to meet fxe5 with ...dxe5, opening the centre on your terms. The symmetrical structure that follows rewards the player who finishes development first.
Two Mistakes to Exploit
The statistics show that White sometimes strays from the best path — and you can take advantage. Bc4 is played in about 3,400 games but it's a clear mistake, losing roughly one pawn in engine evaluation. White should have played Nf3 instead. After Bc4, you can strike back in the centre immediately. Na4 (played 762 times) is an inaccuracy worth about 0.7 pawns — White tries to chase your bishop but neglects development. In both cases, your task is the same: don't panic, improve your position, and look for central or tactical answers. The drill will let you practice meeting these suboptimal moves effectively.
What the Statistics Reveal
The data from over 98,000 games tells a clear story. White's best try, Nf3, still only scores 50.2% — barely above a coin flip. The less common tries actually backfire: White scores only 43.9% with fxe5 (8,797 games), 43.1% with d3 (1,886 games), and 47.2% with Bc4 (3,383 games). In other words, every White deviation from Nf3 makes life easier for you. If White plays f5 (2,168 games, 47.8% for White), you get a closed position where your bishop on c5 can become a monster. The key takeaway: stay principled, and the Anderssen Defense will serve you well.
Results across 98,018 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| Nf3 | 79,519 | 50.2% |
| fxe5 | 8,797 | 43.9% |
| Bc4 | 3,383 | 47.2% |
| f5 | 2,168 | 47.8% |
| d3 | 1,886 | 43.1% |
| Na4 | 762 | 48.0% |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Vienna Game Anderssen Defense with 3...d6 sound for Black?
Yes. The engine rates the position at −0.19 — a tiny edge for White that is essentially dead level. Black scores 47.6% in practice, almost matching White's 49.2%. With correct play you get a fully equal middlegame.
How should Black respond to White's most common move, Nf3?
Continue developing naturally: Nf6, then Nc6, and castle kingside. Be ready to meet fxe5 with ...dxe5, opening the centre. White only scores 50.2% from this line, so you are in no danger.
Is Bc4 a good move for White in this position?
No, Bc4 is a mistake that loses roughly one pawn in evaluation. White should have played Nf3 instead. If your opponent plays Bc4, look for an immediate central reaction — the engine strongly prefers Nf3.
How does the f5 advance affect Black's plan?
White's f5 (played in about 2,200 games) closes the kingside and scores only 47.8% for White. Your dark-squared bishop on c5 gains long-term value, and Black can look to break in the centre with ...d5 or prepare ...g6 and ...f6 to challenge White's pawn chain.
What is Stockfish's evaluation of the Vienna Game: Anderssen Defense: f4?
At depth 16, Stockfish rates the Vienna Game: Anderssen Defense: f4 as a balanced position (-0.19) from White's perspective. This is the computer's assessment of the position after the main opening moves.