Chessy
Vienna Game: Anderssen Defense with Nf3 – Your Guide as Black
The Vienna Game often leads to rich, less-trodden paths, and the Anderssen Defense with Nf3 is a perfect example. After 1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Bc5 3.Nf3 d6, you've already developed both knights and your dark-squared bishop, leaving White to figure out where their pieces belong. Stockfish rates the position +0.36, a small edge for White — so you are slightly worse in theory. But the statistics tell a different story: across nearly 1.4 million games, Black wins 47.9% of the time, almost matching White's 48.1%. That tiny engine edge won't help your opponent if they don't know what they're doing. The drill below lets you practise the key ideas and punish White's most common mistakes.
Play the Vienna Game: Anderssen Defense: Nf3 against the engine
Free, no signup — you play black, the engine adapts to your level.
Jump into the interactive drill below to practise the Anderssen Defense as Black. You'll face White's most common moves and learn to punish the inaccuracies — a
Create a free account →Why the Engine Says +0.36 (And Why It Barely Matters)
The computer favours White here by a hair because of that extra central pawn and the potential to target your bishop with Na4. On depth 16, Na4 is the engine's top choice, and after Nf6 Nxc5 dxc5, White gains the bishop pair. But here's what the numbers reveal: in real human games, the difference between White's win rate (48.1%) and Black's (47.9%) is negligible. The engine's +0.36 edge requires precise follow-up that club players often miss. What matters more is whether your opponent chooses a good plan — and many don't. Your position is solid: both knights are active, your bishop eyes the kingside, and you can castle quickly. You're not fighting for equality — you're fighting for a win.
The Engine's Best Reply: Na4 and What to Expect
If White plays the principled Na4, your best response is Nf6, developing with a tempo and challenging the centre. After White takes on c5 with the knight, you recapture with the d-pawn (dxc5), opening the d-file for your rook and giving your light-squared bishop more room. The resulting pawn structure is unbalanced but playable: White has the bishop pair, but you have a solid centre and active piece play. This line is rare in practice — most White players at club level prefer something flashier, which brings us to the mistakes you can exploit.
Three Common White Mistakes — and How to Punish Them
The FACTS list three inaccuracies White often plays here. Knowing them turns your drill into a real weapon: - d3 (loses ~0.5 pawns): White plays too passively, blocking their own bishop. Your plan: keep developing with Nf6, 0-0, and prepare ...Bg4 or ...d5 to strike the centre. - h3 (loses ~0.6 pawns): A pointless pawn move that weakens the kingside. Don't rush — develop naturally with Nf6 and Be6, eyeing the loose pawn on e4. - Bb5+ (loses ~0.6 pawns): This check accomplishes nothing after c6 or Bd7. You can simply block with ...Bd7, and after Bxd7+ Qxd7, you've traded a bad bishop for a good one and solved all your development problems. Each of these moves gives you a clear edge — the drill will help you sense when your opponent has slipped.
What the Popular Moves Tell You About White's Plans
The database shows the most common White move is Bc4 (played in 539,165 games, scoring 47.5% for White — below average). That bishop on c4 looks menacing but often becomes a target after ...Nf6, ...Be6, or ...d5. Next is d4 (296,855 games, 50.9% for White), the most ambitious try. Here you can trade pawns and aim for a quick ...Nf6 or ...f5 to fight for the centre. The less common Be2 (46,278 games, 49.8%) is a modest choice that often leads to a slow manoeuvring game. None of these give White a winning edge, and several (like Bc4 and d3) actually score below 50% for White — meaning you, as Black, already outscore your opponent from this position on average.
Results across 1,379,972 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| Bc4 | 539,165 | 47.5% |
| d4 | 296,855 | 50.9% |
| d3 | 175,733 | 46.8% |
| h3 | 123,542 | 49.5% |
| Bb5+ | 71,640 | 45.1% |
| Be2 | 46,278 | 49.8% |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Vienna Game: Anderssen Defense a good opening for beginners?
Yes. The Anderssen Defense with Nf3 teaches you natural development: both knights out, bishop on a good diagonal, and a solid pawn centre. You don't need to memorise sharp theory — just respond to White's setup sensibly. The win rates (nearly 48% for Black) show it's perfectly playable at all levels.
What is the best move for White after 1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Bc5 3.Nf3 d6?
According to the engine, **Na4** is best, aiming to trade your active dark-squared bishop. After Na4 Nf6 Nxc5 dxc5, White has the bishop pair but you get open lines and a solid centre. Most club players won't find this plan, so you'll often face weaker moves like d3 or h3 instead.
How should Black respond to Bc4 in this position?
Bc4 is the most common move (539,165 games) but scores only 47.5% for White. You can reply with Nf6, threatening the e4 pawn and forcing White to decide whether to defend it. If they play d3, you've already gained a tempo. Plans like ...Be6 or ...d5 can put pressure on White's centre and that exposed bishop.
Why is d3 a mistake for White here?
The engine calls d3 an inaccuracy that loses about half a pawn. It's too passive — White blocks their own queen's bishop and gives up the fight for the centre. After d3, you should develop with Nf6 and 0-0, then look to chip away at White's centre with ...Bg4 or ...d5, seizing the initiative.