Chessy
Vienna Game: Stanley Variation, Reversed Spanish
After 1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Bc4 Bb4, White gets a lively position and it is your job as Black to answer accurately. The good news is that the opening is not crashing through for either side: the position is level, so your goal is simple — play principled moves, meet White’s most common plans, and avoid drifting into an inferior structure. The drill below lets you practise the critical decision for Black and learn what to do when White chooses the most popular continuations.
Play the Vienna Game: Stanley Variation, Reversed Spanish against the engine
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Create a free account →What Black is fighting for here
This opening is balanced, but it is not passive. Stockfish rates the position +0.21, a small edge for White. That means you are only slightly worse, so accuracy matters more than memorising tricks. Your main job is to stay active, keep your pieces coordinated, and answer White’s central and piece-based ideas without conceding anything easy. In practical terms, you want a sensible developing move that keeps the position under control and does not allow White to build a free initiative.
The engine’s main answer
The engine’s best move is Nd5, and that move has a clear follow-up idea built into it: Nd5 Nxd5 Bxd5 c6. This is the move to study first in the drill because it shows the most direct way to challenge White’s setup. Even though the evaluation is close to equal, the best continuation is active and concrete, so you should be ready to meet White’s bishop and knight ideas with calm, accurate play.
What the database says White will try
Across 1,417,364 games at this exact position, White most often chooses d3, Nf3, Nge2, a3, Nd5, or Qf3. That tells you two useful things: White has several natural developing options, and you should expect a position where piece placement matters more than sharp tactics. The most common continuation is d3, so it is worth knowing that White often plays for a solid setup rather than a direct fight.
The one listed mistake to know
The main mistake listed here is d3, which is called an inaccuracy and loses about 0.6 pawns. The better move is Nd5. That is a very useful practical warning for your drill: if White chooses the quieter d3 plan, you should know that the position is already giving you a better chance to take the initiative by meeting it with accurate piece play.
How the position usually feels for Black
This is a good opening for players who like clear development and a steady middlegame fight rather than wild complications. The game is still very much in balance, and the database numbers reflect that: White wins 51.0%, draws 4.0%, and Black wins 45.0%. Those figures do not mean you are lost — they show that small mistakes can matter, and that active defence and good piece coordination will keep you in the game.
Results across 1,417,364 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| d3 | 499,745 | 51.4% |
| Nf3 | 267,872 | 50.6% |
| Nge2 | 180,653 | 54.5% |
| a3 | 149,133 | 47.5% |
| Nd5 | 128,186 | 52.3% |
| Qf3 | 84,247 | 50.4% |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Vienna Game: Stanley Variation, Reversed Spanish good for Black?
It is playable and balanced, not a desperate defence. The engine gives +0.21, a small edge for White, but the page verdict is that the position is dead level and neither side is better out of the opening.
What is Black’s best move in this position?
The engine’s best move is Nd5. The main continuation given is Nd5 Nxd5 Bxd5 c6, so that is the line to learn first in the drill.
What should I expect White to play most often?
The most-played continuation is d3, followed by Nf3, Nge2, a3, Nd5, and Qf3. White usually keeps the game flexible and develops pieces naturally.
Is d3 a good move for White here?
It is listed as an inaccuracy, and it loses about 0.6 pawns. The better move is Nd5, so if White chooses d3, you have a good chance to meet it with accurate play.
How many games feature the Vienna Game: Stanley Variation, Reversed Spanish?
Over 1 million Lichess games have reached the Vienna Game: Stanley Variation, Reversed Spanish position. White wins 51.0%, Black wins 45.0%, with 4.0% draws — based on real rated games.