C28 Vienna Game: Stanley Variation, Three Knights Variation
Also filed here: Bishop’s Opening.
C28 holds three named lines from two openings, most of them (two) under Vienna Game. It leaves C25 (Vienna Game: Max Lange Defense) with 3.Bc4 Nf6. Lines filed under C30 reach one of its named positions by a different move order. That final move, by the knight, opens a line for the rook on h8.
| # | White | Black |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | e4 | e5 |
| 2 | Nc3 | Nc6 |
| 3 | Bc4 | Nf6 |
Moves only C28 plays
Same as C25 up to 2.Nc3, then:
- 2...Nc6 The knight leaves b8 for c6, opening a line for the rook on a8, guarding the pawn on e5.
- 3.Bc4 The bishop leaves f1 for c4.
- 3...Nf6 The knight leaves g8 for f6, opening a line for the rook on h8.
Lines filed under C28
All three share their first six plies, the whole reference line and then split two ways at White’s move 4.
| Name | After the shared start | Plies | At the end |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vienna Game: Stanley Variation, Three Knights Variation | (the shared start itself) | 6 | |
| Bishop’s Opening: Vienna Hybrid, Hromádka Variation | 4.d3 Bb4 5.Ne2 | 9 | |
| Vienna Game: Stanley Variation, Bronstein Gambit | 4.f4 Nxe4 5.Nf3 | 9 | Black +1 |
Bishop’s Opening: Vienna Hybrid, Hromádka Variation
- 4.d3 The d-pawn advances to d3, covering c4 and e4, opening a line for the bishop on c1 and the queen on d1.
- 4...Bb4 The bishop leaves f8 for b4, opening a line for the rook on h8, attacking the knight on c3, pinning the knight on c3 to its king.
- 5.Ne2 The knight leaves g1 for e2, opening a line for the rook on h1.
Vienna Game: Stanley Variation, Bronstein Gambit
- 4.f4 The f-pawn advances two squares to f4, covering e5 and g5.
- 4...Nxe4 The knight on f6 takes the pawn on e4, opening a line for the queen on d8, attacking the knight on c3.
- 5.Nf3 The knight leaves g1 for f3, opening a line for the rook on h1.
The road to C28
- 1.e4 … 1...e5two earlier stops: B00, C20
- 2.Nc3C25 Vienna Game
- 2...Nc6C25 Max Lange Defense
- 3...Nf6C28
The position after 3...Nf6
White has brought out the knight on c3 and bishop on c4; Black the knight on c6 and knight on f6. White could capture with Bxf7+. White is to move and has 36 legal moves.
Closest boards in other codes
| Code | Line | Differs on |
|---|---|---|
| C24 | Bishop’s Opening: Berlin Defense | four squares: b1, c3, c6, b8 |
| C26 | Vienna Game: Falkbeer Variation | four squares: f1, c4, c6, b8 |
| C27 | Vienna Game: Frankenstein-Dracula Variation | four squares: e4, c6, f6, b8 |
| C47 | Four Knights Game | four squares: f1, g1, f3, c4 |
| C48 | Four Knights Game: Spanish Variation | four squares: g1, f3, c4, b5 |
| C55 | Italian Game: Two Knights Defense | four squares: b1, g1, c3, f3 |
| C57 | Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Knight Attack | four squares: b1, g1, c3, g5 |
Where lines continue from here
One named line filed under other codes passes through the position after 3...Nf6. It belongs to C30.
Other move orders
- Vienna Game: Stanley Variation, Three Knights Variation is also reached inside C30 King’s Gambit Declined: Classical, Svenonius Variation, whose order is 1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6.