The Vienna Game

I have been playing the English as white. I am thinking of trying to switch to 1. e4, as the English is complicated, filled with transpositions, and leads to quiet posistions. I think at this stage of my chess life, I am better off playing a simpler, more open opening.

I like the Vienna Game, from what I've read. It scores well, and can be played in a large variety of ways, from positional to extremely aggressive. Also, it has less theory to learn than the Ruy Lopez.

Why is it not more popular? Is there a reason I should play one of the other symetrical openings instead?

Well after e4 e5 Nc3 Nf6, if you don't play f4 it'll transpose into a four knights or something and black can equalize. If you do black has ...d5 in response probably giving him a lsight advantage. It's playable, but black has easily equal play.

Then how does it score so well? The chessbase book I have says it scores 57%, the same as white, but that it has less theory.

If it is so easy to equalize, then how/why does it score so well?

Well... it does not score 57% at least in the correct lines for black when I look at the game explorer. The Vienna is not played as much so there is suprise value and messy positions from the 3 f4 lines. But that does not mean that black can't equalize, he can definitley do that because 3...d5 is a logical counterattack to a flank move and theory even says black is at least equal often at a slight advantage. I wouldn't go by the database so much since there aren't many vienna games. But you're right how it has less theory and not a terrible choice but I would be happy to play against it as it doesn't seem to have enough pressure.

Thanks for the input guys. I was just looking to switch to a 1.e4 opening, and thought that the Vienna may be better for me than the Ruy or the Italian, as it is less known. And, like I said, the book I have claims that it scores identically to the Ruy Lopez, although I do not know when or based on what that claim is made.

Thanks!

I like the 1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6/Nf6 4. g3 lines pretty well so far. Not as balls to the wall attack as the gambit lines, although you can always push to f4 later if the situation merits it.

The Vienna is nice and easy to learn. Its not too common so has a nice level of surprise value and the typical middlegame plans are pretty easy to grasp and are very executable. I've played it for a while with great success both online and OTB. It may be easy for black to equalise but at club level this is a little less relevant in the opening and to come out of an opening equal is far from drawing or losing the game. The plans are so easy to aim for and execute I'd be prepared to accept equality for that kind of clear middlegame.

The only reservation I have with it is that it doesn't seem to respond well to early violence from black though this is probably more my failing than the opening.

All-in-all its a great opening for club players and its really easy and fun to play while posing black enough problems to reach a playable and clear middlegame. Enjoy playing it.

Nimzowitch says f5 at that stage is very bad. By locking the central structure I believe black should play ...Nd4 soon which is supposed to make the f5 plan look silly.