Vienna Game: Paulsen Variation, Mariotti Gambit is a chess opening with the ECO code C25, part of the Vienna Game family. It goes 1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g3 Bc5 4. Bg2 h5 5. Nf3 h4. White opens with 1. e4 (the king's pawn) and Black answers 1... e5. After 10 moves it is White to move. The lesson on the board explains every move of the line and lets you play it yourself; it is free.
The moves
1. e4 – White plays the pawn to e4
1... e5 – Black plays the pawn to e5
2. Nc3 – White plays the knight to c3
2... Nc6 – Black plays the knight to c6
3. g3 – White plays the pawn to g3
3... Bc5 – Black plays the bishop to c5
4. Bg2 – White plays the bishop to g2
4... h5 – Black plays the pawn to h5
5. Nf3 – White plays the knight to f3
5... h4 – Black plays the pawn to h4
About the Vienna Game
After 1.e4 e5, White plays 2.Nc3 instead of Nf3. It keeps the f-pawn free, so White can later play f4 like a King's Gambit.
The Vienna Gambit f4 aims to open the f-file for an attack.
Bc4 with Qh5 or Qf3 tricks targets f7; beginners must watch out.
Black's best answers are ...Nf6 with ...d5, hitting the centre fast.
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