Chess opening · ECO C27
Vienna Game: Frankenstein-Dracula Variation
With 3...Nxe4, Black takes White's center pawn while the bishop on c4 is still staring at f7. White can answer with 4.Qh5, which threatens mate on f7 and the e5 pawn at the same time. The play that follows is forcing: Black ends up giving a rook for a knight and gets a big center and quick development for it.
- Rank by weighted share
- #157 of 159
- Material
- Black +1
Key moves
1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Bc4 Nxe4
- 3. Bc4The bishop goes to c4 and points at f7, the square only Black's king protects. Only the c3 knight guards the e4 pawn, which is what tempts Black into the capture.
- 3... Nxe4Black grabs the pawn with the knight. If White recaptures with 4.Nxe4, the reply 4...d5 forks the bishop on c4 and the knight on e4, and Black gets the piece back with a free center.
What 4.Qh5 threatens
From h5 the queen eyes f7 along the h5-e8 diagonal and also hits the e5 pawn. Since the c4 bishop also hits f7, Qxf7 would be mate. Black's usual answer is 4...Nd6, a knight move that guards f7 and attacks the bishop at once.
After 5.Bb3 Nc6 6.Nb5 g6 7.Qf3 f5 8.Qd5 Qe7, White keeps creating mate threats on f7 while Black blocks them one by one. Then 9.Nxc7+ Kd8 10.Nxa8 b6 brings the main line to its odd climax.
The knight stuck on a8
White has taken a whole rook, but the knight on a8 has only b6 and c7 to go to. The b6 pawn is guarded by a7, and with the b7 pawn gone, ...Bb7 brings another attacker onto a8. Black usually rounds up the knight later and plays on an exchange down, with central pawns and a lead in development in return.
The quieter 4.Bxf7+
White can also cash in at once with 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe4. Material is level again, but Black's king has lost the right to castle. In return Black plays 5...d5, hitting the knight and building a pawn duo on d5 and e5 with both bishops still at home.
From Qh5 to the trapped knight
4. Qh5 Nd6 5. Bb3 Nc6 6. Nb5 g6 7. Qf3 f5 8. Qd5 Qe7 9. Nxc7+ Kd8 10. Nxa8 b6
White keeps making threats against f7, and Black blocks each one while gaining space with ...g6 and ...f5. The line ends with a white knight on a8 that has no safe way out and a black king that has left e8.
Top replies by rating
| Rating | Top | Second | Third |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1400–1599 | Nxe4 67% | Bxf7+ 33% | – |
| 1600–1799 | Bxf7+ 61% | Nxe4 31% | Qh5 8% |
| 1800–1999 | Bxf7+ 64% | Qh5 22% | Nxe4 14% |
| 2000 and up | Qh5 60% | Bxf7+ 40% | – |
Related openings
Try it on the board. The first coached game and three analyses are free.