ECO code: C25
Vienna Game: 2...Bb4
After the moves 1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Bb4, Black chooses to develop the bishop to b4, pinning White's knight on c3. This move is less common than the classical 2...Nf6, but it aims to put immediate pressure on White's center and knight, potentially disrupting White's natural development.
Characteristic: The key idea behind 2...Bb4 is the pin on the knight, which indirectly challenges White's control of the center and can lead to doubled pawns if White is careless.
Attacking or Defensive: For Black, this is a somewhat aggressive and proactive move, aiming to unsettle White's setup early. As White, you should respond actively to maintain central control and development.
Center Control: This opening indirectly contests the center by targeting the knight that supports e4 and d5 squares. Black is not placing a pawn in the center yet but is preparing to challenge White's dominance there.
This opening is defined by the position shown on the board below. The moves displayed are a typical sequence that leads to it, but different sequences can reach the same position and still carry the same opening name.
Practice puzzles and train your tactics with real positions from games that used the Vienna: 2...Bb4, and sharpen your opening mastery.
Puzzle 1 of 21 - Move #4 black