Vienna Game: Paulsen Variation (5. Nge2 d5)
1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g3 Nf6 4. Bg2 Bc5 5. Nge2 d5
The Vienna Game: Paulsen Variation is a chess opening classified as ECO C25, reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g3 Nf6 4. Bg2 Bc5 5. Nge2 d5. It is a line of the Vienna Game. White is to move.
In 12.6 million rated Lichess games (blitz and slower), this position was reached 1 times by this move order. White won 100%, 0% were drawn and Black won 0%. The most popular continuation is 6. Nxd5 (100% of games).
Engine evaluation: +0.66 (Stockfish, depth 30; best line 6. exd5 Nd4 7. h3 O-O 8. d3 c6)
- ECO
- C25
- Moves
- 10 plies
- FEN
r1bqk2r/ppp2ppp/2n2n2/2bpp3/4P3/2N3P1/PPPPNPBP/R1BQK2R w KQkq - 0 6- PGN
1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g3 Nf6 4. Bg2 Bc5 5. Nge2 d5
Analyse with Stockfish · Board image (SVG) · Open on Lichess
Results by rating
| Average rating | Games | White / draw / Black |
|---|---|---|
| 0-1499 | 1 | |
| All | 1 |
Most played moves
| Move | Games | White / draw / Black |
|---|---|---|
| 6. Nxd5 | 1 (100%) |
Highest-rated Lichess games
- dzekanaa (1337) – omarsedeek (1348) 1-0 · 2026-09-05 · 180 + 2s
Comes from
Vienna Game: Paulsen Variation (2… Nc6 3. g3) 1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g3
More Vienna Game lines (all)
- Vienna Game C25
- Vienna Game: Anderssen Defense C25
- Vienna Game: Fyfe Gambit C25
- Vienna Game: Giraffe Attack C25
- Vienna Game: Hamppe-Meitner Variation C25
- Vienna Game: Hamppe-Muzio Gambit C25
- Vienna Game: Hamppe-Muzio, Dubois Variation C25
- Vienna Game: Max Lange Defense C25
- Vienna Game: Omaha Gambit C25
- Vienna Game: Paulsen Variation, Mariotti Gambit C25
- Vienna Game: Philidor Countergambit C25
- Vienna Game: Pierce Gambit, Rushmere Attack C25
Opening names and moves from the Lichess openings dataset; statistics from the Lichess open database, 2026-09 (CC0), sample of 12.6 million games, bots excluded; evaluations from Lichess cloud analysis (all CC0). Master games from The Week in Chess #920–#1664 by Mark Crowther, used with permission.