Vienna Game with 3.g3 questions

1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Nc6(Nf6) 3.g3
I am think of trying this variation out. I know it's supposed to be a solid play for white. Has anyone here played it with success? I would like to know what the basic plans and ideas are for white and what ot look out for.

Thanks!

Originally posted by passedpawn22
1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Nc6(Nf6) 3.g3
I am think of trying this variation out. I know it's supposed to be a solid play for white. Has anyone here played it with success? I would like to know what the basic plans and ideas are for white and what ot look out for.

Thanks!

Funny you mentioned that.
I have been studying this very variation this week. 🙂
Smyslov and Suttles have both played it.
I have an old Solits pamplet titled A Complete Opening System For White With 1. P-K4, and it is his recommendation.
There is also decent coverage of it in Gary Lane's Vienna Game (although I really hate the print out games and call it an opening manual format).

is a main line. One of the main ideas is to play for f4 (although not immediately) and eliminate black's center. White can also play d3 and c4 with a nice grip on the center.

It seems to lead to more strategical (than tactical) maneuvering games.

Spassky has also played the variation.

1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. g3 Bc5 4. Nf3 Nc6 5.
Bg2 d6 6. d3 a6 7. Nd5 Nxd5 8. exd5 Ne7 9. O-O O-O 10. d4 exd4 11. Nxd4 Nf5 12.
Nb3 Bb6 13. Nd2 Qf6 14. Ne4 Qg6 15. Re1 Bd7 16. c4 Rae8 17. b4 Bd4 18. Rb1 h5
19. Bb2 Bxb2 20. Rxb2 h4 21. Rbe2 Re7 22. Nc3 Rfe8 23. Rxe7 Rxe7 24. Ne4 hxg3
25. fxg3 Nh6 26. c5 Ng4 27. Qc1 b6 28. h4 Re8 *

this is the main line i have... doesn't seem that great for white. On the other hand, I know nothing about this opening and I doubt many are gonna be able to play the main line for 28 moves.

That, and i'm sure there are white improvements...i didnt analyze the line. just throwing it out there for you to research.

Missed this thread while on holiday, but I've been playing this Vienna line with 3.g3 for a few years now, and quite successfully on the whole. I've given a game played by the Scottish GM Paul Motwani who came up with quite a few aggressive ideas for White in this opening some years ago.

Motwani,Paul - Van Gigbergen,S [C26]
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