Vienna Hybrid, Spielmann Attack

The Spielmann Attack arises after 1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. d3, or from the Bishop's Opening by 1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Nf6 3. d3 Bc5 4. Nc3. It differs from the Vienna Hybrid proper because Black has developed the dark-squared bishop instead of the queen's knight. The b8-knight therefore keeps its options open, and ...Nc6 at any point transposes back into the Hybrid. White's king's knight also stays on g1, which leaves f4 available as a lever against e5.

The engine considers the position roughly balanced. The most frequent reply is 4...d6, which reinforces e5 ahead of a possible f4. Next come 4...O-O and 4...h6, the latter keeping White's pieces off g5. Among the engine's preferred moves are 4...c6, which prepares ...d5 and takes advantage of the knight's absence from c6, and 4...a5, which gives the c5-bishop a retreat square on a7 and discourages White from expanding with a3 and b4. Play tends to be maneuvering rather than forcing. In online games White scores slightly better, and draws are rare.