Frankenstein-Dracula Variation

The Frankenstein-Dracula Variation arises when Black meets the Stanley Variation, 3. Bc4, by taking on e4 at once and relying on ...d5 to gain time against the bishop. It can also arise from the Bishop's Opening via 2. Bc4 Nf6 3. Nc3 Nxe4. Tim Harding named it in his 1976 book on the Vienna Game, as a nod to how bloodthirsty the play can become. Simply regaining the pawn does not work: after 4. Nxe4 d5 5. Bxd5 Qxd5 the knight on e4 is tied to the defense of g2. In practice, White's 3. Bc4 therefore functions as a gambit. The critical try is 4. Qh5, and the main line 4...Nd6 5. Bb3 Nc6 6. Nb5 g6 7. Qf3 f5 8. Qd5 Qe7 9. Nxc7+ Kd8 10. Nxa8 b6 sees Black give up the exchange to trap the knight in the corner.

At lower levels 4. Bxf7+ Kxf7 5. Nxe4 d5 6. Qh5+ Kg8 is common, but Black's broad center outweighs the exposed king. With accurate play the engine considers the position roughly balanced. The line is rare at the top, though John Nunn, Vasyl Ivanchuk, Hikaru Nakamura and Daniil Dubov have used it.