Theoria
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Vienna Game

Giraffe Attack

C25aggressiveoffbeat

  1. 1.e4e5
  2. 2.Nc3Bc5
  3. 3.Qg4
576 games55%44%

A queen sortie against the Vienna Game's Anderssen Defense aiming at g7; dubious, since 3...Nf6 gains time and leaves Black slightly better.

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About the Giraffe Attack

The Giraffe Attack, 3. Qg4, answers the Anderssen Defense by hitting g7, which Black left unguarded by developing the bishop before the king's knight. The threat is illusory. 3...Nf6 gains time on the queen, and 4. Qxg7 Rg8 5. Qh6 Bxf2+ 6. Kxf2 Ng4+ wins the queen. The engine slightly prefers Black, though 3...Qf6 is the most common reply in practice. Eric Schiller coined the name because the queen sticks her neck out.

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