Bit of the old information overload there Mtal - still, what to say about it all? I think Chessy is correct, you would be unlikely to get the Frankenstein Dracula very often, from a practical standpoint it doesnt make sense for most black players to devote the necessary time studying such an obscure line when there are such simple paths to equality. You can play quietly with 1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Bc4 Nc6 4.d3 but then both 4...Na5 and 4...Bb4 are considered to be equalisers for Black. There is simply no set up that guarantees you get your Bc4/d3/f4 in if black plays it correctly. eg. 1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Bc4 Nc6 4.d3 Bb4 5.f4 d5! and Black is better or 1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Nf6 3. d3 Nc6 4. f4 exf4 5. Bxf4 d5 and Black is also not worse.
 
Then there are the lines with 3.f4, as you say the Oxford Variation allows a drawn ending and the classical lines with 5.Nf3 dont lead anywhere, check out the ease with which Keres used to defend this position for Black (and then win the resulting dull middlegames)

I agree with your friends assessment of 3.g3 c6. Remember this position is basically a Ponziani with colours reversed and White having been given the g3 move for free.

I cant comment on the Hamppe Allgaier and those other weird and wonderful lines since Ive never played 2...Nc6 as Black. As to the theoretical standing of the Vienna its the kind of opening that can work at club level for a couple of years but you have to figure theres a very good reason why it's never seen at elite level, it just doesnt lead to any advantage. You dont say how strong you are but surely sooner or later you are going to need a serious opening. There's a very good reason why Kasparov, Anand, Fischer, many other stars all played the Lopez as their main weapon against e4 e5 its the best way to put pressure on Black in the open games. Don't worry about all the theory, your opponents probably wont know it any better than you do.

I was wondering how the Vienna player out there play the opening as white. I am thinking of playing it, but there are so many ways to go.

Ok, against NF6, do you go for the Frankinstein-Dracula (is it me, but all the books I have on it, does not give me a clear plan as white what to do in the main position, like do you take the pawn on b6, make another move, etc.....), play f4 (I was looking at some games on chess base, it seems white best try is the Oxsford, but then there is the line black can play with bb4, then followed by a queen check on h4, and all the pieces come off and it is a end game. The other lines with like nf3, seems like black can play f6 and break up whites center). Then there is g3 (actually I been trying this on the ICC, and I getting decent games, I have no clue why, lol, maybe people do not know how to handle it? I have to study it more. Oh but my friend says c6 is really strong against it). Or, would you maybe play nf3 on move  and transpose to something else.

Then what about nc6. the Pierce gambit (thanks to looking at chess pub) seems to be refuted. Then there is the Hampe Allegarie Gambit (I dont know people, I just dont trust it, well you get a lot of play, but in a slow game, I would be a little scared to sack a piece so early). Now I am now sure, but against nc6, can white also play stuff like bc4, d and f4 (or is that against nf6). Can you play the g stuff (I hear that is not the best cause black can play stuff like h5).

Oh then lets talk about the positions for white that white does go for the set up with bc4, d3, and f4. Ok I think were getting in bishop opening territory here, but it seems like on early moves for black, bb4, c6, or na4 getting you bishop, seems like he is ok.


Well any idears would be great. How the opening is doing theoretically? What you experiences are with it? If it gives you a good game? What lines you do well with and what gives you trouble? Do you feel black handles it well? Do you like to transpose to something else in certain situations (I guess you can go into a 4 knights, Scotch 4 Knights, etc.....)

Thanks.