About this opening
Vienna Game: Paulsen Variation, Mariotti Gambit is an opening in the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings,
classified under code C25. ECO group C (C00–C99)
covers open games (1.e4 e5) and the French Defence, including the Ruy Lopez, Italian, Scotch and King's Gambit. This particular variation is reached
after 10 half-moves from the
starting position, with the move sequence 1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g3 Bc5 4. Bg2 h5 5. Nf3 h4.
It belongs to the Vienna Game family.
Within that family this is a level-2 branch (the Paulsen Variation → Mariotti Gambit line). The immediate parent line is Vienna Game: Paulsen Variation, transitioned via 5…h4.
The opening sequence in prose form: 1.e4 e5, 2.Nc3 Nc6, 3.g3 Bc5, 4.Bg2 h5, 5.Nf3 h4. From this position the encyclopaedia records no further canonical continuations — practical play branches into unnamed transpositions or returns to the parent line for alternative ideas.