Pirc Defense: Austrian Attack
ECO B09 · 1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. f4
The Austrian Attack, 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.f4, is White's most aggressive answer to the Pirc. White puts pawns on d4, e4 and f4 at once, gaining space and preparing e5 to kick the f6 knight. Black responds 4...Bg7 5.Nf3 and then chooses between 5...O-O and the sharper 5...c5.
Plans for White
White plays Bd3, O-O and e5, or keeps the center and launches a kingside attack with Qe1-h4, f5 and Bh6 to trade Black's best bishop. Another plan is Be3, Qd2 and long castling with a pawn storm. The point of the setup is that Black's pieces are short of space if White's center holds.
Plans for Black
Black must strike the center before it rolls forward. Key moves are ...c5 hitting d4, ...e5 when it is safe, and ...Nc6 or ...Na6 with ...Bg4 to remove a defender of d4 and e5. After 5...c5 6.dxc5 Qa5, or 6.Bb5+ Bd7 7.e5 Ng4, the game becomes very sharp at once.
Typical pawn structures
White's e4, d4 and f4 pawns against Black's compact d6 and g6 setup. If White plays e5 and Black takes, the f-file opens for White's rooks; if the center is undermined, Black's g7 bishop rules the long diagonal.
Who it suits
White players who want to punish passive play; Black players who enjoy counterattacking and are well prepared.
Common traps
Black's main danger is the e5 thrust followed by a quick kingside attack while the f6 knight has few good squares. White's danger is overextending: if the center is broken up, the e4 and d4 pawns become targets for Black's bishop and knights.
Variations
- Pirc Defense: Austrian Attack, Unzicker Attack — 1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. f4 Bg7 5. Nf3 O-O 6. e5
- Pirc Defense: Austrian Attack, Ljubojevic Variation — 1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. f4 Bg7 5. Bc4
- Pirc Defense: Austrian Attack, Dragon Formation — 1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. f4 Bg7 5. Nf3 c5
- Pirc Defense: Austrian Attack, Kurajica Variation — 1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. f4 Bg7 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be3
- Pirc Defense: Austrian Attack, Weiss Variation — 1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. f4 Bg7 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Bd3