Chess Openings

Pirc Defense: Austrian Attack

ECO B09 · Pirc Defense · aggressive · advanced

The Pirc Defense: Austrian Attack (B09) is a aggressive chess opening in the Pirc Defense family, played by Black. It arises after the moves 1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. f4 Bg7 5. Nf3 O-O. Aggressive f4 push. Very sharp positions. Recommended for advanced players.

Moves: 1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. f4 Bg7 5. Nf3 O-O

About this opening

The Austrian Attack (4.f4) is the most aggressive answer to the Pirc: White builds a broad e4-d4-f4 center and prepares a pawn advance and a direct attack on the black king, often with e5 and Qd2-h6. Black hits back with ...c5 or ...e5 to break this center before it rolls forward. Very sharp, this variation rewards initiative and precise calculation of the breaks.

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