Crush The Pirc Defense With The Austrian Attack
The Pirc Defense can be tricky to face. Black sits back, allowing White to take the center, ready to counterstrike as soon as White overextends. If White does not play the opening with energy, Black can get a very comfortable game. Don’t let that happen to you! The Austrian Attack is our recommendation to fight against the Pirc Defense.
The Austrian Attack attempts to accentuate the space advantage that Black willingly cedes. With a quick f4, often followed by e5, Black is placed under immediate pressure. It is the sharpest, most aggressive way for White to meet the Pirc.
By reading this article, you will learn:
- Why the Austrian Attack is a great choice for White against the Pirc.
- Thematic ideas in the opening and early middlegame.
- How to further your education in this aggressive chess opening for White.
Why Play The Austrian Attack?
The Pirc Defense is rather rare at master level. It is unlikely to see the Pirc played in serious classical chess games such as in the World Chess Championship.
Related: How Do World Chess Champions Prepare For Matches?
The reason the Pirc Defense is not highly favored among elite chess grandmasters is because they understand chess fundamentals. They know the importance of controlling the center. They also know the value of taking space. In the Pirc, Black instead plays in a hypermodern fashion, attempting to exert control from the flanks.
The Pirc Defense sees Black begin the game by pushing their pawns ahead just one square rather than two. Meanwhile, White is allowed to establish an “ideal” pawn center with pawns on both d4 and e4. This provides White with a natural space advantage.
Black’s pawn on d6 plays an important role in the Pirc Defense, preventing White from taking even more space in the center with e5.
Related: Click here to learn how to play the Pirc Defense from Black’s perspective.
The defining move of the Austrian Attack is when White now continues with f4. This move allows White to “insist” on playing e5 by providing extra support to this pawn advance.
Following the main line further, we can see why e5 is rather unpleasant for Black.
- Black’s knight on f6 is forced to move to a less desirable square.
- Once the Black knight moves away from f6, the e4 square becomes available for White’s queenside knight to come to.
- Black’s dark-squared bishop on g7 is also inhibited, facing a chain of White pawns on e5 and d4.
In summary, the Austrian Attack asks many questions of Black very early in the game. If Black is inaccurate, White can gain a crushing advantage out of the opening.
Thematic Ideas In The Austrian Attack
Temporary e6 Pawn Sacrifice
One of the great appeals of choosing the Austrian Attack against the Pirc Defense is that it is filled with opportunities for Black to go wrong.
One such example is shown below. With White to move, White decides to capture Bxd7+.
Black must now decide how to recapture on d7.
- …Kxd7 would forfeit castling rights, so can be discounted for positional reasons.
- …Qxd7 is the correct choice for Black.
- However, …Nxd7 is also a very natural move.
Let us see what happens if Black were to recapture …Nxd7. At first, it appears to be a perfectly reasonable choice. It develops the queenside knight from its starting square. Even strong club players could make a move like this. It is not easy to detect the danger.
The problem for Black is that recapturing this way allows White to make a very strong (and thematic) pawn sacrifice: e6!
Black’s knight on d7 and pawn and f7 are both attacked simultaneously.
If Black were to move their knight away, for example with …Ndf6, then White can play exf7+ next, ruining Black’s ability to castle.
But if Black accepts the pawn sacrifice with …fxe6, then White’s intended follow-up is Ng5, with a deadly discovered attack.
Black’s knight on g4 is attacked by the White queen, while the White knight on g4 also threatens Nxe6. Black has no way to prevent both threats.
Black cannot allow Qxg4, as it will result in being down a piece. But after Black saves the knight and White plays Nxe6, Black’s position is already on the verge of being resignable.
The e6 pawn sacrifice is definitely one to watch out for in the Austrian Attack. Correctly used, it can win games on the spot!
When To Capture on c5
If your opponent with the Black pieces is experienced with the Pirc Defense, then they will probably look to play …c5 at some point. This move strikes at the center, generating counterplay for Black.
Part of the skill of playing the Austrian Attack with White is knowing when to initiate the capture on c5 via dxc5, and when to hold the tension in the middle.
In a position such as the one shown above, dxc5 would provide Black with the opportunity to improve their knight from a6 after recapturing …Nxc5. Therefore, it may be better for White to hold the tension.
However, be careful! In the above position Black is threatening to push ahead with …c4, trapping White’s important light-squared bishop. Qe2 is necessary to prevent …c4.
On other occasions, dxc5 can be very strong for White. Take the below position. After White plays dxc5, Black is unable to recapture …dxc5 for tactical reasons. Can you see what would happen if Black did play …dxc5?
In that case, White would have the winning tactic: Qxd8+! After Black recaptures …Kxd8 (forced), White then has Nf7+, forking the Black king and rook on h8, resulting in White gaining a decisive material advantage.
Related: Improve your tactical skills with Everyone’s First Chess Workbook by Peter Giannatos, available from the USCF store.
Countering The Czech Defense
An interesting sub-line within the Pirc Defense is the so-called Czech Defense. This is where Black begins with an early c6 and Qa5, as illustrated in the below position.
By using their queen to pin White’s queenside knight, Black threatens …Nxe4.
Can White still play with Austrian Attack ideas against the Czech Defense? The answer is yes - but it is vital to be aware of the following nuance.
White can move their e-pawn out of danger with the typical Austrian Attack pawn advance: e5. Forced to move, Black’s knight will usually come to e4, again taking advantage of the pinned White knight.
White’s knight on c3 is now attacked twice and it is difficult to add more defenders. For example, Bd2 would allow Black to win the bishop pair with …Nxd2 and leave White weak on the dark squares. White should not allow this.
The important idea that Austrian Attack players must know is that White can often allow …Nxc3 and regain the piece later with a mini-tactic. For instance, if Black were to play …Nxc3 in the below position, then White should not take back the knight with bxc3 immediately. If they did, then White would find themselves down a whole rook after …Qxc3+.
Instead, White should now create a pin of their own, with Bd2!
Black’s knight cannot move away, as their queen would be lost. Therefore, White will be able to capture the Black knight next, restoring material equality.
An idea such as this can be difficult to spot at the board. This is why it is so important to study the Austrian Attack thoroughly before deploying it in your own games!
Getting Started With The Austrian Attack
This article has provided a solid foundation to begin playing the Austrian Attack.
However, this is a rather theoretically-challenging chess opening for White. Therefore, it will serve you well to further your education, beyond this article.
Video Course Recommendation
To learn more about the Austrian Attack, we recommend GM Viktor Bologan’s video training course 1. e4 - How to Tame the Alekhine, Scandinavian and Pirc.
As the title suggests, by purchasing this training course, you will also get to learn about ideas for White against Alekhine’s Defense and the Scandinavian Defense. This makes it a vital resource for the 1. e4 player!
Across 4 hours 30 minutes of expert video instruction, you will learn everything you need to know to play the Austrian Attack like a pro.
It is the only resource you need to start crushing the Pirc Defense. Click here to check it out!
How To Gain Experience In The Austrian Attack
It is also vital to augment your theoretical study with practical experience.
The Pirc Defense is not the most common opening for Black, so it can be hard to get enough games purely by playing online blitz chess.
Therefore, we recommend playing against the computer engine as the best way to gain experience with the Austrian Attack.
Set up the starting position of the Austrian Attack and see what the computer does in reply. This will test how well you have remembered the opening theory you have studied. It will also show you the strongest ways that Black can play against the Austrian Attack.
It is likely you will need to remind yourself of the lines you have studied several times before they fully sink in. Go back to the training course and refresh yourself as needed.
Related: Tips to improve your chess opening study.
Summary: Is The Austrian Attack Right For You?
The Austrian Attack can be a great way of fighting against the Pirc Defense if you:
- Are fine with learning some opening theory. The Austrian Attack contains many critical lines. Your performance will be far better if you take the time to memorize them before sitting down at the board. Knowing the opening inside-out will save time on your clock during your games, and give you the best chance of punishing any inaccuracies from your opponent.
- Like the idea of scoring quick knockout victories. If Black is inaccurate in the Austrian Attack, they can easily find themselves in a dead lost position in fewer than 15 moves. If this appeals to you, then the Austrian Attack is an excellent choice.
- Love sharp, attacking chess. If Black is able to successfully navigate the opening phase of the Austrian Attack, you will reach a rather chaotic middlegame. Even if queens are traded, do not expect a quiet, positional game in the Austrian Attack! Instead, you should embrace the possibility of tough hand-to-hand combat.
Does that sound like a chess opening for White that you would enjoy?