{{Infobox chess opening |openingname = Austrian Defense |image = {{Chess diagram|| |rd|nd|bd|qd|kd|bd|nd|rd |pd|pd| | |pd|pd|pd|pd | | | | | | | | | | |pd|pd| | | | | | |pl|pl| | | | | | | | | | | | |pl|pl| | |pl|pl|pl|pl |rl|nl|bl|ql|kl|bl|nl|rl }} |moves =1.d4 d5 2.c4 c5 |ECO =D06 |birth =1604, Alessandro Salvio |nameorigin = Austria |parentopening = Queen's Gambit |AKA = Symmetrical Defense }}
The '''Austrian Defense''' is a chess opening that begins with the moves: :1. d4 d5 :2. c4 c5
The Austrian Defense is an uncommon variation of the Queen's Gambit, and is also referred to as the '''Symmetrical Defense''' to the Queen's Gambit. Black poses the question of whether equalizing is possible by simply copying White's moves. Most opening theoreticians believe that White should gain the advantage and at best Black is playing for a draw.<ref>{{citation | last=Korn | first=Walter | author-link=Walter Korn | title=Modern Chess Openings | edition=Twelfth | publisher=David McKay | year=1982 | isbn=0-679-13500-6 | chapter=Queen's Gambit Declined | page=266}}</ref>
The opening was first described in print by Alessandro Salvio in 1604. The name arose because it was studied by Austrian chess players including Hans Haberditz (c. 1901–57), Hans Müller (1896–1971), and GM Ernst Grünfeld.<ref>{{citation | last1=Hooper | first1=David | author1-link=David Vincent Hooper | last2=Whyld |first2=Kenneth | author2-link=Kenneth Whyld | title=The Oxford Companion to Chess | publisher=Oxford University | year=1996 | isbn=0-19-280049-3 | chapter=Austrian Defence}}</ref>
Grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura employed the unusual opening a few times in 2023 and 2024. With the opening, he drew former world champion Magnus Carlsen in the Champions Chess Tour 2023 finals and beat reigning world champion Ding Liren in Norway Chess 2024.<ref>{{cite web |author=Anthony Levin |title=Carlsen Beats World Numbers 2 And 3 Back To Back|url=https://www.chess.com/news/view/2023-champions-chess-tour-finals-rr-day-2|website=Chess.com |date=11 December 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=Colin McGourty|title=Nakamura Crosses 2800, World No. 2 As Carlsen, Praggnanandhaa Also Win|url=https://www.chess.com/news/view/2024-norway-chess-round-5|website=Chess.com |date=1 June 2024}}</ref> He employed a similar opening in the Candidates Tournament 2024, beating R Praggnanandhaa with the black pieces in a game beginning with 1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.c4 c5.<ref>{{cite web |author=Anthony Levin|title=Nepomniachtchi, Tan Regain Sole Lead, Nakamura Beats Praggnanandhaa|url=https://www.chess.com/news/view/2024-fide-candidates-tournament-round-11|website=Chess.com |date=18 April 2024}}</ref> Nakamura defeated Luca Moroni and drew against Bogdan-Daniel Deac with the opening in the 2024 World Rapid Chess Championship.<ref>{{cite web|title=World Rapid Championship (2024) (games of Hikaru Nakamura)|url=https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chess.pl?tid=132349&pid=10084}}</ref> {{algebraic notation|pos=tocleft}}
==3.cxd5== White often replies 3.cxd5, but other moves are playable and may lead to transpositions into more well-known variations such as the Queen's Gambit Accepted and the Tarrasch Defense. After 3.cxd5, it is not advisable for Black to play 3...Qxd5, because either 4.Nf3 cxd4 5.Nc3 Qa5 6.Nxd4 or 5...Qd8 6.Qxd4 Qxd4 7.Nxd4 give White a big lead in development.<ref>{{citation | last=Pachman | first=Luděk | author-link=Ludek Pachman | title=The Opening Game in Chess | publisher=Routledge & Kegan Paul | year=1982 | isbn=0-7100-9222-9 | page=140}}</ref> Instead, Black should play 3...Nf6 intending to recapture on d5 with the knight. White should be able to maintain the advantage with either 4.Nf3 or 4.e4. Possible continuations are 4.Nf3 cxd4 5.Nxd4 Nxd5 6.e4 Nc7 or 4.e4 Nxe4 5.dxc5 Nxc5 6.Nc3 e6.<ref>{{citation | editor-last=Nunn | editor-first=John | editor-link=John Nunn | title=Nunn's Chess Openings | publisher=Everyman Chess | year=1999 | isbn=1-85744-221-0 | chapter=1 d4 d5 and Unusual Replies to the Queen's Gambit | page=365}}</ref><ref>{{citation | last1=Kasparov | first1=Garry | author1-link=Garry Kasparov | last2=Keene | first2=Raymond | author2-link=Raymond Keene | title=Batsford Chess Openings 2 | orig-date=1989| year=1994 | publisher=Henry Holt | isbn=0-8050-3409-9 | chapter=Queen's Gambit | page=80}}</ref>
==References== <references/>
Category:Chess openings Category:17th century in chess