The Austrian Attack is a variation of the Pirc Defense, catalogued as ECO B09. The line runs 1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. f4 Bg7 5. Nf3 O-O, reaching the position shown below after 10 half-moves.
White holds the centre with pawns on d4 and e4. Development is level at two minor pieces each. It is White to move after five moves. Black has castled while White’s king is still uncommitted.
On the Pirc Defense generally: A hypermodern defense where Black lets White build a center, then counterattacks.
You can play through this variation move by move in your browser — Learn mode walks the line with an explanation at each step, and Drill mode replays it from memory so you find out whether you actually know it. No account is required.
See all 17 Pirc Defense variations →
The Austrian Attack goes 1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. f4 Bg7 5. Nf3 O-O. It is a variation of the Pirc Defense and is catalogued as ECO B09.
The Austrian Attack is ECO B09. ECO codes group openings by their move order, so nearby codes cover closely related lines of the Pirc Defense.
Stockfish evaluates the position after 1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. f4 Bg7 5. Nf3 O-O at +0.59 at depth 18, which is a slight pull for White, within normal opening margins. Engine evaluation is only a starting point — at club level the practical value of a line is mostly about whether you know its plans better than your opponent does.
White holds the centre with pawns on d4 and e4. Development is level at two minor pieces each. It is White to move. Black has castled while White’s king is still uncommitted.