ECO B09 · Pirc Defense

Pirc Defense: Austrian Attack

1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. f4

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Black to move. The arrow shows Stockfish’s best move.
Best move

4… Bg7+0.49

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Pirc Defense: Austrian Attack (B09), reached after 1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. f4, Stockfish 18 recommends 4… Bg7 for Black. White is slightly better (+0.49).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.494… Bg7 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. O-O e5 8. d5 Ne7 9. Qe1
  2. +0.704… Nc6 5. Nf3 Bg7 6. Be2 O-O 7. O-O e5 8. dxe5 dxe5 9. Qxd8
  3. +0.784… e6 5. Nf3 Bg7 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. O-O O-O 8. e5 Nd5 9. Ne4

Other move orders

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

Variations

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Pirc Defense: Austrian Attack?
After 1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. f4, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 4… Bg7 for Black, continuing 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. O-O e5 8. d5 Ne7 9. Qe1. White is slightly better (+0.49). The next best moves are 4… Nc6 (+0.70) and 4… e6 (+0.78).
Is the Pirc Defense: Austrian Attack a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.49: white is slightly better. Evaluations this early in the game are small, so practical results depend far more on knowing the plans and typical structures than on the engine's number.
What is the ECO code of the Pirc Defense: Austrian Attack?
B09. ECO codes classify chess openings from A00 to E99; B is the volume for semi-open games (other than the French).

Opening names from the Lichess opening book (CC0). Pieces by Colin M.L. Burnett (GPLv2+).