Pirc Defense, Austrian Attack

The Austrian Attack begins 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.f4. White places pawns on d4, e4, and f4 to control many central squares and prepare e5, an advance that can drive the f6-knight away and restrict Black's bishop on g7.

The sequence is written in algebraic notation: squares such as e4 combine a column letter and row number; N means knight, B bishop, R rook, and Q queen; pawn moves normally show their destination, x marks a capture, and + marks check. Moves are read in pairs, White first and Black second; dots before a move shown alone indicate Black's turn.

Black allows that center because it is meant to be attacked. The bishop is normally fianchettoed with ...Bg7, meaning the g-pawn advances and the bishop settles on g7 behind it, while the pawn breaks ...c5 or ...e5 try to force White's pawns to advance, exchange, or lose support. A pawn break is an advance designed to open a blocked position or challenge the opponent's pawn chain.

White controls more squares and can bring out Nf3, Bd3, and Qe2 with options for a direct attack toward Black's king.

The f-pawn no longer protects the king from f2. If the center opens before White's pieces are ready, files and diagonals near the king may become weak.

The Austrian Attack is not a command to play e5 at the first opportunity. White must check whether the center survives ...c5, ...e5, or a capture on e4. Black needs early counterplay, threats that force White to respond; simply waiting allows White's center to become secure. Compared with the 150 Attack, the Austrian commits the f-pawn on move four and focuses first on the central battle.