Modern Defense: Pseudo-Austrian Attack

About this variation

White plays Nc3 and f4 against the Modern, an aggressive set-up close to the Pirc Austrian Attack.

The Pseudo-Austrian Attack is 1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3 d6 4. f4. White plays the aggressive Austrian set-up with pawns on d4, e4 and f4, but Black has not yet played ...Nf6. That difference gives Black options such as ...c6 and ...b5 or ...Nc6 that are less effective in the Pirc, and lets Black avoid some of the sharpest Austrian lines.

Black's main replies include 4...Nf6, transposing to the Pirc Austrian Attack, 4...c6, preparing ...b5 and queenside play, and 4...a6, preparing ...b5 and ...Bb7 to pressure e4. Black can also strike at the center with ...c5 at once.

White's plans include Nf3, Be3 or Bd3, and a kingside attack with e5 or f5. White aims to use the big center to cramp Black and to prepare an attack before Black can strike back.

Black's ideas include queenside expansion with ...b5, pressure on e4 with ...Bb7, and central breaks with ...c5 or ...e5. Black aims to show that White's center is overextended and to use the bishop on g7 against the weakened dark squares.

The Pseudo-Austrian leads to sharp positions where both sides need to know the key ideas. White must be careful not to neglect development, and Black must strike at the center before White's attack arrives.

This line suits White players who like aggressive set-ups and big centers. Black players should know which structures they prefer, since the choice between ...Nf6, ...c6 and ...a6 leads to quite different games.

One concrete line is 4...c6 5. Nf3 Bg4 6. Be3 Qb6, when Black pressures b2 and d4 at once and White must decide how to defend. Another is 4...a6 5. Nf3 b5 6. Bd3 Bb7, with pressure on e4 and the long diagonal. In both cases, Black's pieces work against White's center before White can push e5.

It is one of the main lines of the Modern Defense.