Symmetrical Defense

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rl|nl|bl|ql|kl|bl|nl|rl|=|The Symmetrical Defense or Austrian Defense is a chess opening that starts with the moves:1.d4 d5:2.c4 c5

First described in print by Alessandro Salvio in , the opening is often called the Austrian Defense because it was studied by some chess players from Austria including Hans Haberditz ("c." 1901–1957), Hans Müller (1896–1901), and GM Ernst Grünfeld. [cite book | author=Hooper, David and Kenneth Whyld | title=The Oxford Companion To Chess | publisher=Oxford University | year=1996 | id=ISBN 0-19-280049-3 | chapter=Austrian Defence] The Symmetrical Defense is an uncommon variation of the Queen's Gambit Declined.It poses the purest test of Queen's Gambit theory—whether Black can equalize by simply copying White's moves.Most opening theoreticians believe that White should gain the advantageand that at best Black is playing for a draw. [cite book | author=Korn, Walter | authorlink=Walter Korn | title=Modern Chess Openings | edition=Twelfth Edition | publisher=David McKay | year=1982 | id=ISBN 0-679-13500-6 | chapter=Queen's Gambit Declined | pages=p. 266]

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 4.Nf3 cxd4 5.Nc3 Qa5 6.Nxd4 or 5...Qd8 6.Qxd4 Qxd4 7.Nxd4 gives White a big lead in development. [cite book | author=Pachman, Luděk | authorlink=Ludek Pachman | title=The Opening Game in Chess | publisher=Routledge & Kegan Paul | year=1982 | id=ISBN 0-7100-9222-9 | pages=p. 140] Instead Black should play 3...Nf6 intending to recapture on d5 with his 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. The move 3. dxc5 is also a good response for White, as Black cannot avoid being behind by a pawn and White may attempt to force a queen trade if he wants, possibly depriving Black of either space or the right to castle. [ cite book | author=Nunn, John (ed.), et al. | title=Nunn's Chess Openings | publisher=Everyman Chess | year=1999 | id=ISBN 1-8574-4221-0 | chapter=1 d4 d5 and Unusual Replies to the Queen's Gambit | pages=p. 365] [cite book | author=Kasparov, Garry, and Raymond Keene | title=Batsford Chess Openings 2 | year=1989, 1994 | publisher=Henry Holt | id=ISBN 0-8050-3409-9 | chapter=Queen's Gambit | pages=p. 80]

ee also

* Queen's Gambit

References