The Symmetrical Defense (or Austrian Defense ) is a chess opening that begins with the moves:
5-624: First described in print by Alessandro Salvio in 1604 , the opening is often called the Austrian Defense because it was studied by Austrian chess players including Hans Haberditz (c. 1901–57), Hans Müller (1896–1971), and GM Ernst Grünfeld . 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
10-422: A big lead in development. 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. Alessandro Salvio Alessandro Salvio (c. 1575 – c. 1640) was a leading Italian chess player in the early 17th century. He started
15-677: A chess academy in Naples , and wrote a book called Trattato dell'Inventione et Arte Liberale del Gioco Degli Scacchi , which was published in Naples in 1604. He also wrote Il Puttino published in 1634. According to JH Saratt's translation, Il Puttino was first published in 1604, and republished in 1634. The Salvio Gambit is a gambit in the King's Gambit Accepted . It is as follows; 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.Bc4 g4 5.Ne5 Qh4+ 6.Kf1. This biographical article relating to an Italian chess figure
20-627: The advantage and at best Black is playing for a draw . Grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura employed the unusual opening a few times in 2023 and 2024. With the opening, he drew former world champion Magnus Carlsen in the Champions Chess Tour 2023 finals and beat reining world champion Ding Liren in Norway Chess 2024. He employed a similar opening in the Candidates Tournament 2024 , beating R Praggnanandhaa with
25-469: The black pieces in a game beginning with 1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.c4 c5. 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 either 4.Nf3 cxd4 5.Nc3 Qa5 6.Nxd4 or 5...Qd8 6.Qxd4 Qxd4 7.Nxd4 give White
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