Hungarian Defence

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This article uses algebraic notation to describe chess moves.
Image:chess_zhor_26.png
Image:chess_zver_26.png
a8 b8 c8 d8 e8 f8 g8 h8
a7 b7 c7 d7 e7 f7 g7 h7
a6 b6 c6 d6 e6 f6 g6 h6
a5 b5 c5 d5 e5 f5 g5 h5
a4 b4 c4 d4 e4 f4 g4 h4
a3 b3 c3 d3 e3 f3 g3 h3
a2 b2 c2 d2 e2 f2 g2 h2
a1 b1 c1 d1 e1 f1 g1 h1
Image:chess_zver_26.png
Image:chess_zhor_26.png

The Hungarian Defense is a chess opening that begins with the moves

1.e4 e5
2.Nf3 Nc6
3.Bc4 Be7

The Hungarian Defense takes its name from a correspondence game between Paris and Pest, Hungary played from 18421845. The Hungarian Defense usually leads to solid positions for Black, and it has been played by some grandmasters with strong defensive-positional styles including Reshevsky and Hort, and former World Champions Petrosian and Smyslov.

With the move 3...Be7, Black avoids the complexities of the Giuoco Piano (3...Bc5), Evans Gambit (3...Bc5 4.b4), and Two Knights Defense (3...Nf6). However, White has an advantage in space and freer development, so Black must be prepared to defend a cramped position.

White's best response is 4.d4 when 4...exd4 5.Nxd4 would transpose into a variation of the Scotch Game that gives White a spatial advantage. (Weaker is 5.c3!?, hoping for 5...dxc3? 6.Qd5! when Black must play 6...Nh6 7.Bxh6 0-0 to keep playing. However, 5...Na5! forces White to give up the bishop pair with 6.Qxd4 or sacrifice a pawn.) Instead Black should be content to try to hold the center with 4...d6. White then has a choice of plans, each of which should be enough to secure a slight advantage. White can simplify to a slightly better endgame with 5.dxe5 dxe5 (5...Nxe5? 6.Nxe5 dxe5 7.Qh5! and White's double attack on e5 and f7 wins a pawn) 6.Qxd8+ Bxd8 7.Nc3 Nf6. White can also close the center with 5.d5 Nb8, followed by Bd3 and expansion on the queenside with c4 resulting in positions resembling those from the Old Indian Defense. Finally, with 5.Nc3 White can retain tension in the center and obtain active piece play.

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