Hungarian Defense

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This article uses algebraic notation to describe chess moves.
Image:chess zhor 26.png
Image:chess zver 26.png a8 rd b8 c8 bd d8 qd e8 kd f8 g8 nd h8 rd Image:chess zver 26.png
a7 pd b7 pd c7 pd d7 pd e7 bd f7 pd g7 pd h7 pd
a6 b6 c6 nd d6 e6 f6 g6 h6
a5 b5 c5 d5 e5 pd f5 g5 h5
a4 b4 c4 bl d4 e4 pl f4 g4 h4
a3 b3 c3 d3 e3 f3 nl g3 h3
a2 pl b2 pl c2 pl d2 pl e2 f2 pl g2 pl h2 pl
a1 rl b1 nl c1 bl d1 ql e1 kl f1 g1 h1 rl
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 is a line in the Italian Game chosen in tournament play as a more defensive response to the aggressive 3.Bc4. As this opening is uncommon in modern play, the Hungarian Defence is seldom seen today.

The variation takes its name from a correspondence game between Paris and Pest, Hungary played from 1842–1845. and it has been played by some grandmasters with strong defensive-positional styles including Reshevsky, 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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